Darren Bent says Myles Lewis-Skelly has looked defensively ‘vulnerable’ this season and hopes to see the youngster come back stronger if selected against Chelsea.

Lewis-Skelly burst onto the scene last term, breaking out of Arsenal’s youth ranks to establish himself as a genuine first-team star alongside fellow academy product Ethan Nwaneri.

But the versatile 19-year-old left-back has fallen behind Riccardo Calafiori in the pecking order at the Emirates in recent months, making just one solitary start in the Premier League.

Lewis-Skelly was, though, named in Arteta’s starting XI at the weekend as the Gunners came from behind to beat Portsmouth and advance through to the fourth round of the FA Cup.

The teenager will no doubt be desperate to continue his run in the side for the first leg of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup semi-final with bitter rivals Chelsea on Wednesday night.

It’s understood several Premier League teams have been eyeing potential loan bids for Lewis-Skelly ahead of the January transfer window – but Arsenal have no intention of letting the full-back leave this month.

Ex-England and Tottenham striker Bent has been concerned by Lewis-Skelly’s recent form and is hoping the Arsenal’s young starlet can find his feet again quickly,...