Myles Lewis-Skelly says he is enjoying the challenge of battling Riccardo Calafiori for minutes at Arsenal.
Lewis-Skelly broke into Arsenal’s first team last season and became a regular under Mikel Arteta.
The 19-year-old, however, has found action harder to come by this season and he has started just four of Arsenal’s 14 games.
Calafiori has become Arteta’s preferred left-back this season and he has started every game in the Premier League.
But Lewis-Skelly said: “I’m enjoying it. It’s a different experience for me, not playing as much at the moment, but I’m enjoying being part of the team.
“It’s important to compete for places and I’m a competitive person, so I’m never going to back down. I enjoy the challenge. Being with these boys is a joy.
“The standards are high and everyone wants to play. Because the levels are so much higher this season, places are short, but you’ve just got to compete.
“At the end of the day, I just want to express myself. Football’s what I love and I’ll never make excuses if I am playing or not.
“I just want to go out there and express myself. As long as I’m doing that, I’m giving the gaffer a choice to make.”
Lewis-Skelly started on Wednesday night and helped Arsenal beat Brighton 2-0 to claim a spot in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
It was, remarkably, the Gunners 11th clean sheet of the season and they have conceded just three goals.
“We take pride in keeping clean sheets, stopping shots and crosses because we don’t want anyone scoring,” said Lewis-Skelly.
“We call it (the Emirates) our house, and nothing comes in our house - our goal.”
Lewis-Skelly had a hand in Arsenal’s opening goal against Brighton, assisting his best mate, Ethan Nwaneri.
“Me and Ethan, we spoke about it before the game. I feel like I know him better than anyone else,” said Lewis-Skelly.
“We have been playing with each other for so long and there’s also a feeling that we have between each other, where we know where we are at all times. I am glad we are getting to show it on the big stage. It’s a dream.”
