One of the most positive aspects of this season so far has been the emergence of Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, with the two Academy graduates again demonstrating their quality with a goal each in Sunday’s 5-1 win over Man City.
Arsenal fans won’t be surprised by those contributions, having watched them over the course of this season, and between them they have made 40 first team appearances (Nwaneri 22, Lewis-Skelly 20) since August.
There was always an expectation both of these young men would push for first team inclusion, but they are ahead of schedule, in part because of how injuries have opened the door for them to play – and how they have grasped those opportunities with both hands.
Asked before tonight’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Newcastle if it’s been beneficial for them to make their breakthrough at the same time, Mikel Arteta outlined the closeness of their relationship.
“I think a lot,” he said. “When you see those two just walking next to each other, talking to each other, there’s something, there’s a bond there, there’s a chemistry that is [special].
“Especially because at the moment they’re still in different dressing rooms. So Ethan cannot be in our dressing room still, which is unbelievable. He needs to get dressed somewhere else, even on match day.
“So to have somebody close to him that has that trust, that confidence, that link, I think it’s lucky.
“They are very lucky to have each other, I think.”
Not only that, the team and the senior players are lucky to have two outstanding young talents to bolster the ranks in a season when injuries have hit hard, and Arteta believes the two have already won the trust of their more senior colleagues.
“What I’ve always said is how they feel about these young players when they come in,” said the Arsenal boss.
“Do they trust them? Do they feel like they’re stronger with them? And that’s the feeling that I get when we give them that opportunity.
“For me, they are ready in our eyes, but in the team’s feeling as well, they feel that they can be better with them.”
Let’s hope they can help us later tonight as we try to overturn that two goal deficit against Newcastle.
Peaked ahead of their time and it’s a beauty to see! A goal for each tonight and we’ll be asking for 10 year contract for both!
Still peaking!
Where is the ceiling?
Stand still and look up.
Looks like there’s a logistical problem to be solved with the lack of locker for Ethan in the senior’s dressing room.
Age factor i think
Safeguarding rules my friend. Adults are not allowed to change in same room as under 18s.
Don’t think it has anything to do with a lack of lockers.
Maybe it’s because he’s still 17 ?
How lucky are we to have two young players of this quality come through at the same time? It’s impossible not to love these guys because of how they play and the fact they’ve both grown up at Arsenal so they understand what this club is all about. I remember when I was playing football back in the day we had a pair of twins join our team from one of our main rivals. The story was that their dad had a run-in with the coach, and the rumour was he’d been caught in bed with that guy’s wife so… Read more »
We’ve missed you Pete, good to have you back.
Agreed 👍 I was just thinking the other day “what has happened to rambling Pete” – I still laugh at the one eyed snake story lol that was a classic 😂
Your name suits you perfectly.
Made my day,Pete- ramble on,mate; we need more good natured rambling in this day and age of snide remarks,fear and loathing. But it sounds like your neighbour, Alan might be one type of person who needs to be rambled on with a steam-roller. One born every minute,y’know! Keep up the good work- as the only kind teacher once wrote in my report book..
Is the match on BBC or ITV like the first leg?
Sky unfortunately. ITV has the other match on Thurs
England haven’t had a settled left back for a long time. How long before Myles gets an international call-up?