There is plenty of excitement around several players coming out of Hale End right now at Arsenal with midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly among those expected to be in the first team sooner rather than later.
A report from the Telegraph has shared more details about some of the youngsters Mikel Arteta is keeping a close eye on.
The Gunners are in a privileged position right now going into this afternoon’s Champions League fixture against PSV Eindhoven.
Arsenal have already topped the group and amid a busy Christmas period meaning Arteta can rotate his side tonight ahead of Sunday’s match against Brighton.
A trio of youngsters have travelled to the Netherlands with the senior squad, including record-breaker Ethan Nwaneri and defenders Lino Sousa and Reuell Walters.
Myles Lewis-Skelly hasn’t travelled with the Arsenal first team on this occasion, but that’s likely to change very soon.
Described as ‘unplayable’ by Arsenal Under-18s coach Jack Wilshere, the young midfielder has come very close to making his senior debut.
He was on the bench alongside Nwaneri against Lens two weeks ago after returning from the Under-17 World Cup.
While he couldn’t help the Young Lions replicate the success of Emile Smith Rowe and his teammates from 2017, he started three out of four matches in the tournament.
If he can follow the trajectory of his fellow Hale End graduate over the next 18 months, he’ll be well-placed to establish himself in Arteta’s squad.
Lewis-Skelly expected to get his chance in Arsenal first team
The report from the Telegraph has reported that Lewis-Skelly isn’t with the squad in the Netherlands today, ‘the expectation at the club is that his moment will come soon.’
Breaking into a Premier League squad as an academy graduate is no easy task.
The number of youngsters across the league given their chance this season is very small.
Arsenal have a history of promoting from within when given the chance, with Bukayo Saka being the ultimate role model in that regard.
He played his 200th senior match for the club this month and given the age he made his debut, there’s no reason why he can’t challenge the record appearance holders for the club if he chooses to stay at the Emirates throughout his career.
Lewis-Skelly’s Under-18 teammate Ethan Nwaneri has started even younger and after scoring five goals in the FA Youth Cup and appearing in first-team training recently, he could break Jack Wilshere’s record for the youngest player ever to play in Europe for Arsenal.
Where would Lewis-Skelly fit into Arteta’s system?
There is an awful lot of excitement about Myles Lewis-Skelly after working his way through each Arsenal team in the academy.
Jack Wilshere admitted that he can do things that can’t be coached and plays in a similar way to his mentor.
Lewis-Skelly is either a deep-lying playmaker but he can function in a more box-to-box role.
He popped up with a goal last season that helped Arsenal qualify for the FA Youth Cup but that’s not what he’s in the team for.
With Thomas Partey’s future in the balance and Jorginho and Mohamed Elneny unlikely to a long-term options for Arteta, introducing Lewis-Skelly to the base of Arsenal’s midfield sooner rather than later might make sense.
It would also free up Declan Rice to play in a more advanced role where he could thrive.
On-loan midfielder Charlie Patino might have something to say about Lewis-Skelly’s potential promotion, but with Lewis-Skelly currently at the club, he has to take his opportunity.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
