The Arsenal US pre-season tour has made it clear that Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are the ones who will shape the future of Arsenal. They have proven themselves to be more than capable against Premier League opposition.
In the upcoming 2024–25 season, Mikel Arteta should fully integrate them into his first-team squad. The Hale End duo’s impressive pre-season performances against Bournemouth, Manchester United, and Liverpool indicate that they will quickly establish themselves as full-fledged first-team players.
While some may disagree, the two young players are fully prepared. Fans should be excited to see what they can bring to the table.
Nwaneri is a versatile attacking player who can step in for Odegaard or Saka when needed, and he’s also capable of playing as an LCM against teams that employ a low block.
As Arteta said at the end of our USA tour about the youngsters that had joined the squad: “I’m really pleased with all of them. Unfortunately, I wanted to give opportunities to all of them, but we didn’t have enough time to do so, but especially the ones that played, I think they performed & responded incredibly well.
“So that’s something that we take from the tour as well, that we have a lot of talent there that we want to use & they show that they are very much pushing to earn the right to play with us.”
Midfielder Lewis-Skelly has really shown his mastery of the inverted fullback role. He could potentially be the perfect replacement for Zinchenko and Partey, who are both expected to leave Arsenal in the near future.
People were curious as to why Arsenal chose to pursue a 28-year-old like Mikel Merino, but it’s these kinds of deals that pave the way for promising talents like Nwaneri to join the team. Both are ready and have the right mindset to seize any opportunity and succeed.
What do you think? Are Nwaneri and Lewis Skelly the next Smith-Rowe and Bukayo Saka? It will be just as interesting to see which players Arteta doesn’t buy replacements for in the transfer window as well as who he does….
Jack Anderson
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How does signing Merino pave the way for youngsters? Did I miss something?
28 year old with like a 3 year peak and
17 years old gradually blooded in takes over in 3 years at 20. Compared to buying calafiori at 22 blocks a clear path for youngsters at Lb or Lcb.
Some of us are self-contradicting. On the one hand we need trophies now, on the other we need experimentation with youngsters! Which is which? It is okay to bring in academy graduates gradually through giving them some minutes until they are able to meet the standards. As things stand now, it would be foolhardy to rely on academy graduates and expect to win major trophies. Remember Arsene Wenger tried it but what were the results?
No one is saying to play academy players in all important EPL matches. What everybody wants it Arteta should give them chances in Carabao, FA and first rounds of champions league along with senior players. This way they will gain experience and understand what their level is, which areas to improve. This way Arteta will get at least 1 player ready to play in next year EPL and This will give much needed rest to some first team players.
Perfectly put.
Just to add also save us extra pounds.
This
This seconded
imo, putting way too much into a few performances during preseason and MA praising his players (what would you expect him to do?) I also expect and hope for them to do well but they are far from proven at this point in their careers.
I concur BB.
Many keep demanding major trophies right now from Arteta. But at the same time demand he involves inexperienced academy players in that process.
And at the same time they are demanding that the squad is lacking quality signing to take on Man City and the Champions League. That we should sign more quality players in order to have a chance of winning Titles and CLs.
And that if Arteta fails to win the league or CL this coming season then he should definitely be sacked.
But then still demand he includes inexperienced 16 year old academy youngsters in the first time to take on Man City and Madrid in the EPL and CL.
🤞👌
👍👍
The issue is some fans think our players are better then they are
‘Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are the ones who will shape the future of Arsenal. They have proven themselves to be more than capable against Premier League opposition.’
No they haven’t
The issue is that some fans don’t think….period!
No this is not and cannot be the chance, for one simple reason.
It’s the final phase, this is the phase Arsenal is expected to win something come what may, by the campaign concludes.
Technically it’s a break or make phase.
Stop it with the phases please, it’s meaningless.
I thought we had this conversation in yesterday’s blog post about Arteta and Academy players.
You are now extending the conversation by adding the possible purchase of a 28yr old midfielder to mean this is a temporary fulfilment to gradually coach the young promising starlets Nwaneri or Myles Lewis into the void when the 28yr old player retires in two or three years time.
If they are good enough they should still push through no matter what the age of the player is before them.
As long as they are proven to be the better players rather than just the younger players. But I agree, it does give Nwaneri and Myles a much better chance if that’s Arteta’s philosophy.
However, I think he just likes Merino and the price of the world class exceptional all-round midfielder, who would be a brilliant addition who would improve and elevate Arsenal in the same way Rice has, should we be lucky to get him.
Let’s put it this way. Nwaneri, probably Hein and Lewis-Skelly, are not ready if they would start against a PL opposition when the season starts. However, they WILL become ready if they just get playing time against PL opposition.
Kobbie Mainoo was not ready for PL, but he was put on the starting XI after major injuries and terrible performances by some United midfielders. Mainoo didnt perform so greatly at U21s that ETH thought “hey that young guy is better than our midfielders”. He was put on because they didn’t have options. And he seized the chance and now he’s England regular.
Youth players will never become first teamers unless they’re given chance to play.
Are you suggesting that if Arsenal should have an injury crisis the younger players should be played. Well, of course, they will.
Or
Are you suggesting that we should gamble on the younger players and bench senior players; on the off-chance that one of the young players will turn out to be an unrecognised generational talent?
Friendlies are an absolute waste of time, to judge young players or old. They mean little more than training games. In fact, that is all they are. Arteta will see and has seen in the past every day, if the talent is there. Until he tries that talent in meaningful games and brings youth through. Everything else is fruitless.
Our first five fixtures are make or break for the PL campaign.
After spending nigh on £900 million in order to win it, why would MA risk it all to promote untied youngsters?
The domestic cups, or if we’re 5-0 up with twenty minutes to play in the PL should be when the opportunities arise.
As for suggesting that the early rounds of the CL would be another opportunity area – no way whatsoever.
Seconded.
Thirded
Fourthed. Darn that last Anglish class. 🤔
😂
Arsenal will regret letting ESR go and still keeping Nketiah. Last year they should have kept Balogun and got rid of Nketiah then. Arteta is not nearly as smart as he thinks he is.
No one wanted Nketiah iirc, but Monaco wanted, and got, Balogun.