Arsenal stars have been warned that some of their positions could be under threat sooner than perhaps expected, as two budding talents are making their way through the academy and could be handed opportunities in the first team. Mikel Arteta has not been afraid to throw in a youngster in order to further their development and a pair of Gunner starlets have been tipped for stardom.
Former Liverpool striker and current England under-18 coach Emile Heskey has highlighted how 16-year-old midfielders Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly can make the breakthrough into the first team within two years. Nwaneri has even already made his senior debut, after Arteta brought the then-15-year-old on as a substitute in their 3-0 win over Brentford.
Nwaneri became the youngest Premier League player in history in September 2022 as he clearly is well thought of by Arteta, while Lewis-Skelly has already made two appearances for Heskey’s England under-18 side as the former striker believes both players can make a big impression on the Arsenal first team.
“I think when you look at a player like that, who’s got the world at his feet,” Heksey told talkSPORT when asked about Nwaneri. “There’s not just him, there’s Myles Lewis-Skelly as well at Arsenal. Them two, I see them breaking in in the next year or so, getting opportunities.
“And I think that’s the main thing. I think you’ve got a really good manager in Arteta to give the young lads opportunities. They’ve obviously got to take them opportunities, but they’re giving them the opportunities to actually go and play, which is fantastic.
“Ethan has got the world at his feet. He’s a strong young lad who’s very direct, very quick and still very young. I think he’s 16 still, or he’s due to be 17 soon. So, he’s still very young. And to be playing at that level, at that age, is great for him.”
Though there were fears at one stage that Arsenal were not going to be able to hang onto Nwaneri after making his record-breaking debut, as the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea soon began to circle for their top talent.
Players are only eligible to sign professional contracts when they turn 17, as a host of top teams were prepared to tempt Nwaneri away from the Emirates but he opted to turn down that interest to pen a new contract with Arsenal.
Those fresh terms saw him become the highest-paid player in the history of Arsenal’s academy according to Fabrizio Romano, as he remains on a scholarship deal until his birthday on March 21 next year while continuing to impress Arteta within the youth setup.
