Myles Lewis-Skelly delivered a heartfelt tribute to Per Mertesacker at Hale End’s farewell event for the departing Academy Manager.
Mertesacker joined Arsenal as a player in 2011, on the same day as Mikel Arteta, and after retiring from playing in 2018, seamlessly transitioned into leading the club’s academy.
Under his watch, Lewis-Skelly, as well as Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman, are among those who have progressed into the first team, each contributing to Arsenal’s first Premier League title in 22 years.
Lewis-Skelly paid tribute with a personal speech at a farewell event honouring the German.
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“First of all, I’m so grateful to be here tonight, to represent Per for everything that you’ve done for me and my family, the club,” he began, before quoting Serena Williams to frame Mertesacker’s role in his journey.
“You don’t make it to this level alone. It takes a village of people who believed in you, and you were just a kid with a dream. Per, you’re a part of my village, and I’m here, and I’m able to show my gratitude to you.”
He recalled a memory from his time in Arsenal’s under-12s and under-13s.
“I remember we heard that Per was gonna train with us. You can imagine as a young teen, Per being the boss, coming in, six foot six giant, coming in, chest out. It was pretty surreal.”
A possession drill followed, and one image has stayed with Lewis-Skelly ever since. “As soon as the manager blew the whistle, all you could hear was ‘Press! Press! Press!'”
Per Mertesacker helped shape Arsenal’s next golden generation
Myles Lewis-Skelly also credited Mertesacker for lessons he’s learned off the pitch, as well as on it.
“You taught me that before a football player, before the profession, the occupation, that you’re a human being first,” he said.
“I’ll always be super grateful and I wish you nothing but success and love to your family.”
Mertesacker, who made over 200 appearances for Arsenal as a player, is leaving this summer to explore new challenges.
The German Football Association are among those understood to be interested in his services, though nothing about his next move has been confirmed.
He leaves behind, quite literally, big shoes to fill, but Arsenal are yet to name his successor.
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