While Arsenal’s season has unfolded disappointingly, the emergence of both Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly is a shining light for Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners are cut 12 points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool with nine games left to play, and thus, are very unlikely to achieve their primary aim of winning the English top flight this campaign.
However, the development of the two Hale End youngsters has only strengthened what is still an exciting young team, and there’ll be optimism around the club that they can go again next season.
Lewis-Skelly was awarded his first England call-up last week, while Nwaneri continues to impress in Bukayo Saka’s absence, filling in effectively for Arsenal’s talisman.
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Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly named in top ten wonderkids in the world
Football outlet Goal release an annual list ranking the top 50 emerging teenage talents in world football, dubbed NXGN (next generation).
Previous players to have ranked top of the list include Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo and Jadon Sancho, so it’s often an effective indication of who will develop into the best players on the planet in the coming years.
NXGN 2025 was released on Tuesday, identifying the 50 best players born on or after 1st January 2006.
Arsenal were well represented on the list, with Nwaneri placing sixth and Lewis-Skelly placing eighth.
A glowing recognition of the two players’ supreme talent, this stands them in good stead to develop into the elite bracket of footballers worldwide, as they mature and hone their skillsets.
Lamine Yamal was the inevitable winner, while the likes of Pau Cubarsi, Warren Zaire-Emery and Endrick also ranked highly on the list.
Arsenal have hit the jackpot with Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly
If recent iterations of the NXGN list are anything to go by, then Arsenal have two incredible prospects on their books.
Arteta hinted last week that Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly may change Arsenal’s transfer plans, with the two players potentially saving the club millions in the market.
The North Londoners may be more reluctant to recruit a deputy for either Saka or Martin Odegaard now they have Nwaneri as a genuine option for both positions, while Lewis-Skelly’s development certainly means left-back is no longer a problem position for Arteta.
It would be reductive to suggest Arsenal have hit the jackpot with the two talents, dismissing the hard work and excellent coaching the academy has done to nurture the duo, but ultimately, to land on youngsters this good is somewhat lucky.
Add in Saka, and this is a golden generation for Hale End, producing three of the best young English players in the space of just five years.
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