Former Arsenal analyst wowed by two Hale End wonderkids who will ‘go all the way’

Add as preferred source on Google

One former Arsenal analyst is expecting big things from Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Hale End academy gems Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are both highly-rated at Arsenal. 

Mikel Arteta has already demonstrated his faith in Nwaneri. Back in September 2022, the Spanish coach handed the young midfielder his senior debut against Brentford. Coming on as a late substitute in the Premier League clash, Nwaneri became the youngest player in Premier League and Arsenal history.

Whilst he hasn’t featured for the first team since then, Nwaneri has since committed his long-term future to the club. 

Alongside Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri has continued to develop and impress at academy level.

Plenty of Arsenal fans are desperate to see the pair of wonderkids given further chances to shine at senior level. Lewis-Skelly, after all, is still waiting to make his debut in senior football.

The duo have each garnered plenty of praise. Arteta has likened Nwaneri to former Arsenal star Jack Wilshere, and Wilshere himself has previously talked up Lewis-Skelly’s qualities.

Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly have what it takes to shine for Arsenal

Now, Yousuf Sajjad, who previously worked as a recruitment analyst and the head of emerging talent in his time at the Emirates Stadium, has heaped further praise on the academy gems.

In a recent interview with football.london, Sajjad said of Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly, “there’s a few players where you see them once and you think ‘wow, these guys are different’. Whether that’s at 14, 15, 16 I feel like you can see that. There’s very few times that you can just look and say these guys have the real ability to go all the way.”

“But listen they’ve been well spoken about, and we know how highly rated they are. The next part is always the hardest, to try and fulfil that.”

Former Arsenal centre-back Per Mertesacker, who is now in charge of the club’s youth academy setup, will be doing what he can to protect Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly. Whilst their talent is undeniable, they are still not ready for the spotlight that comes with being a first-team regular for a club like Arsenal. 

If they are to ever get to that point, when they are playing regularly for Arsenal at senior level, then the pair need to be guided through this nascent stage in their careers carefully. It is vital that they aren’t rushed on to the biggest stage and are instead given the time they need to ensure that when they do arrive in the big time, they are ready for it.