How Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly can inspire Arsenal to FA Youth Cup victory without kicking a ball

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Arsenal’s U18 side are preparing for a huge clash in the FA Youth Cup quarter final against Manchester United.

Arsenal are set to face Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium with the winners on the night set for a place in the semi final of the prestigious youth competition.

The Gunners have won the competition seven times in their history and Kieran Gibbs and Danny Welbeck featured the last time the two rivals faced each other in the competition back in 2007.

Arsenal have been handed a boost before the game as former striker Chido Obi-Martin is set to miss the tie with first team commitments at Old Trafford on the horizon.

READ MORE: Forget a striker, David Seaman reveals how he won the Premier League and believes Mikel Arteta’s side don’t have it

Arsenal academy coach shares Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly verdict

Arsenal academy coach Adam Birchall is preparing his U18 side for a huge night at the Emirates Stadium but has been speaking about how duo Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are influencing his young side.

As per The Standard, Birchall has been discussing how the Hale End stars have become ‘role models’ for all aspiring academy talent at the Gunners and will push performances on to another level.

Birchall claimed that Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly conduct themselves as role models both on and off the pitch and how they are educating the other young players.

Birchall on Lewis-Skelly in particular stated: “If I’m a young player and I’m looking at him, he’s showing what being a strong young Gunner is about. It’s about that constant strive to better yourself.”

Arsenal academy is focusing on producing talented ‘people’ as well as players

During the interview with the Standard, Birchall explained how the Hale End academy, which has been so successful over the years, has changed its emphasis on producing well-rounded ‘people’ as well as players.

A bigger emphasis has been placed on the youngsters’ education and activities away from the pitch to develop their personalities as well as their footballing ability.

Birchall explained: “Where other academies will have maybe a full-time programme, we really believe that they should be at school, should be around their friends and developing that personal side as well.”

Credit for the change was given to academy manager Per Mertesacker, who has installed a culture of developing the person as well as the player at the training ground.

Birchall explained: ““Ultimately, when they come in here, it’s about the environment, the culture of the lads that are in here full time to really embrace them and staff to help them with that.”