Myles Lewis-Skelly earned his first England senior call-up on Friday morning.
Thomas Tuchel announced his inaugural squad as Three Lions boss, naming two uncapped players as part of his ensemble for the March World Cup qualifiers.
Alongside Dan Burn, the Hale End graduate was the other player who has a chance to earn his first England cap in the coming weeks.
Lewis-Skelly has been excellent for Arsenal in the last few months and has been rewarded for this form with international recognition.
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Mikel Arteta reacts to Myles Lewis-Skelly’s England call-up
Arsenal fans were delighted for Lewis-Skelly after Friday morning’s news was released, taking to social media to express their pride at seeing an academy graduate earn an international call-up so early in his career.
Arteta seemingly shares these sentiments, displaying his own satisfaction at Tuchel’s decision in his press conference.
Speaking to the media on Friday afternoon, the Spaniard said on Lewis-Skelly: “Very proud. Very proud of him, it’s a huge moment for him and for the club as well.
“One of our graduates getting the call for England, it’s a massive thing, so very happy.
Tuchel praised Lewis-Skelly when explaining the call-up and revealed the plan to ‘fast-track’ the player’s England experience.
Asked about this, Arteta said: “Thomas is a top coach, I know a few people around him and the set-up in England and I have no doubts that they will do the right thing with him.”
Mikel Arteta on Ben White missing out on England squad
While Lewis-Skelly was included in Tuchel’s first squad, Ben White missed out.
Tuchel explained White’s omission, stating that the defender is eager to be a part of the national team set-up moving forward, but was keen on building up fitness over this international break at London Colney instead.
Asked about White’s absence, Arteta replied: “Yeah, well I heard that there’ve been some positive conversations around it, so I imagine it will be about timing more than anything else, especially with the time he’s been out with injury.”
The Arsenal boss then emphasised the importance of developing an English core at the heart of the Gunners’ squad.
“Yeah, I think we all do [take pride from Arsenal getting England call-ups] because obviously we’re involved in the development, and we know that it’s one of the biggest dreams you can achieve as a football player, and a really proud moment.
“It’s very important [having an English core]. I think culturally, because of our history and because we’re an English club, to have that DNA that represents us as a club and then having a lot of academy players as well, it’s something very, very positive.
“I’m very, very proud of it.”
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