Per Mertesacker reveals the ‘special’ thing Myles Lewis-Skelly did after winning prestigious Arsenal award

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Arsenal can be proud of their academy progress this season.

Under the guidance of Per Mertesacker and former coaches such as Jack Wilshere, the club are reaping the rewards of their Hale End set up with players such as Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri coming through.

Max Dowman is in Mikel Arteta’s plans for the Arsenal first-team squad next season after impressing at all youth levels this campaign.

Meanwhile, Myles Lewis-Skelly was praised by Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher after the pundits named him as the Premier League young player of the year. The 18-year-old also picked up another prestigious award with Mertesacker in attendance.

READ MORE: How Mikel Arteta reacted to Tottenham’s Europa League triumph amid trophyless Arsenal season

Per Mertesacker reveals ‘special’ Myles Lewis-Skelly moment

Speaking to Arsenal’s official website, academy manager Mertesacker described the moment that Lewis-Skelly was named the Premier League ‘Scholar of the Year’ picking up the award in front of England boss Thomas Tuchel.

Mertesacker stated: “This year we had two outstanding people from the academy there. Remember, Myles is still technically a scholar, but we wanted to make sure we highlight him for his contribution throughout his academy time with us, for his contribution this year to the whole club, how he has emerged in the first team, but also with England.

“To highlight him was for us really necessary for his fantastic work and great progress in the academy starting at under-nine level, all the way through to now where he is to be an exceptional person that is also an outstanding footballer.

“So, this is the aim in terms of our scheme of strong Young Gunners, young people able to thrive whatever challenges they face in life on or off the pitch. He has clearly faced a lot of those recently and throughout his time and has done exceptionally with those.

“He recognised the Hale End table and thanked all the staff members and people in the academy for their contributions to him having such a successful journey and season, so that was a special highlight.”

Per Mertesacker ‘really pleased’ to be in Arsenal academy role

The emergence of such home-grown talent coming through at Arsenal is testament to the leadership shown in his role as academy manager for Mertesacker.

The former Gunners defender spoke of how ‘pleased’ he was to be leading from the front when it comes to nurturing talent and the success the club are having.

Mertesacker explained: “I’m really pleased to be in this position where I lead the academy, but we can speak about the amazing people that we bring through the academy to make a fantastic contribution.”

The excitement around the academy prospects has never been higher with Dowman the next name tipped to make an impression, as well as defender Marli Salmon.