Mikel Arteta has said that Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly have the ‘personality’ to become first-team regulars at Arsenal.
The 17-year-olds have impressed during Arsenal’s pre-season campaign and are pushing for a place in the senior set-up this season.
Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly were introduced as second-half substitutes during Arsenal’s 4-1 thrashing of Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday, with each showing glimpses of their potential.
Nwaneri hit the headlines when he became the youngest-ever player to feature in English football’s top-flight after making his Arsenal debut against Brentford in September 2022, aged just 15.
The teenager has been a prolific presence for England at u-17 level, while left-back Lewis-Skelly showed comfort in possession against Leverkusen.
Arteta was asked on the duo at full-time and said Arsenal will not put any restrictions on what the two can achive.
“If they continue like they are doing right now. There is no difference whether they come from the academy or we sign them from Germany or Argentina or Italy,” he said at his post-match press conference.
“If they are showing the quality that they have, the personality they have to play at this level… let’s see. Why would we put any restrictions? If they deserve minutes, they get minutes.”
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