Mikel Arteta has brought three teenage academy prospects with him on Arsenal’s pre-season trip to Germany, offering a glimpse of the future of the club. Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Reuell Walters have travelled and will train with the first-team as the Gunners begin their preparations for the new season.
The trio will get a chance to impress Arteta as the Gunners take on second-tier German side FC Nurnberg in their first pre-season match on Thursday. After that, they travel to the USA where they will face the MLS All-Stars, Manchester United and Barcelona, before returning to the Emirates for a clash against Monaco.
Arsenal’s season kicks-off just four days after the Monaco game, with the Community Shield against Manchester City before their Premier League campaign gets underway against Nottingham Forest on 12th August.
Ethan Nwaneri: The Youngest Player in Premier League History
Ethan Nwaneri is the youngest of the three prospects and is already making history. Last season he became the youngest player in Premier League history when he came off the bench against Brentford aged 15 years and 181 days. Though he cannot sign a professional contract until his 17th birthday next March, there has been much praise for the midfielder, not least from former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka.
Myles Lewis-Skelly: A Regular for Arsenal’s U21 and U18 Sides
Myles Lewis-Skelly is 16 years old and plays as a defensive midfielder. He is already a regular for the U21 and U18 sides and has been praised for his composure on the ball and ability to read the game.
Reuell Walters: Already Featured on the Bench for Arsenal’s First Team
Right-back Reuell Walters is 18 years old and was included in the pre-season tour squad last summer. He has also featured on the bench for the first-team several times.
Will Arteta Give Them Game Time?
It remains to be seen how much game time Arteta will give the trio in 2022/23 especially with the club strengthening in their positions. Arsenal are set to sign midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham for a club-record £105million, as well as defender Jurrien Timber from Ajax.
Conclusion
Mikel Arteta has brought three teenage academy prospects with him on Arsenal’s pre-season trip to Germany, offering a glimpse of the future of the club. Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Reuell Walters have travelled and will train with the first-team as the Gunners begin their preparations for the new season. It remains to be seen how much game time Arteta will give them in 2022/23, but it is clear that these three players have a bright future ahead of them at Arsenal.