Myles Lewis-Skelly: Arsenal academy star lighting up Emirates
Arsenal does not have as prolific an academy as Manchester City or Chelsea, who often produce elite youngsters who make it to the first team or are sold for profit.
Arteta also recently spoke of his frustration at being unable to replicate Barcelona’s legendary La Masia academy in England due to post-Brexit restrictions on signing under-18s.
But with 23-year-old Bukayo Saka, 17-year-old Navaneri and Lewis Skelly, they are one of the top clubs in the Premier League for home-grown minutes this season.
Former centre-back Per Mertesacker is Arsenal’s academy manager and has known Lewis-Skelly since he first joined the Gunners (under-12s) aged nine.
Mertesacker said: “I don’t think at a certain moment you will see him having a good chance of getting into the first team.”
“I’ve known Miles since he was a U-12 player, playing in youth tournaments and going through all the ups and downs. Sometimes you win and everyone is excited – sometimes you lose , you start to cry.
“It’s just about understanding where everyone is in their journey.”
Lewis Skelly looks calm about every challenge presented to him, a trait Mertesacker says the England youth international has shown throughout his career.
“For Miles, he seems very comfortable and ready for whatever challenge we throw at him.
“For me, that’s probably his main attribute. If you can stay calm in those challenging moments, then you have a good chance of getting a chance.”
Lewis Skelly only signed his first professional contract last October and Arsenal are delighted with the progress he has made this season.
“He adapted to the situation in order to train around the first team,” Mertesacker added. “He’s ready to ‘be coached’ and stay humble.
“I would say that’s why he always made me feel confident as a person. If you have the humility to value others, but always look to improve.”
Lewis-Skelly’s mother, Marcia Lewis, understands better than most the dangers young players face early in their careers.
She runs a platform called NO1Fan.Club, This provides a support network for parents developing careers in youth football and helps showcase alternative pathways into the industry for those who have not been able to make it.
In an interview with BBC Sports last September, Lewis said of her son: “He’s not an Arsenal first-team player, he’s an academy player and he hasn’t ‘made it’ yet.
“He’s backing himself and we’re backing him, but that’s the reality… he’s competing against multi-million-pound players all over the world.”
Mertesacker said “unconditional” support and a “good base at home” were crucial to Lewis-Skelly’s rise.
“It’s not always an upward curve for anyone. It’s not easy when it comes to the first team and the challenges and opportunities there.”
