Mikel Arteta promotes Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri to first team

Mikel Arteta has officially welcomed Arsenal youngsters Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri into the senior squad, a nod to their strong early-season performances.

Arteta Promotes Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri to Arsenal’s First Team Ahead of Liverpool Clash

In a press conference leading up to Arsenal’s anticipated match against Liverpool, Arteta confirmed that both teenagers are now regarded as first-team players, with each firmly in contention for game time against Jurgen Klopp’s side.

“They’re there, in contention,” Arteta shared, hinting at the possibility of seeing one or both players on the pitch at Anfield.

“They’re first-team players. We value them just like anyone else in the squad.”

Arteta’s faith in the two players is evident from their recent appearances; both have logged more time with the senior squad than in the academy this season, despite being only 18 and 17 years old.

Lewis-Skelly has already earned starts against Bolton and has made cameo appearances against Manchester City, PSG, and Shakhtar Donetsk.

Meanwhile, Nwaneri, who’s caught attention with his two goals against Bolton, has also stepped up in games against Spurs, Leicester, and Bournemouth.

For the upcoming Liverpool match, Lewis-Skelly’s presence could prove crucial.

With Arsenal’s left-back options thin—Jurrien Timber remains sidelined, and Oleksandr Zinchenko is just returning from injury—Arteta may turn to Lewis-Skelly for defensive cover on that flank, especially given Mohamed Salah’s threat.

Arteta’s promotion of the two young talents signifies his belief in their readiness for high-stakes matches.

When asked if he’d hesitate to field either of them against Liverpool, Arteta’s confidence was clear: “No. We did it in the Champions League the other day.”