Over recent years, Arsenal’s Hale End academy has produced a number of talents who have made it through to the first team. Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah have all played a role in the team’s success this season and are a testament to the quality of the academy.
Despite signing Jorginho from Chelsea for £12m in the January transfer window, Arsenal’s midfield could do with further improvement. The ageing trio of Granit Xhaka, Jorginho and Mohamed Elneny provide a solution for the short-term, but the long-term midfield needs addressing.
Arsenal have been linked with Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice, both of whom would cost a huge financial sum to acquire from Brighton and West Ham respectively. This is where Mikel Arteta could turn to Hale End instead.
Who is Myles Lewis-Skelly?
Who is Myles Lewis-Skelly is a common question amongst several fans, as the Arsenal academy talent has been making waves. In recent years, both Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe have come up the ranks and become established first-team players.
Myles Lewis-Skelly was called up to the Arsenal U-21 side at just 16 years of age, earning a place on the bench against Northampton Town and Monaco B.
It has been a breakthrough year for Lewis-Skelly at youth level after flying with the Arsenal first-team squad to Dubai in October. Even at the age of 14, he was turning heads when he was given his debut for the Under-18s – going on to score against Reading after coming on as a sub.
Look how easily Myles Lewis-Skelly (2006 🏴) takes players out of the picture. He does this stuff in every game at youth level. Yet another gem coming out of Arsenal’s Hale End set-up.pic.twitter.com/bXQMUuw69L
— Scouted Football (@scoutedftbl) February 2, 2023
Myles Lewis-Skelly stats
There is no doubt that the youngster wouldn’t offer as much to the team as signing either Caicedo or Rice would – let’s make that clear. Nonetheless, if he does continue to develop and impress, the cover he could help bring would strengthen Arsenal’s midfield depth further. This is something that needs to be addressed.
If Lewis-Skelly does come into the side in the coming years, he will provide increased depth as he can play both as a No 6 and No 8.
Myles Lewis-Skelly’s potential and style of play
Myles Lewis-Skelly’s Arsenal future
Lewis-Skelly could be the next off the production line, though at the age of 16 there are still some years ahead of him before making an impact in the first-team. But with Mikel Arteta desperate to sign a defensive midfielder this summer, he could save his money by turning his attention to Hale End.
Two bids were made for Moises Caicedo in January, the last totalling £70million but Brighton turned them down, while West Ham are demanding a nine-figure fee for Declan Rice this summer. Arsenal signed Jorginho on Deadline Day from Chelsea for £12m instead on an 18-month contract, clearly underlining that the Italian is a stop-gap transfer. But by the time that deal is up, Lewis-Skelly will be approaching his 18th birthday and, if his progression continues at this rate, it might not be long before he is knocking on the manager’s door.