Arsenal academy graduates Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly have uncertain prospects ahead after the club’s chief executive suggested neither player’s departure could be completely ruled out.
Richard Garlick addressed the futures of both young players during a conversation with BBC’s Dan Roan. The north London club would consider offers for the pair if the circumstances proved suitable, though the executive stressed there is no desire to push either player toward the exit.
Reports emerged that Lewis-Skelly had been offered to rival clubs Chelsea and Manchester United this summer. Nwaneri, meanwhile, has attracted loan enquiries from German side RB Leipzig, while Galatasaray also expressed interest after failing to secure Gabriel Martinelli earlier this month.
Speaking publicly about the situation, Garlick stated the club does not actively seek to move on homegrown players but acknowledged that appropriate deals would receive consideration if they benefited all parties involved.
The CEO had previously spoken about the organisation’s commitment to youth development, noting the club’s track record of producing first-team talent and identifying Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri as recent success stories. He emphasised that selling academy products is not an objective but acknowledged that transfer interest is commonplace in professional football.
When pressed on whether he wanted both players to remain, Garlick highlighted Lewis-Skelly’s impressive finish to the previous campaign and strong start to the current season, while praising Nwaneri’s pre-season preparations. He indicated the club would evaluate what possibilities exist for both the individuals and the team.
Nwaneri seems the more probable candidate to leave given the fierce competition for midfield positions, whereas Lewis-Skelly has established himself as a reliable option in the centre of the pitch.
The latter featured for over 60 minutes in each of Arsenal’s pre-season fixtures following a run of starts at the end of last term, which encompassed the Champions League final. He was selected ahead of Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi for Sunday’s Community Shield victory against Manchester City, providing an assist for Riccardo Calafiori’s goal with a precise pass in behind the opposition defence.
Nwaneri also accumulated considerable playing time during the recent friendly matches, though his exclusion from the matchday squad last weekend offered a clue regarding his potential next move. Martinelli was likewise absent, with his own situation remaining unclear despite the Brazilian having turned down a switch to the Turkish champions recently.
Addressing the omission of both players, manager Mikel Arteta expressed his hope that the Premier League would introduce a rule modification permitting larger squads, particularly for outfield players. He explained that the mounting volume of fixtures creates an unsustainable burden and that denying opportunities to talented individuals based on squad size restrictions represented a disappointing aspect of the role. The Spanish coach noted the regulation permits only 18 outfield players and stated the selections made reflected what he believed the game required, particularly considering the physical condition of certain squad members.