Myles Lewis-Skelly & Ethan Nwaneri – The Rise Of Hale End
“49, 49, Myles Lewis Skelly! He’s one of our own! He’s one of our own. Ethan Nwaneri, he’s one of our own!”
Arsenal’s 5-1 win vs Manchester City was a resounding triumph for the Gunners, a victory much needed in their quest to catch Liverpool at the top of the table. Yet it was also a triumph for Arsenal’s academy as their graduates Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri scored in such a high profile fixture.
Known as Hale End, it has always been part of Arsenal’s history to produce young talent in the academy. As far back in the 1970s it produced players like Liam Brady, David O’Leary, Tony Adams, David “Rocky” Rocastle, Perry Groves, Cesc Fabregas, Ashley Cole, Jack Wilshere and recently Emile Smith-Rowe and Bukayo Saka. In Saka, along with Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri, these young talents shape a new Hale End that has gone from strength to strength since former player Per Mertesacker took over as academy director in 2018.
Hale End is different to other clubs’ academy systems in that it focuses from those under 9 years old right up to U16 level Those seen as ready are promoted to Arsenal’s training ground at London Colney to play at U18 & U21 level. Those who aren’t are released. Such is the brutality of academy football, but the reasoning is simple, as Mertesacker told ESPN in an article back in July 2023:
“Here at London Colney, U18s, U21s, first team, women’s, men’s, is more directed into performance, the success, the winning. Hale End is the development environment that we feel is needed more centrally to recruit the right players and people for us to mould them until they arrive onto the full-time programme scholarship and make their transition here.
At the moment, we feel that’s right for Arsenal and has shown that recruiting from the areas we can recruit at Hale End works for us. Hale End is a place we love, a place we believe is right for us at the moment. And I am speaking for all academy staff basically that have experienced it and probably all academy players because they come back and feel the vibe around the place.”
Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri have been part of this environment at Hale End – both signing at eight years old. Their talents quickly noticed, both players made their mark at youth level. For Lewis-Skelly, it was back in May 2021 as a 14 year old, making his debut for the U18’s off the bench in a league game vs Reading. Collecting the ball, he drove past a few Reading players (a few years above him) and lashed a powerful shot into the corner.
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In that video, Lewis-Skelly’s calmness in possession, along with his ability to carry the ball is what sets him apart from others. Moreover, his physicality is such that he almost enjoys contact, showing no fear when called upon by Mikel Arteta in the Premier League this season. His versatility is a plus – mainly used as a midfielder at U18/U21 level but also a left back. Even as a 16 year old, he was called into first team training during the mid season 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
As for Nwaneri (who also debuted in that Reading game and scored), such was his prodigious talent at Hale End what he was playing in the U16s at 13 years old and like Lewis-Skelly was playing at U18 level at 14 years old. Such was his ability that then technical director Edu informed then new manager Mikel Arteta of Nwaneri upon being appointed head coach of Arsenal in December 2019.
Arteta would promptly summon then Under-16s coach Dan Micciche to his office where Arteta said to Micciche: “so, I hear you’ve got a player for me…” As Micciche told football.london back in late September 2024:
“His biggest quality was his decision making. I remember saying to Luke Hobbs [Arsenal’s head of academy coaching], Per Mertesacker [the head of Arsenal’s academy] and Lee Herron [Arsenal academy’s head of operations] when I was pushing for him to be playing in the Under-18s as a 14-year-old, that he would become the youngest player to play in our first team and he did.”
Nwaneri would make his first team debut off the bench for Arsenal aged 15 and 181 days in September 2022 to become the youngest player in the Premier League. Though some wondered if it was too young to give a 15 year old a league debut, Nwaneri’s talents would answer it during his time in the academy.
Possessing excellent dribbling, passing and close control qualities, there are several videos online of his trademark cut inside and bending a left foot shot into the far corner. What helped is his footballing education while at Hale End as Nwaneri himself explained when speaking to the club website last year:
“Around under-14s and under-15s I played as a striker a bit more, and that was good for my development because I really improved my finishing then. I played a bit as a defensive midfielder too in my under-16 season, and right wing, left wing, too. That all added a lot to my game.”
Both Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri have displayed a maturity beyond their years that has led to being fast-tracked to the first team. One major development for both players was the 2022-23 season where Arsenal U18s (coached by Jack Wilshere) reached the final of the famous FA Youth Cup.
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Though at the time many eyes were on Nwaneri after his league debut in September 2022, it was Lewis-Skelly who would also gain acclaim for his performances. In the fifth round tie against Watford in February 2023, Lewis-Skelly put in a stirring display from defensive midfield. Comfortable on the ball, making forward incisive passes to cause Watford trouble, a base for Arsenal to play from as they recovered from being 2-0 down at half time to win 4-2.
In the quarter final win against Cambridge United, Lewis-Skelly showcased his burgeoning ability by driving across midfield to lay the ball off to Nwaneri to score on the half volley. It was in the semi final at home to Manchester City where he put in another top performance, utilising his confidence in getting out of vulnerable positions with his tricky feet.
He also showed his bravery in the final minute of extra time with the score at 1-1, a cross into the box was deflected and looped into the air, Lewis-Skelly bravely nodded past the City goalkeeper to win the game. Though losing to West Ham in the final, Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly enhanced their reputations, both signing professional contracts upon reaching the age of 17.
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The 2024-25 season has been transformational for both youngsters as injuries has allowed Arteta to give them minutes. Each test has been overcome – for Lewis-Skelly it was an accomplished performance in his first Champions League start vs Monaco and excelling in the North London derby against Tottenham along with scoring against Manchester City.
As for Nwaneri, he’s gone from strength to strength when presented with opportunities. Whether it’s the Premier League, Champions League or League Cup, this season has seen him score his trademark goal of cutting inside and using his left foot to whip the ball into the far corner. At the time of writing, Nwaneri has scored 7 goals in 689 minutes this season – a goal every 89 minutes.
The emergence of Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri has excited Arsenal fans of how high their ceiling can be. Moreover, it is a vindication of Hale End, with more talents to come, as 15 year old Max Dowman is also making waves.
The futures of Lewis Skelly and Nwaneri are bright. So is Hale End.
By: Yousef Teclab / @TeclabYousef
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Stuart MacFarlane / Arsenal FC