Arsenal’s Class of 2024 pals Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly could make Arteta’s dream of conquering Europe with kids come true

MIKEL ARTETA has dreams of winning the Premier League with Arsenal’s precise ain Class of ’92.

Under the mentorship of Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United began to predominate English football from 1992 with academy stars similar David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs and Gary and Phil Neville.

By the extremity of the 2002/03 campaign, that radical of Fergie Fledglings had won 8 Prem titles, 3 FA Cups and 1 Champions League crown.

Back successful August, with 23-year-old Bukayo Saka his lone Hale End starting XI representative, Arteta said: “I privation to person a squad that's fractional academy, fractional overseas and triumph the Premier League and Champions League consistently.”

At the time, it sounded similar a far-fetched property league soundbite.

Six months on, and Arteta’s Class of ’24 are making headlines successful 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri and 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly.

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After joining the seniors connected a pre-season circuit of the States past summer, Lewis-Skelly has rapidly go a cult leader from left-back, leapfrogging experienced pros similar Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Midfielder Nwaneri has been astir Arteta’s squad for a fewer years now, making his sanction successful September 2022 arsenic the youngest-ever Prem debutant astatine 15 years and 181 days earlier different cameo disconnected the seat astatine West Ham successful February 2024.

But this season, the brace person seized their infinitesimal together, taking connected the challenges of the apical formation broadside by side. Jack Wilshere – who managed some successful Arsenal’s U18s – antecedently suggested their immense endowment was “uncoachable” astatine times.

They person already made a combined 41 first-team appearances this term. Nwaneri has 7 goals successful 22 games. Lewis-Skelly has 1 extremity successful 19 games.

Arteta said: “They are precise fortunate to person each other. There is simply a enslaved there. For them, it is special.

“When you spot those 2 walking next to each other, talking to each other, determination is simply a chemistry there.”

Ahead of starting unneurotic for the archetypal clip successful Arsenal’s 5-1 Carabao Cup triumph implicit Bolton successful September, Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly snuck retired onto the Emirates transportation earlier kick-off to soak it each up.

In past week’s 2-1 triumph astatine Girona, connected his archetypal Champions League start, Nwaneri scored a curling quality to gain Man of the Match.

At full-time, arsenic helium had photos with his grant by the broadside of the pitch, who was stood little than six feet distant arsenic his hype man? Of course, Lewis-Skelly.

In the 1-0 triumph astatine Wolves past month, Lewis-Skelly was controversially sent disconnected conscionable earlier fractional clip – connected the time helium and Nwaneri became the archetypal 2 English players aged 18 oregon nether to commencement a Prem lucifer for Arsenal for 26 years.

Lewis-Skelly was affectional and distraught. Nwaneri had been subbed astatine half-time, truthful decided to walk the 2nd fractional successful the Molineux dressing room with Lewis-Skelly, watching the remainder of the lucifer connected a TV screen, celebrating Riccardo Calafiori’s precocious victor together.

They genuinely are inseparable, joining the Arsenal academy successful 2015 arsenic eight-year-olds pursuing a stint astatine Chelsea. Nwaneri precocious revealed: “We person been champion friends since we were six.

"Now we’re successful the Arsenal squad together. It’s crazy, isn’t it?” Yes, it is.

They unrecorded adjacent to each different successful London, and would often bid together. Around the London Colney grooming base, they are perpetually walking arsenic a duo. On flights to games, they are spot buddies.

With England’s U17s, they studied unneurotic for their GCSEs astatine the 2023 European Championships successful Hungarian edifice rooms.

The lone spot they are separated, weirdly, is successful the Emirates archetypal squad dressing room.

Due to safeguarding restrictions, arsenic Nwaneri is nether 18, helium indispensable get changed distant from the radical earlier and aft games.

That volition alteration adjacent period erstwhile Nwaneri celebrates his birthday, not that helium volition person a chaotic party, specified is his reserved and shy personality. He is not yet a earthy connected camera successful interviews.

They whitethorn beryllium adjacent pals, but Lewis-Skelly’s property is the implicit other – emotive and expressive, often bombarding Arteta with questions during grooming sessions.

Having been booked arsenic a sub astatine the Etihad backmost successful September earlier making his Prem debut successful the 2-2 gully against Manchester City, helium squared up to Erling Haaland astatine full-time.

And past weekend, scoring his archetypal elder extremity against City, helium cheekily mimicked Haaland’s meditation celebration.

This is thing new. Subbed disconnected successful the 2-1 triumph implicit Tottenham astatine the Emirates past month, Lewis-Skelly opted to rev up the assemblage and constituent to the badge erstwhile walking astir the broadside of the pitch.

And successful the aftermath of that Spurs win, Lewis-Skelly was seen laughing and joking with nine fable Ian Wright astir his grandma successful beforehand of the cameras.

In contrast, successful Girona, arsenic helium walked successful beforehand of the distant extremity who were singing his name, Nwaneri kept himself to himself, rapidly applauding earlier walking towards the bench.

He excessively scored against City successful the 5-1 thumping, celebrating by simply walking distant and shrugging his shoulders.

They whitethorn beryllium chalk and cheese, but Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri are taking England and Europe by storm, manus successful hand. Perhaps Arteta volition get his privation aft all.