Arsenal's Academy Stars Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri at Risk of Transfer

Arsenal’s academy jewels Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri could yet be sacrificed in the final weeks of the transfer window, with chief executive Tim Lewis-Garlick refusing to shut the door on big-money exits.

The Premier League champions have moved quietly so far this summer. Christos Tzolis and Bruno Guimaraes have arrived to deepen a title-winning squad, but Mikel Arteta still wants more – specifically a defender to cover the injured William Saliba and another forward to sharpen the attack. To make that happen, Arsenal may have to sell before they buy, and the spotlight has fallen on two of their brightest homegrown prospects.

Door left open for Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri

Nwaneri appears the more vulnerable of the pair right now. The 17-year-old, long tipped as one of the most gifted players to come through Hale End in years, was left out of the matchday squad entirely for Sunday’s Community Shield win over Manchester City. In a window where every omission is read like a signal, that absence has only fuelled talk of a possible departure.

Lewis-Skelly, by contrast, has been front and centre. The England youth international produced a commanding display in midfield during that same Community Shield victory, a performance that underlined why he is now being linked with a £45 million move to Manchester United and Chelsea. Two of Arsenal’s fiercest rivals circling for a teenager who has just announced himself on the big stage – it’s a scenario that tests any club’s resolve.

Speaking to the BBC, Garlick made it clear Arsenal are not actively trying to cash in on their academy stars, but he stopped well short of any guarantees.

“I think Myles has had a fantastic end to last season and he’s started this season really well and we are very very happy with him,” he said. “Ethan’s had a great pre-season as well and it’s just a case of looking at what opportunities there are that will help both of those players in terms of their careers moving forwards but we are not actively looking at selling those homegrown players.

“If the right opportunity came up and it was right for them and it was right for the club then we’d obviously consider that.”

The message was clear: Arsenal will listen.

Pride in Hale End, pressure in the market

Inside the club, there is no doubt about how highly both teenagers are rated. They have impressed Arteta’s staff throughout pre-season, training and playing alongside senior champions without looking out of place. Hale End’s production line remains a point of pride in north London, and Garlick was keen to stress that selling academy products is not a strategic aim.

“We obviously believe in our academy and have been very successful with the players that have come through that academy, Myles and Ethan being two of those,” he added. “Everybody loves to see those homegrown players coming through and pulling on the shirt and contributing to the success of the team.

“It’s not something that we aim to just sell only homegrown players, as I say trading players is something that comes up all the time. There’s been a lot of speculation surrounding players. I can’t stop other clubs being interested in our players.”

That last line cuts to the heart of Arsenal’s dilemma. Interest is real. The market is aggressive. And the champions, for all their status, are still working within financial boundaries that may force a painful decision.

Arsenal want to strengthen for another title push. The question now is whether that next step forward comes at the cost of two of the club’s most exciting homegrown talents.