Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has moved to shut down speculation over the future of Myles Lewis-Skelly, declaring he is entirely confident the 19-year-old will remain at the club beyond the closing of the summer transfer window.
The young midfielder, a product of Arsenal's Hale End academy, has drawn interest from rival sides including Manchester United after establishing himself as a regular in the Gunners' midfield during the closing stages of last season's title-winning campaign. When pressed on how certain he was that Lewis-Skelly would not depart the Emirates this summer, Arteta gave an unequivocal response: "100 per cent."
The Spanish coach used his pre-match press conference ahead of Arsenal's Premier League opener against newly promoted Coventry City to underline the club's commitment to protecting homegrown talent. Winger Ethan Nwaneri, another academy graduate who has attracted transfer interest, was also referenced by Arteta as he explained the value the club places on players who have come through its youth system.
"The players that have been raised in our system and they feel the love and the connection with the club bring something else," Arteta said. "We need to look after them in a really special way. When we can, we want to protect those assets as much as possible. Develop them and make them very important to the club."
According to reports, Lewis-Skelly himself has no intention of leaving Arsenal this summer, easing any concerns that the speculation might unsettle the player. Meanwhile, the club continues to work on offloading fringe players including Reiss Nelson, Fabio Vieira and Gabriel Jesus as it looks to balance the books during the transfer window.
Arteta also addressed suggestions that Arsenal's modest transfer sales in recent years — their record departure fee remains the £35million received from Liverpool for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain nearly a decade ago — represent a shortcoming as a selling club. He rejected that characterisation, pointing instead to the growth and stability the club has achieved.
"Not bad or good, it's what you have in relation to the options you have to sell," Arteta explained. "Maybe we would have been extraordinary depending on the level of players that we have, the ability, their contracts, and the will to go. A possible issue you can face is that maybe you want to make certain decisions with certain players but they are that happy that they want to stay as well."
Asked whether Arsenal needed to sell players before pursuing further additions this summer, Arteta insisted the club's financial trajectory gave it greater flexibility than most European rivals. "There isn't a club in Europe that has had the growth that Arsenal have had in terms of the value, the performances, the revenues. That's something very big. Some other clubs, maybe they need to sell. I think we have taken an approach that has increased the level and the capacity of the club big time."
On the pitch, Arsenal have already strengthened their squad this summer with the additions of winger Christos Tzolis and midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, while a £50million deal for Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa is close to completion and could see him available as soon as this weekend or for the trip to Villa Park that follows.
Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, both left out of the starting line-up for last weekend's Community Shield win over Manchester City following their return from World Cup duty, are fit and available for the visit of Coventry. Guimaraes, who required ice on his leg after that Community Shield victory, remains a doubt, with Arteta saying: "Let's see how he is. He's evolving really well." Jurrien Timber has yet to return to first-team training, while William Saliba continues to be sidelined with a long-term back injury.
Reflecting on the season ahead as Arsenal begin the defence of their Premier League crown, Arteta spoke of the mentality required to sustain success. "Ultimately, the goal we all know is to win as many major trophies as we possibly can," he said. "The players need to be the best version, and I feel fresh with a lot of energy and ready to go again."
Based on reporting from Independent Football and Standard Football.