Mikel Arteta intends to give youngsters some experience this season (Picture: Getty Images)
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has backed the academy trio of Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ayden Heaven and Ethan Nwaneri to be involved with the first team this season.
Bukayo Saka is currently the shining example of the strength of the Arsenal academy, but Arteta intends to bring more youngsters through to the senior side.
It has not been a busy summer transfer window for the Gunners so far, with Riccardo Calafiori the only major signing as the season starts, but the manager says it will feel like his side has more new players.
He is backing the trio of 17-year-olds to be involved, while he is also delighted to have Jurrien Timber back from a serious, long-term knee injury.
Asked if Lewis-Kelly and Nwaneri specifically are ready to step up, Arteta told a press conference: ‘Yes, for sure and as well we have Jurrien who we didn’t have last year for 10 months so that’s another one.
‘Myles has played a lot of minutes, Ethan as well, Aiden [Heaven] as well in pre-season. It’s given us a big platform for them to understand how good they are and the options that we have in the squad right now and they’ll certainly be training with us.’
On his bright young talents, Arteta added: ‘What I love the most is their attitude, their personality, how much they want it, the way they were competing in training.
Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ayden Heaven and Ethan Nwaneri are tipped for bright futures at Arsenal (Picture: Getty Images)
‘We throw them in very difficult circumstances and it was a great test to see where they are and they are going to be in a good place.’
Arsenal get their Premier League campaign underway on Saturday afternoon at home to Wolves, which Arteta is expecting to be a taxing contest.
‘Really tough,’ he said of Gary O’Neil’s side. ‘We always have a big challenge to beat them. Gary and the coaching staff have done an incredible job.
‘It’s a really competitive match. They are tricky to attack and to defend because they create chances in various ways. We need to be at our best and if we do that we have a good chance to win the game.’
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