Arsenal’s 5-1 win over Bolton Wanderers felt like a League Cup match of old at the Emirates Stadium. Four academy players were given their first competitive starts, while another two made debuts off the bench. All the starters in question were born after the stadium opened in July 2006.
Ethan Nwaneri became the first player to represent Arsenal born after the stadium was built when he made his debut at 15 against Brentford in September 2022. On a night when he marked his first start with two goals, the 17-year-old was joined from the start by Myles Lewis-Skelly (born September 2006), Josh Nichols (born four days after Dennis Bergkamp’s testimonial in July 2006) and 16-year-old Jack Porter (born in July 2008).
Under the Emirates spotlight for the first time in competitive football, The Athletic assesses how they coped, with insight from some who have helped along the way.
Ethan Nwaneri
Excitement around Nwaneri has been building since he became the youngest player to appear in the Premier League two years ago, but patience has been key. During the 2022-23 season he played in both the under-18s and under-21s across four attacking positions, so as not to pigeonhole him too early. Last season there was more specific focus on developing him as a ‘pocket player’ which is where he excelled in pre-season and in his first competitive start against Bolton.
Played as a right-sided No 8, his ability to evade pressure sparked genuine gasps from the Emirates crowd. It was how crisp his passes out to the left wing were that gave the newest indication of his quality before his goals. The first came as he recognised a moment to attack space from deep and capitalise as he often did for the under-21s last season. His second displayed the self-belief he possesses, turning down the option to pass to shoot and score instead — a bold decision at 17.
“Overall, I think he was really good,” manager Mikel Arteta said in his post-match press conference. “It was a really strong performance for him. I think he really feels part of us. You can tell he’s playing with that confidence, belief and the understanding of what he needs to do on the pitch. It’s another step. I think he’s ahead of what anybody could expect.”
That confidence clearly grew as the game progressed. When he was brought on to help Arsenal see out their 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month, Nwaneri was tasked with carrying the ball through midfield and blocking shots on the edge of his own box. Against Bolton, he did not hesitate to drive forward with the ball but also harassed opposition midfielders when they had possession — both positive signs.
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Myles Lewis-Skelly
It is hard to talk about Nwaneri without mentioning Lewis-Skelly in the same breath. After all, Nwaneri’s first goal would not have happened had it not been for Lewis-Skelly’s defence-splitting ball that found Raheem Sterling on the left.
The pair have also been trusted by Arteta to come on late in games against Tottenham and Manchester City. “I’m really proud of them because they are dealing with a situation that is probably a little unexpected,” Arteta said before the Bolton game. “They have had the chance to play in two of the most historic and difficult grounds in the Premier League and both responded really well.”
He described both as “really pushy and demanding” before saying of Lewis-Skelly: “He’s a competitor. You look at him, in every duel he goes, the way he reacts with his team-mates, you speak to him it’s constantly eye contact. He’s nudging, he’s asking questions, he’s a special character.”
That competitive edge was on display against Bolton, with the 17-year-old very front-footed in his defending in certain moments. That special, demanding personality Arteta talks of is nothing new when it comes to Lewis-Skelly, however.
“Myles was a good, lively character,” Des Ryan, University of Galway Director of Sport and former Arsenal Head of Sports Medicine & Athletic Development, tells The Athletic.
“He was the energy in the room with a hearty laugh while still being diligent. He was chatty and inquisitive, which we liked. Assessing academy players, as a child you have to be comfortable in the chaos. As youth players, you help them understand rules and repercussions. Then at 16 and above you help them become young adults. Myles was like a young adult in the youth phase.
“I was doing some live GPS and the technology wasn’t working but I was going to try to pull off that it was. Of course, he’s the first person to ask, ‘What did I get? Who got the most? Show me the data’, and I had to go, ‘Sorry, it didn’t work’. Fair play to him, he asked the right questions and made my face go red.”
Those familiar with Lewis-Skelly will know he is a midfielder who is playing left-back. Jack Wilshere was particularly impressed with him in the under-18s’ FA Youth Cup run in 2022-23 because he could “do things you can’t coach” in regard to how well he received and carried the ball through midfield.
The 17-year-old has spent more time at left-back, with under-21s head coach Mehmet Ali telling The Athletic: “It’s been a great journey with Myles. Firstly, his mindset is outstanding. As a young man, he’s very mature for his age and always wants to improve. When you play for a club like Arsenal, you have to play multiple positions. The first team have seen attributes in him that mean even as a left-back, in possession he is playing as a midfielder.
“He’s had to learn a lot quickly out of possession and that will keep improving over time. You have to be able to stop crosses, defend one-versus-one and protect your own space as well as the far post when crosses are coming in.”
He has suffered at left-back in some games at under-21 level, and had minor teething issues in the role during pre-season, but the past few days have shown why Arsenal value him so much. Still just 17, it is important to note Arteta has not completely shut the door on Lewis-Skelly playing in midfield either.
Josh Nichols
Of the academy starters, Nichols arguably saw the most of the ball in the first half. Much of Arsenal’s play came down his side and that is how they got their opener. The 18-year-old’s one-two with Nwaneri got him down the wing before his low cross was deflected to Declan Rice on the edge of the box.
Busier than his agemates, the night was not straightforward for Nichols but he still gave a good account of himself. That is not unusual considering some of his experiences in under-21s football. He has played both right and left-back for Ali in recent seasons and has dealt with fairly big asks when doing so.
“Josh is a very clever footballer and someone we can trust to do that role (inverted right-back),” Ali told The Athletic after a 3-3 draw with Manchester City under-21s last season. “In games like this in development, you’re going to have mismatches on the pitch. He was playing against an 03, he’s an 05-born but did really well. Josh is a bright footballer with a bright future.”
Jack Porter
The 16-year-old became the youngest player to start for Arsenal, the second youngest behind Nwaneri to appear for the club and the youngest goalkeeper in the club’s history. With David Raya and Tommy Setford injured, and Neto cup-tied, Porter was the man (or boy) to start.
After Bolton wasted some early chances, he did not have much to do. Arsenal kept most of the play in Bolton’s half, which made for encouraging cheers when Porter claimed the ball unchallenged in the first half. He was unfortunate to be left on his own to defend the counter-attack for Bolton’s eventual goal, with his hesitation at Aaron Collins’ heavy touch natural considering his age.
He had one scare when a pass to Gabriel Magalhaes bounced off Collins and out for a goal kick, but mostly kept things simple in possession. The lasting memory of the night may be his final action, a clean claim of a corner which prompted mass cheers across the stadium.
Maldini Kacurri and Ismeal Kabia came on for their debuts in the second half too, while Alexei Rojas Fedorushchenko and Ayden Heaven made up the academy representation on the bench.
Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, Nichols, Rojas Fedorushchenko and Heaven all travelled on Arsenal’s tour of the U.S. this summer. Talking about what they had learned upon their return, Ali said: “Their level of sharpness on the pitch, understanding where pressure is coming from and moving the ball with quality.
“They’ve matured as players off the pitch too. Their temperament or control of their emotions is better. They’ve got better coping strategies when things aren’t going as well and that’s all because of the environment and the players they’re around.”
Pushed on these developments off the pitch, Arteta added: “What I’ve seen is that they’ve developed in a really positive way. To influence others and raise the standards. They are responsible for that because they have to carry others as well now. Their attitude has been superb.
“It’s not easy when you spend five or six weeks with the first team and then have to play at a different level but this is where they are at the moment and they’re going to have more chances because they have conducted themselves in the right way.”
Bukayo Saka has carried the academy torch for the past six years. Wilshere was the last player to do so with similar consistency and has inspired plenty of players who have come after him. Funnily enough, he can now be found on the new stadium artwork and scored his first goal for the club in a third-round League Cup win at the Emirates — a 6-0 thrashing of Sheffield United 16 years ago this week.
Nights like this in the Carabao Cup have been a long time coming under Arteta, but this could represent a step in the right direction for those looking to make the move up from the academy.
(Top photo: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
