Arsenal chief admits club would consider selling Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly if right offer arrives

Arsenal chief executive Richard Garlick has admitted the club would “obviously consider” selling Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly if the right offer materialised, though he stressed Arsenal are “not actively looking” to move either player on.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Garlick outlined the club’s position on two of its most-discussed academy products: “I think Myles has had a fantastic end to last season and has started this one really well — we’re very, very happy with him. Ethan has had a great pre-season as well and I think it’s just a case of looking at what opportunities there are that will help both of those in terms of their career moving forward. We are not actively looking at selling those homegrown players but if the right opportunity came up — right for them and the club — we’d obviously consider that.”

The admission reflects the squeeze both players face in a deepening Arsenal squad. Lewis-Skelly’s path into midfield has been narrowed by the successive summer signings of Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi, and Bruno Guimarães, while Nwaneri has seen Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, and Christos Tzolis arrive to compete for wide attacking roles since his debut in 2022. Lewis-Skelly has reportedly been offered to Chelsea and Manchester United, though he did start Arsenal’s Community Shield victory on Sunday.

Nwaneri’s situation is particularly stark. Despite signing a long-term contract at the Emirates, he failed to start a single Premier League game last season, managing only six substitute appearances before heading out on loan to Marseille for the second half of the campaign. Lewis-Skelly made 20 appearances in total, but only five of those came from the start.

Manager Mikel Arteta has hinted that a permanent departure for Nwaneri this summer remains possible. “I want him to be at the club but something is in the medium-long term what is best for the player as well,” Arteta said. “Ethan needs to play football and if he stays here it’s because we can guarantee that he can have those minutes.”

With Max Dowman also emerging from Arsenal’s youth system to add further competition, both Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly face a pivotal few weeks before the transfer window closes.