Arsenal have embarked on a major recruitment drive at youth level recently and have started to blood more academy players. There is excitement about the current crop of youngsters at the club and what they could achieve going into 2025. Here, Standard Sport takes a look at three Arsenal youngsters to keep an eye on in 2025….
The 17-year-old has broken into the first-team squad this season and now looks ready to show why he has been hyped up for so many years. Nwaneri has predominantly played as a No8 for Arsenal, on the right of the midfield three, but Mikel Arteta believes he could end up elsewhere.
“Ethan can play as a right attacking midfielder, a left attacking midfielder,” said the Arsenal manager this month. “He can play as a right winger and there is another position I think he can develop into - No9.”. The prospect of Nwaneri becoming a striker is exciting, not least because it is an area that Arsenal need to strengthen in.
He played as a striker for Arsenal youth teams at times and was the Under-18’s No9 in their run to the FA Youth Cup Final in the 2022-23 season. Nwaneri usually plays as a false nine when asked to lead the line and he came on upfront for the final few minutes of Arsenal’s win at Crystal Palace earlier this month.
The 18-year-old is best friends with Nwaneri and the pair have come through Arsenal’s youth academy at the same time. Nwaneri has always had more attention on him, but Arsenal are just as excited about Lewis-Skelly. He, unlike Nwaneri, has started in the Premier League this season and performed well at left-back.
