Myles Lewis-Skelly: Arsenal academy star lighting up Emirates

Arsenal do not have a prolific academy like Manchester City or Chelsea, who regularly produce elite youngsters who make the first team or are sold on for profit.

Arteta also spoke recently about his frustration at not being able to replicate Barcelona’s fabled La Masia academy in England because of post-Brexit restrictions on signing players under 18.

But with Bukayo Saka, 23, Nwaneri, 17, and Lewis-Skelly, they are among the top-ranking clubs in the Premier League this season for minutes played by homegrown players.

Former centre-back Per Mertesacker is Arsenal’s academy manager and has known Lewis-Skelly since he was part of the Under-12 team, having first joined the Gunners aged nine.

“I don’t think there’s a particular moment where you see that he would have a good chance to make it to the first team,” Mertesacker said.

“I knew Myles from when he was an Under-12 and going to youth tournaments with all the ups and downs. Sometimes you win and everyone is excited – and sometimes you lose and you start crying.

“It’s just about understanding where everyone is on their journey.”

Lewis-Skelly has looked unfazed with every challenge put in front of him and Mertesacker says the England youth international has shown that characteristic throughout his career.

“With Myles, whatever challenges we put in front of him he seems to be really comfortable and ready.

“That’s probably for me his main trait. If you can stay as cool as possible in those challenging moments then you have a good chance to get an opportunity.”

Lewis-Skelly only signed his first professional contract in October last year and Arsenal are delighted with the progress he has made this season.

“To train around the first team, he rose to that occasion,” Mertesacker added. “He was ready to be ‘coachable’ and to stay humble.

“I would say that is what it is about him as a person that makes me always feel confident. If you have got that humility to value other people, but always look to improve.”

Lewis-Skelly’s mum, Marcia Lewis, knows better than most the jeopardy involved in a young player’s early career.

She runs a platform called NO1Fan.Club, that provides a support network for parents navigating youth football and helps show alternative pathways in the industry for those who don’t quite make it.

Speaking to BBC Sport last September, Lewis said about her son: “He is not an Arsenal first-team player, he is an academy player, he has not ‘made it’.

“He backs himself, we back him, but the realities are what they are… he is competing with multi-million pound players all over the world.”

Mertesacker said that “unconditional” support and a “really good foundation from home” has been vital to Lewis-Skelly’s rise.

“It’s not always an upward curve, for anyone. When it comes to the first team and the challenges that are there and the opportunities, it’s not easy.”