The young guns with big chance to shine for Arteta

Academy stars travel with high hopes in depleted Arsenal squad

- Simon Collings

POSING for a photo at Stansted Airport before their flight to America last Sunday, the Arsenal squad was full of beaming and youthful smiles.

Mikel Arteta has taken 12 academy players to the States for a tour which kicks off tonight, when the Gunners take on Bournemouth in Los Angeles.

Midfielders Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, both 17, are two of the young prospects being tipped to make an impact, and centre-back Ayden Heaven, also 17, is another player knocking on the door of the first team.

The number of academy players with an opportunity to impress is in stark contrast to a year ago, when just one teenager travelled on the club’s pre-season tour, also to the US.

Senior starter shaving an extended break after the Copa America and Euro 2024 has opened the door for a talented group of young players, and the timing for Arsenal could not be better, given some of the scrutiny of their academy at the moment.