Mikel Arteta has said he wants to continue developing players from the Arsenal academy into first-team regulars - adding that youngsters now develop quicker than during his playing days. Last season, both Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly had their breakthrough campaigns in senior football, with Lewis-Skelly going on to sign a new long-term contract with the club and also make his England debut. Arteta has included two 15-year-olds, Max Dowman and Marli Salmon, in his 30-man squad that is touring Singapore and Hong Kong during pre-season.
Mikel Arteta has said he wants to continue developing players from the Arsenal academy into first-team regulars - adding that youngsters now develop quicker than during his playing days.
Last season, both Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly had their breakthrough campaigns in senior football, with Lewis-Skelly going on to sign a new long-term contract with the club and also make his England debut.
Arteta has included two 15-year-olds, Max Dowman and Marli Salmon, in his 30-man squad that is touring Singapore and Hong Kong during pre-season.
Dowman has been around the first team for a long time and travelled with the senior squad for their training camp in Dubai in January.
"We want to get as much talent as we possibly can from the academy and bring it up to the first team," said the Arsenal boss.
"This is a beautiful context for them to get involved. We have already a few of them in Murcia, in Spain and it is a joy.
"The way they adapt at that age, I could not do - but I think this generation goes faster. They are ready a little bit earlier.
"We don't have to rush. Make sure we manage the right steps and the right expectations for all of them, and then let's see what they demand."
Category: General Sports
