Lewis-Skelly impressed by Arsenal academy talent in pre-season

Photo: Timmy96 / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons

Myles Lewis-Skelly has praised the attitude of Arsenal's younger players after the club's pre-season tour of Spain and Ireland, where several academy prospects featured alongside the first team.

The 19-year-old midfielder, who has now made 75 appearances for Arsenal's first team since graduating from the Hale End Academy, said the youngsters showed the right qualities during the trip.

"They're all so coachable, definitely. They're all so willing to learn, willing to impose themselves on the game and credit to them for being able to step on this pitch with personality. That's one thing I always tell them, be brave, be courageous and be yourself when you're playing," Lewis-Skelly said.

Many of the academy players featured in Arsenal's 4-1 pre-season victory over Girona at the weekend and again in the midweek match against Real Betis.

Lewis-Skelly, who has started both of Arsenal's last two pre-season games, also reported his own fitness is progressing well ahead of the new campaign.

"Overall, we just take so many positives from this trip away. As a team, we have more clarity; we're a lot fitter as a bunch of boys. We take a lot of positives away from the overall experience and just momentum for the next upcoming games we have," he added.

Arsenal return home next, with Lewis-Skelly welcoming the prospect of playing in front of the club's supporters again. "It's always amazing to be back at home, be back in front of our fans, in front of our people. It will be good to be back," he said.