The news of Myles Lewis-Skelly’s first call-up to England’s senior team brought plenty of joy to Sobha Realty Training Centre on Friday.
Players and staff were spotted congratulating our Hale End Academy graduate, with Bukayo Saka taking the time at lunch to sit down with our latest Three Lions international.
Mikel Arteta was in equally high spirits of course, having trusted Myles with plenty of first-team minutes this season.
“I’m very proud of him,” our manager said, reacting to the news. “It's a huge moment for him and for the club as well. One of our graduates getting the call for England, it's a massive thing, so very happy.
“Thomas [Tuchel] is a top coach. I know a few people around him and the set-up in England, and I have no doubt that they will do the right thing with him.
“We are all really, really happy because it's a really nice story and a story that gives a lot of hope to a lot of young players that in six, seven months, your career can change dramatically, drastically for the good.
“So it's something for people to be inspired by. I think it hasn't happened because he was lucky. I think he pushed for every chance to make it happen and the way he's done it.”
Members of the media had sat down with under-18s head coach Adam Birchall recently, and during that discussion he spoke about how important it is for Myles and Ethan Nwaneri to develop individually, not to be seen as the same project.
“Yeah, any comparison there I don't think is right,” Mikel elaborated. “I think they have a very similar pathway because obviously they played so many years together but after that they're going to have different moments and each career will be unique and individual for them and they're going to have to earn it and what one does is not going to reflect or affect the other one in a positive or negative way so that needs to be totally independent.
“It's great, it's a luxury to have someone that you spend so much time with, trust and love next to you on that journey, use it in that way, that's it and the rest is a way away.
“They are almost the age of my oldest son! Just for that factor, I can see a lot of similarities, but both of them have a great family, a great environment and they are in charge of that part of the education. Obviously we have a big responsibility and a lot of things that are related to that as well but they are in good hands.
“We are here just to support and guide them in many other aspects and yeah, if they need something they know that they can open the door and have that conversation.”
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