There are 12 academy players joining Arsenal on their USA Tour, including stars like Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, and lesser known talents like Josh Nichols and Jimi Gower. Here’s some key things to know about all 12.
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Huge Chelsea got this done before the beginning of the season. Palmer only had 8 years left on the contract. Close call. Brilliant from Boehly and team.
🚨🔵 Cole Palmer signs new deal at Chelsea with higher salary as reward after excellent first season.
New contract valid until June 2033 now, two more years for Chelsea star as club wanted to get it done before start of new season.
Paperwork signed, as
@David_Ornstein
reports.
Flo Balogun with an unbelievable hattrick today. Penalty. Right footed volley. Left footed volley. 11 shots. 7 on target. 3 goals. 14 goals this season. Golden boot leader in France. 1 more than Mbappe.
HE HAS ARRIVED.
You do realize without the goal we gifted them this is the most dominant performance you’ve seen against a Klopp Liverpool side maybe ever. They didn’t sniff our goal. We could have scored 8. Absolutely insane from Mikel Arteta.
For those worried about Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri potentially not getting on the pitch tonight, look at how excited they look just to be sitting on the bench with Arsenal on a Champions League night. A special day for them no matter how it ends.
It must be said, every time Reiss Nelson comes on when we’re in need of a goal he makes things happen. Constantly driving at goal, playing dangerous balls in the box. A player who knows his role, no complaints, gets it done.
Arsenal getting more shit for losing to Bayern and "bottling the league" than Liverpool going out to Atalanta in the Europa League and losing a 10 point lead at the top of the table.
Interesting.
I have said this before & I'll say it again
I NEVER want us to follow the Chelsea model & buy every available player just for the sake of it. There must always be a route for Academy players into the 1st team. Else we might never see a Rashford or a Garnacho. Thats our identity
Kiwior started 7 matches in a row in the PL for Arsenal last season, during which we won 6, kept 5 clean sheets, conceded 2 goals and scored 25. The only match we didn’t win was away to Manchester City, where we stopped City’s 57 consecutive match streak of scoring at the Etihad.
This is what happens when u sign meady players like Kiwior
Most random, pointless signing the club has made under this regime
4th choice LB and didn’t suit either of our CB roles due to deficiencies
15 year old striker Chido Obi being called up to the Arsenal U21 is not normal. He’s been on fire over the last 12 months, banging goals for Denmark U17 and Arsenal U18. A physical menace, with excellent hold up qualities, can finish well with both feet.
Our homegrown Osimhen.
Bukayo Saka's been scoring near post into the roof of the net from tight angles for a long time. As a LW at Hale End it was one of his specialties, even something we saw at LB/LW with the 1st team. Now he's doing it with his weak foot and it's unstoppable.
Posting a comp of a guy who doesn’t start at u21 level for the same country that Saka is a top 3 player for at the senior level is hysterical. Just zero shame whatsoever.
Bringing Zinchenko on for the “superior defender” Tierney up 3-1, shows exactly what Arteta means when Pep says he’s the most defensive coach ITW. If you control possession the other team can’t create chances. Last year it was Holding on in a low block…
Martinelli is showing Antony levels out there. One guy is attacking the goal, creating odd-man breaks, and delivering menacing crosses. The other is trying to add to his YouTube mixtape attempting juggles in midfield.
Max Dowman (13-years-old) put on a SHOW against Liverpool U16. It wasn't just Chido Obi, but our Wilshere regen bossed the midfield. Watch his ball manipulation, with little bias turning either way. Rolls defenders with ease and great vision in space.
Charlie Patino with a dazzling debut for Swansea. Came on and completely changed the attacking disposition. Patino created 3 chances, including 1 assist, 6/6 crossing, and 22/25 passing. Expect to see him in the starting XI soon.
Unpopular opinion: The Saliba "situation" isn’t a situation & his development has been & is being handled correctly. More game time each season until he’s ready to be a consistent starter at Arsenal. Name me a CB younger than 20 who has consistently started for a Big 6 PL club
Nwaneri RCM has all the potential and more that we once wanted with Smith Rowe in that spot. A player who receives BTL on the turn, drives into space and allows Saka to get the ball in advanced 1v1s. Brilliant.
Myles Lewis-Skelly's sense for weight of passing and angle is unteachable. The ball carrying and physicality always catches the eye, but that passing skill is what makes him a different beast.
Ethan Nwaneri, there’s no questions he’s ready for serious minutes. The physical strength and tenacity he showed chasing that game was top notch. Mentality and calmness.
This is one of the best single match comps I’ve seen. Never mind Nwaneri’s goal; the ability to create from deep, the technique and burst to glide past multiple defenders at once, the free kick off the post, balls over the top into the channel. Wow.
Myles Lewis-Skelly's maturity is unbelievable. This is a 17 year old box to box midfielder playing at LB. The ability to come away with the ball in ground duels and play within himself is top notch.
We already know about his other skills.
[📹
@m4wiii
]
Celebrating your CB pushing forwards because they've let in 3 goals in the first half is an all-time low for Tottenham fans. Bantering themselves at this point.
I’ll never see Saliba or Gabriel do this in one of the biggest derbies in the world.
Being 3-0 down and as a CB you’re pushing forwards and looking for a goal.
What a player.
Ethan Nwaneri simply glides past players on the ball, knowing when to use his burst to create space for himself. The release of his passes are perfectly timed nearly every attempt. And of course he takes goals well when he has the chance.
[
@kimmoFC
}
Nwaneri staying on tells you everything you need to know about his chances at regular 1st team football this year.
You will see Ethan in the Premier League this season.
While the news of Lino Sousa comes as a surprise, Arsenal will now turn to the next inverted fullback at Hale End. Michal Rosiak is the future of that position for the club. Deadly half-space crosser, enjoys spending time in midfield, innovative passing range with both feet.
Myles Lewis-Skelly never looks bothered by pressure, on the ball or off of it. Handles himself like a veteran, riding contact and progressing the ball. Mentality monster.
[
@kimmoFC
]
14-year-old Max Dowman trained with the Arsenal 1st team today. Incredible heights Max is reaching already. One of the youngest to ever train with Arsenal's 1st team.
[
@jeorgebird
]
That’s 3 goals in 3 games for Folarin Balogun!! Last season the loan spell was all about gaining CF attributes. This season it’s a joint banging in goals. Excellent development plan. Flow’s found himself in the right areas of the box at the right time.
🏴U17: Ethan Nwaneri scored twice in 61 mins. Myles Lewis-Skelly played 61 mins.
🏴U18: Lino Sousa came on as a sub.
🏴U19: Reuell Walters played 90 mins at RB. Amario Cozier-Duberry came on in the 77th min.
🏴U20: Brooke Norton-Cuffy started and assisted the 1st goal.
I’m getting married tomorrow!
Probably won’t be on here much for the next week or so. Hopefully coming back to 6 points earned for the Arsenal.
See ya then 🤝
Mika Biereth’s incredible season has come to a close. He lifted 2 pieces of silverware, played European football, and became a club hero at Sturm Graz. His season by the numbers:
Motherwell:
⚽️ 6
🅰️ 5
Sturm Graz:
⚽️ 9
🅰️ 4
🏆 Austrian Cup
🏆 Austrian Bundesliga
Charlie Patino is seemingly heading to Swansea on loan. It appears the club has potentially convinced him he is still a part of the long term project, and one more year on loan will give him the experience needed. Huge news for Arsenal.
Folarin Balogun's 2nd goal for Middlesbrough was a worldie!! Flo hit the curler sweetly and found the corner of the net. He truly is growing every game. It's wonderful to watch.
The news of Fabio Vieira going out on loan means one thing, Ethan Nwaneri will play a major role in the 1st team squad this year. Relied on week in and week out. It’s Ethan’s time.
Mika Biereth with an incredible solo goal and assist to bring home the 3 points for Motherwell in his debut. Putting on display his incredible technical skill, balance, and physical prowess. A
#9
for the future.
Karl Hein made his debut for Real Valladolid today, keeping a clean sheet and making 2 saves. Hein faced .81 xGOT, with both saves coming on shots from inside the box. Hot start for Karl!
If we’ve learned anything from preseason, Thomas Partey cannot play a role for Arsenal this season. Legs are gone. Hurts his decision making. Must sell now.
Mika Biereth being tied at the top alongside one of the biggest u21 prospect in Europe while scoring 7 goals in 12 starts and missing 2 months with a knee injury is actually insane.
I'm not sure people realize the talent we have on our hands. The finishing gene is only one part.
LHS was clearly Arsenal’s biggest issue for the entirety of last season. So Arteta and Edu go after Calafiori and Merino to solve that issue first. Smart business.
RW cover next.
I'm sure this will cause an Arsenal fan meltdown, but there's a clear difference in Bobb/Hamilton vs. Nwaneri/Sousa/Walters.
Bobb & Hamilton are 20. Bobb has 60 u21 appearances & 4 for Norway's senior team.
Walters & Sousa are 18, Nwaneri 16. None represent England above U19.
Mika Biereth scored 2 goals in the first 18 minutes of Sturm Graz’s match today. He has them first in the Austrian Bundesliga, ahead of RB Salzburg, who have won the league 10 years in a row. Sturm Graz haven’t won the league since 2010/11.
Savior. Leader. Starlet.
Mika Biereth is going back to Sturm Graz on a permanent transfer. Fee likely not huge up front, but will have a sell on clause and we continue to grow our relationship with one of the best clubs in Austria.
Best of luck Mika!
[Exclusive from
@EduardoHagn
👏🏻]
Myles Lewis-Skelly and Jimi Gower do what they do best to equalize for Arsenal U21 with 10 minutes to go. Lewis-Skelly powers past multiple defenders in the box to find Jimi Gower making a late run. Side-footing it into the back of the net.
Ayden Heaven went under the radar for as long as he could. Tonight the world is seeing what he can do. Don't be fooled, this isn't a long term CB. This is a beast in midfield.