It is easy to forget, because of how much of a positive impact they made, that Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri were only peripheral to the Arsenal squad at the start of last season. By the end, they had both made 23 Premier League appearances.
For Nwaneri, it was an introduction to the level, but for Lewis-Skelly, it was a genuine breakthrough. The left-back-cross-midfielder ended with 39 senior games under his belt, a senior England call-up (plus start and goal), and experience in massively high-pressure scenarios.
Lewis-Skelly was in Arteta's best team, not just his available one. Having not made a start until December 14, he ended it with 15 in the league alone. He had been behind Riccardo Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jurrien Timber, and Jakub Kiwior there in August but was ahead of them all by the turn of the year.
It is a credit to Arteta, the Hale End pathway, and Lewis-Skelly himself that this all happened so seamlessly. By April and May he was facing up against Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue, and Achraf Hakimi on the Paris Saint-Germain right flank in both legs of the Champions League semi-final.
Arsenal have always had high hopes for Lewis-Skelly but even those who have watched him closely will have been impressed by just how easily he took to the very top. Not only did he prove himself when Arteta was running out of alternatives, he made sure that the chance he had been given did not go begging.
Lewis-Skelly ended the league season with over 1,000 league minutes more than Kieran Tierney, 800 more than Zinchenko, and 400 more than Calafiori. Much of that is to do with fitness but it is also about merit, tactical fit, and Lewis-Skelly's performance levels.
Injuries to key members of the defence, including Ben White, forced a rejig throughout for Arteta, but Lewis-Skelly did more than just hold the place. He took it over.
Getting almost 2,500 minutes out of him would not have been in the plans at the start of last season but will now be in Arteta's mind ahead of 2025/26. He can count on Lewis-Skelly either in the first-choice XI or as rotation and cover, at bare minimum.
The same must be said for Nwaneri. He is six months younger than Lewis-Skelly and was still 17 when making his initial inroads into the team. Coming in after Martin Odegaard's injury and Bukayo Saka's spell on the sidelines, Nwaneri delivered on the promise and hype immediately.
In League Cup fixtures with a youthful team around him, Nwaneri often looked the part as a senior head despite being younger than many he was playing with. The spark of freedom and opportunity shone through as he scored three times to help secure passage to the quarter-finals whilst gradually becoming a Premier League option as well.
Nwaneri was in the frame more than Lewis-Skelly, especially early doors. Arteta drip fed the attacker minutes but as performances became stagnant, many were left wanting more. It is understandable why, given the glimpses of majesty that he showed.
The best run came in January and February when injuries across the frontline created a regular spot for him. He played in 13 consecutive league games (although six of those were from the bench) and 15 of the final 19. Only a knock stopped him from increasing that number.
Arsenal players Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri
Arsenal have a brilliant academy which is flourishing again (Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Given he is competing with the club captain and Declan Rice in either of the two more advanced midfield roles, Nwaneri has bigger obstacles than Lewis-Skelly. From a new member of the senior side, despite making his debut as a 15-year-old, he is now ready to be trusted right from the get go at Arsenal next season.
He is 12 months further down the line which is a huge advantage and developmental step to make heading into a second full campaign in the senior squad. Arteta knows he can call upon them both whereas last year it took some time to build that exposure and trust.
It is totally natural to go through this process with young players and it is only right to be careful with them as well, something that Arteta has stressed. They are readymade weapons to be utilised once more come August, though. Arsenal have two players now which they didn't at the start of last season, and it is an enormous benefit.
Not only has it stopped them buying yet another left-back, but it has also allowed Timber to operate on the right when White has been injured. As for the attack, Arsenal always needed a new winger this summer but Nwaneri's transformative ability to play there is now a factor.
In the modern market, the last full-back and winger Arsenal spent money on was Calafiori and Leandro Trossard, costing a combined £73million. If Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly can play those roles then it is a great big saving to put towards other areas of the field.