Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri have both been named on the six-man shortlist for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
The Arsenal duo are joined by Liam Delap — fresh from a move from Ipswich to Chelsea — and Bournemouth defenders Dean Huijsen, now of Real Madrid, and Milos Kerkez, who is joining Liverpool. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, a potential summer target for the Gunners, completes the list.
Delap, Rogers and Huijsen were also shortlisted for the Premier League’s Young Player of the Season award, which skewed a little older and was eventually won by Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch.
Recognition from the PFA is well deserved for both Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri.
While the latter has been on the radar ever since he became the Premier League’s youngest-ever debutant in 2022, Lewis-Skelly has enjoyed a genuine breakout year. The 18-year-old forced his way up the Arsenal pecking order, made the left-back position his own, earned an England senior call-up, and ended the campaign with 39 appearances in all competitions.
He featured prominently in Arsenal’s run to the Champions League semi-finals and scored his first goal for the club with a stunning solo effort in the 5-1 demolition of Manchester City – complete with a cheeky nod to Erling Haaland’s celebration. It wasn’t all plain sailing, a couple of red cards, including one at Wolves that sparked national debate before being rescinded, added to the drama, but it was a statement season all the same.
Nwaneri, also 18, featured mostly off the bench in the first half of the season but took his chance with both hands when asked to deputise for the injured Bukayo Saka after Christmas. Lining up on the right flank, he quickly proved he could mix it with Premier League defences. While his minutes dipped again after Saka’s return, he still finished the season with a very respectable nine goals and two assists in all competitions.
Arsenal have a proud history with the PFA Young Player of the Year award, with previous winners including Bukayo Saka (2022), Jack Wilshere (2011), Cesc Fabregas (2008), Nicolas Anelka (1999), Paul Merson (1989) and Tony Adams (1987).
The winner will be announced at the PFA Awards on 19 August at the Manchester Opera House.
As an aside, both Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly are expected to pen long-term contract extensions in the very near future. Great news.