Hale End Heroes: Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly Make Arsenal History with PFA Young Player of the Year Nominations
Arsenal’s remarkable youth development system has once again proven its elite status as Hale End graduates Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly have both been nominated for the prestigious PFA Young Player of the Year award for the 2024/25 season. This historic achievement marks the first time two Arsenal teenagers have been shortlisted for the coveted prize simultaneously, highlighting the club’s continued commitment to nurturing exceptional young talent.
Arsenal’s Dynamic Duo Among Elite Company
The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) announced the six-man shortlist for the 2024/25 Young Player of the Year award on Thursday, with Arsenal’s teenage sensations featuring prominently alongside some of the Premier League’s most exciting young talents.
As confirmed by Arsenal.com, the complete list of nominees includes:
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal, 18)
- Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal, 18)
- Liam Delap (Chelsea, 22)
- Dean Huijsen (Bournemouth/Real Madrid, 19)
- Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth, 20)
- Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa, 21)
The double nomination represents a significant achievement for Arsenal’s academy, with both players having progressed through the Hale End system since childhood. According to Sports Mole, this continues a proud tradition for the Gunners, who have previously seen six players win the award, most recently Bukayo Saka in 2022/23.
Nwaneri: From Record-Breaker to Goal Machine
Ethan Nwaneri’s journey to this nomination has been nothing short of extraordinary. After making headlines in September 2022 when he became the youngest-ever Premier League player at just 15 years and 181 days old, the talented attacking midfielder has enjoyed a breakthrough season that has justified the early faith shown in him.
According to detailed statistics from Arsenal.com, Nwaneri’s 2024/25 campaign included:
- 37 total appearances across all competitions
- 9 goals in all competitions (4 in the Premier League)
- 2 assists
- 26 Premier League appearances
- 7 Champions League appearances with 2 goals
His remarkable season included several milestone moments. In November 2024, he became Arsenal’s second-youngest Premier League goalscorer (behind Cesc Fabregas) when he netted against Nottingham Forest at 17 years and 247 days old. He also scored in the Champions League against Girona, becoming the second-youngest Englishman to score in the competition after Jude Bellingham.
Perhaps most impressively, Nwaneri was part of Arsenal’s record-breaking 5-1 victory over Manchester City in February 2025, where he scored the final goal of a 36-pass move that lasted nearly two minutes – the longest passing sequence leading to a goal in the Premier League that season.
Lewis-Skelly: From Academy Prospect to England International
While Nwaneri’s rise has been meteoric, Myles Lewis-Skelly’s emergence as one of Europe’s most promising young defenders has been equally impressive. The versatile teenager, who recently agreed to a new long-term contract with Arsenal despite reported interest from Real Madrid, has established himself as a key figure in Mikel Arteta’s squad.
Lewis-Skelly’s standout 2024/25 season included:
- 39 appearances across all competitions
- 1 goal and 2 assists
- 23 Premier League appearances (15 starts)
- 10 Champions League appearances, including standout performances against Real Madrid
- England senior international debut and first goal
Originally developed as a midfielder, Lewis-Skelly has excelled primarily as a left-back under Arteta’s guidance. His defensive prowess is highlighted by his remarkable 69.7% duel success rate in the Premier League – the second-best among all players who contested 100+ duels, behind only Nottingham Forest’s Nikola Milenkovic.
His performances earned him an England call-up in March 2025, where he made history by becoming the youngest player ever to score on his England debut in a World Cup qualifier against Albania. He also became the youngest Englishman to start a Champions League semi-final when Arsenal faced PSG in April 2025.
A Season of Historic Achievements
The 2024/25 campaign saw both youngsters achieve several historic milestones together. When both scored in Arsenal’s emphatic 5-1 win over Manchester City, it marked the first time two teenagers had scored for Arsenal in the same match since September 1986, when Tony Adams and Niall Quinn achieved the feat against Sheffield Wednesday.
According to Arsenal.com, Lewis-Skelly’s 39 appearances were the most by a player for Arsenal while aged 18 or younger since Cesc Fabregas in 2005-06 (47), and the most by an Englishman since Stewart Robson in 1982-83 (49).
Meanwhile, Nwaneri’s 29 appearances before his 18th birthday were the most by any Arsenal player aged 17 or younger since Theo Walcott in 2006-07 (31).
Competing Against Premier League’s Finest Young Talent
While the Arsenal duo’s nominations are well-deserved, they face stiff competition from four other exceptional young talents who have excelled in the Premier League this season.
Chelsea’s new signing Liam Delap earned his nomination after an impressive season with Ipswich Town, where he scored 12 goals despite the club’s relegation. According to the BBC, Delap has since joined Chelsea on a five-year deal after they triggered a £30m relegation clause in his Ipswich contract.
Bournemouth’s defensive duo Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez have also been recognized for their outstanding performances. Huijsen, who has since joined Real Madrid, contributed three goals and two assists in 32 matches for the Cherries, while Kerkez registered six assists and two goals in 38 league appearances.
Completing the shortlist is Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, who enjoyed a breakthrough season with eight goals and 11 assists in 37 Premier League matches, directly contributing to 19 goals.
Arsenal’s Youth Development Legacy
The dual nomination of Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly continues Arsenal’s proud tradition of youth development. The Hale End academy has produced numerous first-team stars in recent years, including Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, and Eddie Nketiah.
This latest recognition comes at a time when Arsenal are increasingly focusing on integrating academy graduates into the first team. Under Mikel Arteta’s guidance, the pathway from academy to senior football has been strengthened, with both Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly benefiting from the Spaniard’s willingness to trust young talent.
What’s Next for Arsenal’s Young Stars?
With both players now firmly established in Arsenal’s first-team plans, the future looks exceptionally bright for Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly. Lewis-Skelly’s recent contract renewal demonstrates the club’s commitment to building around their homegrown talent, while Nwaneri continues to develop as one of the most exciting attacking prospects in European football.
The PFA Awards ceremony will take place at Manchester Opera House on Tuesday, August 19, where the winner will be announced. Regardless of the outcome, the nominations themselves represent a significant achievement for both players and a testament to Arsenal’s thriving youth development system.
As Arsenal prepare for the 2025/26 season with ambitions of challenging for the Premier League title, the continued development of Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly will be crucial to their hopes of ending their wait for a league championship.
For Arsenal fans, seeing two Hale End graduates nominated for such a prestigious award provides further evidence that the future at the Emirates Stadium is in safe hands, with the next generation of stars already making their mark on English football’s biggest stage.
For more Arsenal news and updates on Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, visit our dedicated player profiles section.