In a press conference following Arsenal’s impressive 5-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers, manager Mikel Arteta highlighted the key factors that help young players thrive.
Arsenal fielded a lineup predominantly consisting of substitutes and young talents from the Hale End academy, yet they had little difficulty dismantling Ian Evatt’s side.
Arteta placed his trust in four young players from Hale End: Jack Portet, Josh Nichols, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Ethan Nwaneri. Most of these players made a significant impact, with Nwaneri scoring a brace and providing an assist.
Praising the performance of the young talents, Arteta emphasized the importance of senior players in the dressing room.
“In every training session, the first-team players frequently offer advice to the younger ones. I think the kids feel comfortable because that’s the team spirit; whenever they have fears, they can ask anything, and the older players are always ready to help. I’m very pleased that our first-team players have leadership qualities. That care is very important,” Arteta said.
The Spanish coach also singled out Nwaneri for special praise.
“That was a step forward for Nwaneri. He did what everyone hoped he would do. He plays with confidence and understands what he needs to do on the pitch. In his journey with the first team, Nwaneri continues to progress as expected. He deserves this, and he will become a part of the squad, getting more game time,” Arteta added.