Former Arsenal star fires warning to wonderkids after ‘best in the world’ praise

Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri may be earning rave reviews by former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue reckons they must now learn to produce consistently

Former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue has said the hard work starts now for young stars Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly because fans now expect consistent big performances.

The academy graduates have made big breakthroughs under Mikel Arteta this season, with Lewis-Skelly earning rave reviews for his midweek performance in the stunning Champions League win over Real Madrid.

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was so effusive in his praise after their 3-0 victory that he claimed Lewis-Skelly possesses a “football arrogance” similar to Wayne Rooney.

But Eboue’s view is framed by personal experience having been at the club when the likes of Jack Wilshere were being talked up as among the best young players in the world.

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“I’ve watched them do really well this year. The Arsenal academy is doing a great job,” Eboue told aceodds.com. “Ethan and Lewis-Skelly need to put in the hard work. People will be watching them to see if they can deliver consistently over time.

“When I was at Arsenal, I saw some brilliant young players like Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. People said they’d be the best in the world, but football changes quickly. Soon, people stopped talking about them

“I hope Ethan and Lewis-Skelly work very hard. I will pray for them, because I want them to become the best.”

Arsenal return to Premier League action with a game at home to Brentford on Saturday evening and they will look to complete the job away to Real on Wednesday night.

Arteta said: “It’s not about bringing the players back down, it’s about maintaining that energy and that momentum. That game is over and now the full focus is on Brentford because it’s a game that’s going to require the best of us.

“We play every three days. We play in different competitions, the biggest stages, playing in Europe, then coming back to the Premier League.

“And having a completely different game, different opposition and context around the game. What we have to do is win our football matches, be better in our (league) position and then wait (to see) what happens.”

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