Mikel Arteta has made it crystal clear that he believes Myles Lewis‑Skelly will still be wearing the Arsenal badge when the summer transfer window shuts. The Arsenal manager said he is "100 per cent" sure that the teenage midfielder will stay at the club, despite recent rumours linking the youngster with Chelsea and a long‑standing interest from Manchester United. Lewis‑Skelly, who featured in Arsenal's Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint‑Germain in May, was asked about his future during a press conference ahead of the Premier League opener against Coventry City. Arteta's response was unequivocal: "One hundred per cent." Arteta went on to explain why he feels so strongly about protecting his home‑grown talent.
He highlighted the special bond that players who come through the academy develop with the club, noting that this connection brings an intangible quality that cannot be bought on the transfer market. "The players that have been raised in our academy and who feel that love and connection with the club bring something extra," he said. "We have to look after them in a very special way because they provide value that is extremely difficult to find elsewhere.
When we can, we must safeguard those assets, develop them properly, and make them integral to the team's success." Another academy graduate who is expected to stay is midfielder Martin Zubimendi. The World Cup winner, who missed the tail end of last season due to injury, was praised by Arteta as one of Arsenal's most important contributors. "Zubi was, without a doubt, one of the best players for Arsenal last season," Arteta asserted.
"Without him we would never have reached the position we found ourselves in over the past few weeks." Arteta emphasized Zubimendi's influence beyond the minutes he actually played. "He didn't feature a huge amount of time, but his impact was massive," the manager explained. "People sometimes point out that he only played in the Champions League final, but the truth is he was involved for ten months and helped us reach those finals. He deserves a lot of credit for that." The manager also spoke about his personal conversations with Zubimendi, describing the Spaniard as honest, demanding of himself, and aware of the club's need to improve the overall squad quality.
"He knows we have to add depth in every position," Arteta said. "We cannot repeat last season's pattern where he played 55 games and then burned out.
He understands that we need to raise the level for a full eleven‑month campaign, not just a handful of months." When asked whether Arsenal must have some "brutal" talks about letting certain players go, Arteta admitted that the club faces a difficult period. Names such as Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and the teenage prodigy Ethan Nwaneri have been linked with potential departures.
"It's a very tough moment and we have to face the reality," the manager said. "We need to be honest and transparent. Even if the truth is uncomfortable, it helps everyone make better decisions and gives clarity for the next step in a player's career." He stressed that these conversations, while uncomfortable, are essential. "Everything has a start and an end.
When a player's time at the club ends, our duty is to handle it with respect and admiration for the individual and the relationship we have built," Arteta explained. "We are working with each player individually, aiming to keep the squad as large as possible while learning from the injuries we suffered last season in several areas of the pitch. A deeper squad gives us more options, but the players must also feel valued and important." Arsenal's historical record of selling players is modest; the most lucrative sale remains Alex Oxlade‑Chamberlain's £35 million move to Liverpool nine years ago. When pressed on whether Arsenal are poor at generating transfer income, Arteta responded that it is neither good nor bad, but rather a function of the specific circumstances surrounding each player.
"Sometimes you want to make a decision, but the player is happy and wants to stay," he said. "There are many factors – contract length, the player's desire, the club's needs – that have to align before a sale can happen.
It's never that simple." Regarding the broader strategy of selling players to fund new signings, Arteta noted that Arsenal's recent growth in terms of on‑field performance, commercial revenue and overall club value is unprecedented in European football. "We have taken an approach to raise the level and capacity of the club dramatically," he said.
"Other clubs might need to sell more, but our focus is on building a sustainable, high‑quality squad." Turning to the squad's fitness ahead of the opening match, Arteta expressed uncertainty about Bruno Guimarães' availability. The Brazilian midfielder was substituted at half‑time during the Community Shield win over Manchester City and was seen receiving treatment for a leg issue. "Let's see how it is.
It's evolving well, but we will know for tomorrow," Arteta said cautiously. When asked about the impact of the club's new £75 million midfielder, Arteta highlighted the fresh energy that new signings bring. "New players add competition and something to prove," he explained.
"When you talk about players like Christos Tzolis or Illan Meslier, the level rises from day one." Arteta also hinted that the recently signed centre‑back Ezri Konsa might be eligible to feature against Coventry City. Konsa, who joined from Aston Villa for a reported £51 million, needed to be registered before the noon deadline on Thursday to be eligible for the league opener.
"I'm always positive and confident," Arteta said. "I cannot control everything, but we are doing our best to make it happen. When we have confirmation, we will let everyone know." In summary, Arteta's comments underline a clear philosophy: protect and develop home‑grown talent like Lewis‑Skelly and Zubimendi, be transparent with players about their futures, and continue to strengthen the squad with strategic signings while maintaining financial prudence. The manager's optimism about the upcoming season is tempered with realism about injuries and squad depth, but his commitment to building a competitive Arsenal side remains unwavering.