Arsenal CEO Garlick responds to Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri links

Chief Executive Officer Richard Garlick says Arsenal are not actively seeking to sell homegrown talents like Myles Lewis-Skelly or Ethan Nwaneri but that the Premier League champions would “consider” the “right opportunity” for both the players and the club.

Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri – both 19 years old – have been linked with summer moves away, including to rival clubs in the Premier League.

Their ‘homegrown’ status having progressed through the ranks at Arsenal means any sale would allow the club to book pure profit in its accounts, helping balance the financials in a year when the Premier League moves to a new Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) rule.

The new rules mean clubs can spend 85% of their revenues on fees, wages and contracts but the number drops to 70% for club’s competing in Europe.

Speaking to the BBC’s sports editor Dan Roan, Garlick explained his belief that all clubs are now operating a player-trading model in order to balance the books.

“There’s been a lot of speculation around players,” said Garlick.

“I can’t stop other clubs being interested. I think Myles has had a fantastic end to last season and has started this one really well – we’re very, very happy with him.

“Ethan has had a great pre-season as well and I think it’s just a case of looking at what opportunities there are that will help both of those in terms of their career moving forward. We are not actively looking at selling those homegrown players but if the right opportunity came up – right for them and the club – we’d obviously consider that.”

On Friday, BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel reported Arsenal are prioritising a loan move for Nwaneri rather than a full sale.

Garlick also called for calm around the contract status of manager Mikel Arteta, with the title-winning manager into the final 12 months of his current deal.

“Mikel wants to be at Arsenal, we want Mikel at Arsenal,” said Garlick.

“It’s only a matter of time before we put that into a new contract. Everyone is very confident and calm. We’re just navigating a transfer window and I’m sure Mikel’s contract will be resolved very shortly.”