Declan Rice believes Arsenal are “blessed” to have Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, and Max Dowman in their ranks, hailing the trio as future stars. The England international has also revealed that he is mentoring the young talents as they navigate their early careers.
Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri, both 18, have already made their mark this season, with Lewis-Skelly even scoring on his England U18 debut last week. Dowman, just 15, is regarded as one of the most exciting prospects in the country and has been training with Arsenal’s senior squad regularly, including joining their mid-season camp in Dubai. With all three players emerging from Arsenal’s famed Hale End academy, Rice believes the club has a bright future ahead.
Speaking to the BBC, Rice shared his admiration for their talent and potential. “It is unbelievable times,” he said. “I can’t talk highly enough of Ethan as well. Just wait until he hopefully gets into the team, the lads get to see him, because he is a special talent.” The Arsenal midfielder went on to heap praise on Dowman, who has been making waves despite his young age. “Max is the best 15-year-old in the country. I have had so many texts about Max recently where people have watched him and said: ‘Wow, what a talent.’ So he is one to watch out for.”
Despite his excitement, Rice acknowledged the challenges that come with being a young footballer, cautioning that early promise doesn’t always guarantee long-term success. “But I think at 15 there is still such a long way to go. You can be the best in the country at 15, but it doesn’t necessarily mean at 18 you are going to be,” he said. “So you need to be hungry, keep working, keep pushing. I speak with Max a lot and he knows that. And he has got such a good family around him. He is unreal.”
Rice also highlighted the potential of Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri, and Dowman to carve out long-term careers at Arsenal. “Then obviously with Myles as well, Arsenal are blessed to have three players that can potentially have long Arsenal careers,” he said. The former West Ham captain has taken a keen interest in their development, having benefited from senior players guiding him as a youngster. “Luckily enough, I have a really good relationship with all three of them because Max gets to train with us quite a lot,” he added.
Understanding the importance of mentorship, Rice has made an effort to support the young trio, offering guidance both on and off the pitch. “Those three I have kind of taken under my wing a little bit because I have been in that position before and I had older players help me out,” he explained. “I get on really well with all of them and they are all really, really comfortable around me, which is all part of having a good relationship.”
With Arsenal in the hunt for Premier League and European success, the emergence of these young stars provides further excitement for the club’s future. Rice’s influence, both as a leader on the pitch and a mentor off it, could be crucial in shaping the careers of Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri, and Dowman. As Arsenal continue to blend experienced stars with top young talent, the future at the Emirates Stadium looks incredibly bright.