For a player nicknamed MLS, it is appropriate that Myles Lewis-Skelly first showed Mikel Arteta that he was going to be "a player" in a pre-season friendly in the USA. And the 18-year-old could now finish next season competing at the World Cup back on the other side of the Atlantic. The teenager has gone from the Arsenal Academy to Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad in a breathless start to his young career. Arteta yesterday spoke about the club’s pride of his rapid rise - and the importance of having an English core to his own Arsenal squad. And Lewis-Skelly, who has been converted to left-back from midfield, is the new poster boy after only making his senior debut in September’s 2-2 draw with Manchester City. But he has already shown he is the man for the big stage. "I was very impressed with him in the States when he came on for example against Liverpool as a sub and he started to compete against those guys in the frontline and I was like: 'We have a player here'," Arteta recalled. "We are all really, really happy at his call-up because it's a really nice story and a story that gives a lot of hope to a lot of young players and that in six or seven months your career can change dramatically, drastically for the good. It's something for people to be inspired by. I think it hasn't happened because he was lucky. I think he pushed for every chance to happen and the way he's done it. ” Tuchel is not developing a long-term squad - he has a mission to win the World Cup next summer. He needs players ready to compete at the top level. Arteta, who reckons MLS can play as a No.6 or 8 in the long-term, said: "I think that's what Myles transmits, that willingness to win, that willingness to compete at any level against any opposition regardless of his age. He is very intelligent, very willing and very physical." The Three Lions boss also revealed that talks about the teenager "had a bit of a protective and parental vibe". Arteta, who was pleased 17-year-old Nwaneri will join the U21s, was asked if he felt a similar responsibility towards his young stars. "They have almost the age of my oldest son, so yeah, just for that factor, I can see a lot of similarities," he agreed. Back in 2012 under Arsene Wenger, Arsenal agreed new long-term long-term deals for young British stars Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey, Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson. Now Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri have taken central roles in a first-team already including Declan Rice, Ben White and Bukayo Saka. "It is very important culturally because of our history and we're an English club, to have that DNA that represents us as a club and then having a lot of academy players as well," Arteta added. "I think it attaches people to the football club, it makes them proud. I think everybody wants to see academy players and English players driving and being the face of the football club, I think it's really important. They are doing great and there's a bright future ahead of them. Hopefully, there are many more, but again, it's something that time will tell." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.