Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly Arsenal USA tour absence explained as Timber and Rice join up
Arsenal have announced a 27-man squad who are travelling to the United States for a pre-season tour.The group will be strengthened by both Emile Smith Rowe and Thomas Partey who are expected to join up next week.
However, quickly absentees from the list became obvious and notably were the three youth stars that shone in their cameos in Germany last Thursday. Reuell Walters, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly have all been left out of the travelling squad with Amario Cozier-Duberry travelling with the group.
football.london understands this decision was pre-planned, with Cozier-Duberry seen as further along in his development — hence his semi-regular inclusion on the bench last season for the Gunners. The aforementioned trio will continue to work on their fitness and coaching at London Colney.
The decision is similar to the one taken last year. Arsenal played Nurnberg before heading to Baltimore and Orlando for three fixtures.
Charlie Patino and Salah-Eddine Oulad M'Hand came on as substitutes in Germany, but only Reuell Walters was taken from the outfield crop of youth starlets. Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly have only recently signed pro contracts and will have plenty more opportunities to come.
It's worth noting too that both Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice have joined up post-Nurnberg. The pair take up the spots of Walters, a defender, and Lewis-Skelly, a midfielder; with Cozier-Duberry, an attacking midfielder and winger, replacing Nwaneri.
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The likes of Albert Sambi Lokonga, who missed the trip to Germany through injury, Reiss Nelson, Cedric Soares, Nicolas Pepe and Arthur Okonkwo are other absentees. The latter trio are
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