Mikel Arteta says he is “100 per cent” confident that Myles Lewis-Skelly will be an Arsenal player at the end of the transfer window.The England international, 19, has been subject to transfer speculation throughout the summer, with interest from Chelsea and Manchester United, but has been focussed on challenging for a spot in Arsenal’s midfield after a strong finish to last season.Lewis-Skelly came through the Arsenal academy as a midfielder, but broke into Arteta’s senior team as a left-back in the 2024-25 season, getting his first chance to impress in his natural position in May 2026.He has since played every one of Arsenal’s pre-season matches in midfield, and continued to excel in their 3-0 Community Shield win over Manchester City at the weekend.There had been suggestions that Arsenal may be open to selling Lewis-Skelly because any sale would count as pure profit in their books, given that the teenager is an academy graduate.Asked at a press conference on Thursday if he was confident Lewis-Skelly would still be an Arsenal player after the transfer window closes at 11pm on September 1, Arteta said: “100 per cent.”Arteta was then asked if it is important to keep academy players who have a deep connection with the club in spite of financial benefits, replying: “Certainly. The players that have been raised in our system and genuinely feel that love and connection with the club bring something else. There is no question about that.“We need to look after them in a really special way because they bring value that is very difficult to find. That’s why, when we can, we want to protect those assets as much as possible. Develop them and make them extremely important for the club.”The Arsenal manager said there has been no movement on the futures of Ethan Nwaneri, another academy graduate, or winger Gabriel Martinelli.Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are “ready to be involved” ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Coventry City on Friday, August 21. On Bruno Guimaraes, who came off at half time in the Community Shield, Arteta said: “Let’s see how he is, but he’s evolving very well.”Jurrien Timber, who is recovering from a groin issue, has not started training with the first-team group yet.