Garlick made the revelation in an interview with BBC Sport, while stressing that Arsenal are not actively seeking to offload either of the highly rated youngsters.
The comments add another layer to the uncertainty surrounding the futures of two players who have risen rapidly through Arsenal’s academy and established themselves in the first-team squad at a remarkably young age.
Both Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri are 19 and have already made a significant number of first-team appearances for the Gunners.
However, their status as homegrown players could make any potential transfer particularly attractive from a financial perspective, as a sale would represent pure profit for Arsenal in accounting terms and potentially provide the club with greater flexibility under financial regulations.
Arsenal open to the right opportunity
Garlick acknowledged that Arsenal cannot prevent other clubs from expressing an interest in their young players, but insisted that the club is not actively looking to sell them.
“I can’t stop other clubs from being interested,” Garlick told BBC Sport.
“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,” he said.
The comments suggest Arsenal’s position is not that Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri are available for sale, but rather that the club would be prepared to assess a proposal should one emerge that satisfies both the player and the club.
Valuable academy products
Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri are regarded as products of Arsenal’s academy and have progressed into the senior side despite their young ages.
Their development has also given Arsenal significant financial value in the transfer market.
Unlike players signed from other clubs for substantial transfer fees, academy graduates carry no acquisition fee that needs to be recovered when they are sold. Consequently, a transfer fee received for either player would provide Arsenal with a significant accounting benefit.
That factor could become increasingly important as Premier League clubs continue to operate under strict financial sustainability requirements.
For Arsenal, however, selling either player would also carry sporting and developmental considerations. Both have already demonstrated their ability to compete at first-team level, meaning the club would need to weigh any financial benefit against the potential loss of young talent.
Arteta's squad dilemma
Garlick’s comments also come shortly after manager Mikel Arteta discussed the difficult conversations that may have to take place with members of his squad.
Arteta said Arsenal want to maintain the deepest squad possible but stressed that players must feel “valued” and “important”.
The manager has previously emphasised the importance of squad depth, particularly after Arsenal suffered injuries in several areas of the pitch last season.
Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri therefore represent an interesting dilemma for the club. Their youth, versatility and first-team experience make them valuable sporting assets, while their homegrown status makes them equally attractive financial assets.
For now, Arsenal appear to be keeping the door open rather than actively pushing either player towards an exit.
But should a proposal emerge that the club believes is sufficiently beneficial, Garlick’s comments make clear that Arsenal would be willing to sit down and consider it.