Alex Iwobi proved this season that it isn’t always the most high profile youngsters who make the breakthrough into the first-team.
Iwobi didn’t exactly stand out from the crowd in his early days as a scholar at Arsenal, but, through hard work and making the best of his ability, the winger has managed to get into the senior squad.
At Arsenal there are always going to be some youngsters that attract a considerable amount of hype- Jeff Reine-Adelaide and Dan Crowley for example- but here are some of the lesser known starlets that could become altogether more familiar names in the not too distant future.
CHIORI JOHNSON
A right-back with impressive technical ability, Johnson spent the vast majority of the season out injured but returned to deliver some tremendous performances in the closing stages of the campaign. The 18-year-old was so impressive that he signed a new contract this week despite the fact that his original deal still had a year remaining. Having trained with the first-team squad already, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if Johnson edged closer to the senior side next season.
EDWARD NKETIAH
The diminutive forward has enjoyed a tremendous season at U18 level as he topped the scoring charts for that age group across the Premier League with 24 goals. Possessing excellent link-up play, Nketiah isn’t the strongest but he is a major threat in front of goal and it will be intriguing to see whether he can score with such regularity when he steps up to the U21 side.
JOE WILLOCK
His brother Chris has been tipped to make the breakthrough at Arsenal, but Joe Willock is an extremely talented player in his own right. The youngster is capable of operating effectively either out wide or as an attacking midfielder and is adept at playing neat through balls. Having established himself in the U18s, the younger Willock will hope to be involved in the UEFA Youth League next season.
MARCUS MCGUANE
Previously known as Marcus Agyei-Tabi, McGuane has enjoyed an excellent season at youth level and concluded the campaign by represented England at the U17 European Championships. The youngster is a central midfielder who is effective at breaking up play and distributing the ball to his team-mates. Already a regular for the U21s, McGuane has also trained with the first-team.
JOSH DASILVA
DaSilva has undergone a successful transformation from a powerful striker to a deep lying midfielder. Highly rated by the club’s coaching staff, as evidenced by the fact that he has trained with the first-team on several occasions, DaSilva should establish himself as a key part of the U21 side next season.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
I’d be content if just ONE of them come thru to the first team, preferably a striker.
All positions welcome.
BTW how do you go from being Marcus Agyei-Tabi to Marcus McGuane.
Where are the center backs 🙁
Haywood Jablow-Mey is highly rated.
They are all like new signings
Would be great to see the two willock brothers playing together in the future ?
All very interesting.
But my interest is really on two of the better known players this season. Gnabry and Zelalem.
The latter has had an extremely productive season bulking up and gaining crucial experience in the school of hard knocks with Rangers whilst the former looks like he is regaining some of the fitness and brute talent he had left off with before injury struck.
Whether Wenger squeezes them into the periphery of the squad next season or sends them out on further loan remains to be seen.
But both are exciting prospects for the very near future.
McGuane represented Ireland before getting his head turned by England…traitor.
Looking forward to that sibling chemistry on the pitch from the Willocks!
where Ben sheaf in this …
also worth a mention but we signed Pires today.