Jack Porter and Khari Ranson have only just started their scholarship deals with Arsenal but the two young goalkeepers have both already achieved a significant milestone.
Porter and Ranson, who are both 16 years old, were selected to train with the first-team squad this week.
There are further similarities between the pair – they have both been capped by England at U16 level and have impressive distribution.
Porter started for the U18s in their opening game of the season against West Ham United and gave a very good account of himself as he made some hugely impressive saves.
Ranson, meanwhile, was named on the bench for the U21s against Manchester United having already been involved with Mehmet Ali’s squad last season.
Both Porter and Ranson will hope to get plenty of game time at U18 level this campaign and there could be opportunities for them to represent the older age groups at times, especially in the UEFA Youth League.
There have been some significant changes in the academy goalkeeping department, with a host of young shot-stoppers departing, while new arrival Tommy Setford is currently the third choice goalkeeper for the first-team, with Colombia youth international Alexei Rojas seemingly fourth choice.
Arsenal have some talented young goalkeepers in their ranks and it will be interesting to see how much progress each of them can make.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
They won’t do though.
Seems a hard position for us to manage at youth level. I had such hopes for Okonkwo. A shame he left on a free in the end despite already being no.1 at Wrexham