The journeys undertaken by Arsenal’s current second year scholars since signing their contracts in the summer of 2023 have certainly been rather varied.
Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, for instance, are currently starring in the first-team, while Ayden Heaven has also made his senior debut.
Some of the other players in that intake appear to be coming towards the end of their time at the club, with the likes of Bless Akolbire and Reece Clairmont having already had trials elsewhere.
Louie Copley, meanwhile, has continued to make steady progress and has been a key player for the U18s this season while also featuring prominently for the U19s.
A hard-working midfielder who can contribute both creatively and defensively, Copley has developed well since joining Arsenal’s academy from West Ham as a schoolboy.
Copley was previously named on the bench against Manchester City at U21 level in November 2023 and the 18-year-old will hope that he will soon receive further callups to the second-string side.
Competition for places in the U21 squad is currently fierce but if Salah-Eddine was to depart then more opportunities could soon start to open up for Copley.
A neat passer of the ball who has good technical ability, Copley frequently makes dangerous runs into the final third.
It seems likely that he will be offered a professional contract ahead of next summer, which would see him become a fully-fledged member of the U21 squad from next season.
For the remainder of the current campaign Copley will be looking to show just how much progress he has made.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
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