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The Arsenal U-23s and the academy have been putting in outstanding performances over the past year.
While the U-23s won the Premier League 2 title last season, the U-18s did well too, finishing runners-up in both the U-18 league and losing the FA Youth Cup to Chelsea.
Ahead of Arsenal's EFL Cup tie with Brentford, let's take a look at some of the youngsters that might potentially catch the eye of Unai Emery for a place in the first-team this season.
#1 Julio Pleguezuelo (Position: Centre-Back/Right-Back)
The ex-Atletico and Barcelona youth product joined Arsenal from Barcelona back in 2013 following in the footsteps of Cesc Fabregas and Hector Bellerin.
Primarily a centre-back but also capable in the right full-back position, Pleguezuelo is yet to make a senior appearance for the Gunners.
However, he has plenty of experience at the U-23s level as captain of the Gunners since the 2015-16 season. He spent the 2016-17 season on loan at Segunda side Mallorca, before returning to Arsenal as captain for the first half of the title-winning season last year, before another loan spell at Segunda side Gimnastic for the second half of last season.
The young centre-back stands at only 5'10" tall but makes up for his lack of height with his tough tackling and composure in passing the ball.
Pleguezuelo is currently injured and might have missed out on a chance to make his senior debut for Arsenal tonight, but there is still a lot of football left to be played this season.
#2 Gedion Zelalem (Position: Central Midfielder)
The German-born youngster, who is a USA youth international joined Arsenal in 2013 from his high school team Walter John HS.
Zelalem was surprisingly picked for the pre-season tour to Asia that year, and his performances led to him being labelled the next Cesc Fabregas. In January 2014, Zelalem made his Arsenal debut as a substitute in an FA Cup match against Coventry.
Zelalem spent the 2015-16 season on loan at Glasgow Rangers and the 2016-17 season on loan at Dutch side VVV Venlo. But while playing for the USA u-20s in the U-20 World Cup in 2017, he ruptured his cruciate ligaments.
He has finally returned to training after 16 months out and will be hoping to put the injury behind him as he looks to fulfil his undoubted potential. The young American is very skilful with the ball at his feet and is also capable of opening up defences with his excellent vision.
This enables him to operate anywhere in the middle of the park be it as an attacking midfielder or a defensive midfielder.
Zelalem will definitely be looking to impress new boss Unai Emery as he makes his comeback from a horrific injury.
#3 Emile Smith Rowe (Position: Winger/Attacking Midfielder)
The 18-year-old Englishman seems to have already impressed Unai Emery since the Spaniard arrived at the Emirates this season.
The youngster, who has come through the Gunners' youth ranks, had an excellent pre-season even scoring a goal against Atletico Madrid in the International Champions Cup.
Smith Rowe also became the first player born after 2000 to make an appearance for the Gunners when he came on as a substitute in the Europa League opener against Vorskla.
The young Englishman, known for his excellent dribbling ability and burst of pace oozes confidence when on the pitch. Smith Rowe's natural position is as a left-sided attacking midfielder but is equally adept across the attacking third of the pitch, as he looks set to be given his first senior start against Brentford tonight.
#4 Eddie Nketiah (Position: Striker)
If you were to describe this 19-year-old Englishman with two words, it would be "goal machine".
The young striker joined Arsenal from rivals Chelsea in 2015 and has an incredible scoring record. His first full season for Arsenal in 2016-17 saw him promoted from the U-18s to the U-23s in the same season, a remarkable achievement as he finished the season with 24 goals in 33 appearances in all competitions.
Last season, Nketiah managed to break into the first team squad with substitute appearances in the Europa League, Premier League and the EFL Cup. The latter competition was memorable for Nketiah as he scored 2 goals to turn around a 1-0 deficit against Norwich in the 4th round.
Nketiah has also progressed massively in the England youth setup, rising from the U-18s to the U-21s within a year. Finishing is arguably Nketiah's biggest asset along with his excellent movement, qualities that make him such an excellent poacher.
Nketiah would no doubt look to continue his rise through the ranks with more senior football this season.
