Arsenal have quite the reputation for being a footballing club who firmly believe in their youth. Arsene Wenger has spent millions on various academies in the hope that he finds the next big player.
The Hale End Academy remains one of England’s most elite academies and you’ll know that for sure once you’ve gone through the list of potential superstars they could produce to the first-team by the end of the current season.
And given the Gunners are currently receiving flak for being the side that’s fielded the most non-British players since Arsene Wenger took over, four of the five on this list have pledged their future to the English national team.
The Gunners have produced some of the best young talent in the game recently with Hector Bellerin and Alex Iwobi but the following five are just as impressive:
#5 Edward Nketiah
Confident, tricky and quick, Edward Nketiah is currently tearing the Premier League 2 and the UEFA Youth League a new one. He’s yet another fine forward making strides from the Hale End Academy to the Arsenal reserves.
And given he’s only 17, it seems even more impressive that Arsene Wenger regularly calls him to train with the first-team. Youngsters that raw are often inspired to do better when they’re around proven, world-class players and the Frenchman hopes Nketiah does just that.
The Englishman has scored 8 goals and has contributed 1 assist in the 13 appearances he’s made for the reserves in all competitions this season. While a loan move could be the logical choice going ahead, Nketiah could spend some more time around Arsenal before pushing for it – and that could be with the first-team in the cup competitions next season.
#4 Ainsley Maitland-Niles
19-year-old Ainsley Maitland-Niles is another technically astute player rising through the ranks at Colney. The Englishman, who can either play across the defence or in midfield, has already made his senior debut for the Gunners but could seal a permanent switch to the first-team next season.
Given the side are losing out on Mathieu Debuchy and Cark Jenkinson, Maitland-Niles has the possibility of making the reserve right-back spot all his. And having spent time with Ipswich Town last season where he made 32 appearances for Mick McCarthy’s side, he’s not short on the experience of playing in a demanding league.
Maitland-Niles is also the second-youngest Arsenal star to make his debut in the UEFA Champions League – behind Jack Wilshere – when he played against Galatasaray in December 2014 as a 17-year-old.
#3 Christopher Willock
The second of the three Willocks currently impressing in England is 18-year-old Christopher Willock. The Englishman is tipped for great things and he’s already shown the Arsenal faithful just how good he is in his appearances for the first-team in the EFL Cup.
A tricky customer when on the ball, Willock is another winger ready to step up, with his pace, excellent passing range and ability to drop his shoulder and beat defenders. Willock is close to being in the first-team and has – like many others on this list – regularly trained with the first-team at Colney.
Willock would be an excellent addition to the Arsenal first-team roster. With 3 goals and 7 assists in the 14 appearances he’s made for the Arsenal reserves in all competitions this season, it won’t be long before we see him trading passes with Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla.
#2 Donyell Malen
“One who I am excited about is already with a Premier League club and that is Donyell Malen at Arsenal. He is a very talented young Dutch player with lots of ability, he is at a very good club with a great manager and I think he can be a revelation.”
That was ‘SuperAgent’ Mino Raiola speaking to Daily Mail, while he was negotiating a world-record transfer between Juventus and Manchester United for Paul Pogba. Young dutch talent, Donyell Malen, is seen by many as the reason why Arsene Wenger decided to sign a 29-year-old Lucas Perez – and chase 29-year-old Jamie Vardy – instead of going in for someone much younger.
The former Ajax star has seen his time at Arsenal come under scrutiny, given his natural talent, his flair and his goalscoring prowess. The 18-year-old is in line to be promoted to the first team next season and could very well turn out to be the ‘revelation’ his agent – and many of his fans – think he’ll become.
#1 Reiss Nelson
Perhaps the likeliest to make it to the first-team come the start of the new season is 17-year-old Englishman Reiss Nelson. The youngster has been on fire for the Arsenal reserves this season and is proving to his manager – and Arsene Wenger – that he’s ready to make the step up and join the first-team.
Inspired by Alex Iwobi’s rise to the first-team, Nelson has taken his game up a notch with the reserves scoring 5 goals and contributing 3 assists in the 34 appearances he’s made for Neil Banfield’s side.
Nelson is predominantly a right-winger and has multiple tricks up his sleeve to beat defenders and make the most of the situation when on the ball. He’s direct when needed and has the flair to not be so when needed, too.
A move to the first-team is a possibility for cup competitions and Premier League games that might have already been won. He’s got the all the right ingredients to succeed.
