'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Despite their FA Cup win, after finishing 8th in the 2019-20 Premier League table, it’s clear that Arsenal are a side in flux right now. The Gunners have made some strides under new boss Mikel Arteta though. And that should give Arsenal fans hope for the future.
Another factor that should give the North Londoners hope is the players that are beginning to break through from Arsenal’s academy. The Gunners are blessed with some of the best homegrown talents in the Premier League right now. And some of them have already made a mark on Arsenal’s first team.
With that said, here are five of Arsenal’s best academy graduates right now.
#1 Bukayo Saka
Arguably the jewel in Arsenal’s academy crown, Bukayo Saka enjoyed a fantastic breakthrough season in 2019-20. And he will be looking to better that in the upcoming campaign.
Earlier in the year, there were question marks over the 18-year-old’s future at the Emirates. But those worries have now gone away as he signed a new deal with the club in early July. Now the only focus for Saka will be helping Arsenal to improve on their disappointing finish last season.
Perhaps the best attribute that Saka has is his versatility. Both Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta have used him in numerous positions, from left-back and left wing-back to a wide forward. And incredibly, the teenager has performed excellently regardless.
In his 38 appearances during 2019-20, Saka was able to contribute four goals and 11 assists, gaining three Man of the Match awards from WhoScored.com in the process. In fact, no other Arsenal player was able to register as many assists as the 18-year-old.
While Saka still has plenty of room to improve – mainly in terms of his consistency when it comes to affecting games on a regular basis – it’s clear that he’s got a huge amount to offer. Expect him to act as a key player for Arsenal next season – and perhaps pick up his first senior England cap too.
#2 Eddie Nketiah
After a fruitless loan period at Leeds during the first half of 2019-20 saw him start just four games, it was expected that Eddie Nketiah would make another loan move to another club.
However, Mikel Arteta evidently thought the 21-year-old had the talent to make an impact on his first-team immediately. And Arteta brought him back to the Emirates instead. Since then, it’s become clear that the Spaniard was largely correct.
Despite his young age and lack of experience at the Premier League level, Nketiah was able to have a solid impact on Arsenal’s fortunes in the latter half of the 2019-20 campaign. He ended the season with seven starts under his belt – as well as six appearances from the bench – scoring two goals in the process.
At times, Nketiah was even preferred to the more experienced Alexandre Lacazette as the Gunners’ main striker.
It’s clear that the 21-year-old’s greatest attribute is his finishing ability. The England U21 international is a predator in the box, capable of finding space behind an opposition defence to gain sight of goal. And with more experience at the top level under his belt, it’s easy to imagine his goal numbers shooting up next season.
If Nketiah can really live up to his promise, then Arsenal fans will be hoping that their side will no longer have to rely so much on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to provide them with goals.
#3 Joe Willock
Although his skills aren’t as eye-catching as those of his teammates and fellow academy graduates Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah, it’s fair to say that midfielder Joe Willock is massively talented in his own right.
After debuting in the Premier League under Arsene Wenger back in 2017-18, Willock has slowly become more of a first-team regular for Arsenal. The 2019-20 campaign saw him make 29 appearances in the league, with eight of them being starts. In all competitions, he was able to contribute with five goals and one assist.
A skilled midfielder who can play in a deeper role and also as more of an attacker, Willock has been compared at times to former Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey, who is now at Juventus.
His passing ability is excellent - he averaged a pass success rate of 82.8% last season. But he’s also willing to put in the hard work on the pitch. At times he’s shown an ability to contribute defensively – averaging 2.3 successful tackles per game in the Europa League. His energy levels are always high, too.
Whether Willock can become a first-team regular is a question, as he’ll need to compete with numerous teammates for a spot. However if Dani Ceballos chooses not to return to the Emirates next season, then the 21-year old’s development could become much more important to Arsenal’s cause.
#4 Reiss Nelson
Reiss Nelson enjoyed a largely successful loan move to Hoffenheim in 2018-19 that saw him make 23 appearances and score seven goals. Unsurprisingly then, it was expected that Nelson would have an impact on Arsenal’s first team in the 2019-20 campaign. However, things didn’t exactly go to plan.
Nelson was used by Unai Emery in Arsenal’s first XI near the beginning of the season, but then found himself largely benched for the majority of the campaign. He ended the season with 22 appearances to his name – 10 from the bench – and three goals.
However, it’s clear that the 20-year-old is still a huge talent with plenty to offer. Able to play as both a wide forward or more of a traditional winger, Nelson’s pace makes him a danger to any defence. And while it’s true that his decision-making and finishing can improve, the raw materials are definitely there.
The issue for Nelson going into the 2020-21 campaign will probably be that Arsenal have a number of options in the wider areas. Record signing Nicolas Pepe, new addition Willian, and fellow academy graduate Bukayo Saka may well be ahead of him in the queue right now.
However, it’s clear that Mikel Arteta has a lot of faith in him. He labelled him a “special player” in March – and so it can be expected that he’ll be given plenty of opportunities in the upcoming campaign. It’s simply down to this talented youngster to make the most of them.
#5 Emile Smith Rowe
One talented academy graduate at Arsenal who’s been flying under the radar is midfielder Emile Smith Rowe. A part of the England U17 side that won the World Cup in 2017, Smith Rowe is still only 20 years old, but remains extremely highly rated overall.
Thus far, we’re still waiting to see the best from him. After a loan move to RB Leipzig in 2018-19 was largely wrecked by injury, Smith Rowe returned to Arsenal at the beginning of the 2019-20 campaign.
After making a handful of appearances, he moved to EFL Championship side Huddersfield Town on loan in January. there, he played on 19 occasions, scoring two goals and registering three assists. Overall, his time at the Kirklees Stadium was productive and has given him much more first-team experience.
Arsenal are certainly in need of some creativity from the centre of their midfield, particularly as Mesut Ozil appears to be outside of Mikel Arteta’s plans. Could that open up a spot for Smith Rowe to make an impact? Quite possibly.
The youngster has the ability to beat defenders and also to find a killer pass. Despite his lack of experience, he averaged more key passes per game than any other Huddersfield player last season.
Whether Arteta will trust him enough as Arsenal look to push back into the upper echelon of the Premier League is another thing entirely. However, it’s clear that Smith Rowe has the talent to succeed at the top level and it’s only a matter of time before he does so.
