Ranking the 5 youngest goalscorers in Arsenal history

Arsenal v Bolton Wanderers - Premier League
Arsenal v Bolton Wanderers - Premier League

#3 Stewart Robson (17 years, 4 months and 7 days)

Stewart Robson enjoyed a successful spell as an Arsenal player
Stewart Robson enjoyed a successful spell as an Arsenal player

Englishman Stewart Robson first joined Arsenal as a schoolboy in 1978. He then made his professional debut for the club one month after his 17th birthday against West Ham United in the league. He enjoyed a successful career at the club after being handed his first-team debut by manager Terry Neill.

Robson scored his first goal for the club on March 13th 1982 in a 1-0 win against Ipswich. He spent about eight years as a first-team player at the club, featuring 186 times and scoring 21 goals.

He was mostly deployed in midfield or defense. He was named the club's Player of the Year in 1985, despite only being 20 years old.

After finding himself out of favour at Highbury, Robson decided to move across the city to West Ham United for £700,000 in January 1987. He retired as a Coventry City player in the 1994-95 season as a result of injuries and went into management.


#2 Jack Wilshere (16 years, 8 months and 22 days)

Arsenal v Wigan Athletic - Carling Cup
Arsenal v Wigan Athletic - Carling Cup

English midfielder Jack Wilshere joined Arsenal's youth academy in 2001. He rose through the ranks at the club, captaining various age groups before catching the eye of Arsene Wenger. Wenger gave the diminutive midfielder his senior debut in September 2008. He was introduced off the bench for Robin van Persie against Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League.

Wilshere scored his first senior goal on September 23rd, 10 days after making his debut in a 6-0 win over Sheffield United in the League Cup. He was only 16 years, eight months and and 22 days old when he scored his first goal for the club. Wilshere saw his time at the club greatly punctuated by injuries, and he made only 197 appearances in 10 years at the club.

He moved permanently from Arsenal in 2018 and played for West Ham United and Bournemouth. He could only make less than 50 appearances combined for both clubs.

After being a free agent since 2021, Wilshere joined Danish side Aarhus Gymnastikforening on a deal until the end of the season.


#1 Cesc Fabregas (16 years, 6 months and 28 days)

Paul Warne battles with Francesc Fabregas
Paul Warne battles with Francesc Fabregas

Cesc Fabregas joined Arsenal from FC Barcelona on 11th September 2003 after seeing no pathway to first-team football for himself in Spain. The Spaniard immediately joined the academy, but was soon called up to the senior team. He made his debut on October 28th in a League Cup match against Rotherham United.

Fabregas scored his first goal for the club in a 5-1 thrashing of Wolverhampton Wanderers. The match took place in the fourth round of the League Cup at Highbury on December 2nd 2003. He played the entire 90 minutes and scored his goal in the 88th minute of the match. He was only 16 years, six months and 28 days old when he scored his first goal for the club.

Fabregas went on to make 303 appearances for the Gunners and was named captain before leaving the club for a return to Barcelona. The Spanish midfielder currently plays for AS Monaco in the French Ligue 1.

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