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The Football Manager series is well known for its history of spotting superstars in their formative years. Some incredibly famous names that were unearthed by Football Manager in its earlier incarnations include Lionel Messi, Alexis Sanchez, Carlos Tevez and Phillip Lahm. In fact, last season Fulham's Dennis Adeniran was touted to become a highly valued player and this summer he moved to Everton to join their U23 squad as he prepares to take the next step.
Football Manager is back again for another instalment this year. The new game's beta version has been available on early access from 26th October 2017. We are absolutely sure that the more freaky FM fans have already embarked on long and hard careers in the latest versions.
Arsenal have tried their best to promote their own youth stars into the first team and the policy has had mixed results. Despite Wenger's repeated attempts to increase the numbers of youngsters in his squad, the academy has not managed to send too many native graduates to the senior squad. Most of the younger players in Arsenal's senior team have been acquired from other academies- meaning the Arsenal youth setup is a sort of finishing school for talented youngsters.
That being said, Arsenal do possess some good talent in their youth sides and we could see more of them in future. Here are the five best U21 players at Arsenal.
5. Jeff Reine-Adelaide
Signed from RC Lens in 2014-15, Adelaide has stayed at Arsenal for three seasons. He is currently 20 years old. He had made 7 appearances for the Lens II side in France and since his arrival has not featured in the league for the Gunners.
He impressed during pre-season in 2015-16 but did not play for the senior side until January, where he made an 81st-minute substitute appearance for Wenger's side. He made six appearances for the North London club in 2016-17, featuring in cup games including an FA Cup quarter-final game against Sutton United.
Reine-Adelaide has represented France in five youth-tiers and currently has 9 caps for France U19s. He was part of France U17 side that won the U17 European Championship in 2015 and was also named in the Team of the Tournament.
Reine-Adelaide seems to have a very bright future ahead of him. In terms of his Football Manager ability, he can do more than a fair job in the Premier League at his current ability depending on the circumstances.
His main weakness is his concentration, which will improve with time and games. He can tend to be injury prone and a careful handling may be necessary to get the best out of him.
4. Krystian Bielik
Hailing from Poland, he started his career at Gornik Konin. He made the move to Lech Poznan in the top division of Poland. He spent three years before he was spotted by Polish giants Legia Warsaw. He was bought for just 9,750 pounds and went played in his first season for their reserve side Legia II.
The same season, 2014/15, he had impressed enough in five first-team games for Legia Warsaw. Arsenal's scouts were quick to pounce on the young versatile defender as they recommended him to the club. He brought in for £2.5 million. Only 19, he has made only two appearances for Arsene Wenger's senior team. Both of those came in the League Cup.
Last season, after impressing in the U23s, Bielik was sent on loan to Championship club Birmingham City in the January transfer window. Bielik played mostly in a back three under Gianfranco Zola who was dismissed with only a few games left in the season. Bielik featured only once under new manager Harry Redknapp and returned to North London having played 10 times for Birmingham.
He is already considered a great prospect in the Arsenal U23s and it might not be a surprise to see him featuring in the first team soon for Arsenal.
3. Ben Sheaf
Ben Sheaf is still making his way through the Arsenal setup. A central defender signed from West Ham in 2013-14, Sheaf can play in a variety of positions across the pitch. He is currently recovering from a long-term injury and should be fit in a couple of months in the game.
It is almost incredible that Sheaf has made just one appearance so far. His Arsenal debut came as a substitute in a Europa League game against Belgrade last month. Sheaf could be a real star for the future.
What really makes Sheaf stand out in the game is the number of positions he can play in. He is listed as a central defender but has the potential to be retrained literally anywhere on the pitch except as a forward. He is clearly the manager's dream.
However, with that comes the curse of the extremely versatile - 'Jack of all Trades, Master of None'. It is probably for the best if Sheaf is focused on a couple of positions at best at least for the first few years so that he can actually reach his potential and not become a bit-part player suited for the substitutes bench.
2. Alex Iwobi
Alex Iwobi came through the Arsenal youth system having been a professional graduate since 2012, a welcome break from Arsenal's acquired but fantastic youth prospects. He broke into the team two seasons ago as an 18-year-old.
The Nigerian can play across the attacking midfield positions - AM(RLC) and could be trained as a striker very easily. He has decent physical and mental stats and the ability to literally play every position from the half-way line. Iwobi is a dangerous player and a constant goal-threat.
Iwobi represented England till the U18 level. In 2015, he switched allegiances to Nigeria, where his parents hail from and where he was born. He has made 11 appearances for the Super Eagles and scored two goals.
Arsene Wenger has placed a great deal of trust in the 21-year-old and it would suffice to say that anyone managing Arsenal would be well-served by taking some time out to ensure Iwobi reaches his full potential.
Iwobi's technical attributes could still do with some improving, though his pace ensures that what he possesses is more than effective when he plays down the wing. Probably the only concerning part of Iwobi's profile is his rather average decision making and it is easily sorted out by having a good tutor.
1. Rob Holding
Rob Holding joined Arsenal from Bolton last season. Arguably one of the best young defenders in the league, Holding still has a long way to develop. He has become a regular face in Arsenal's backline in the middle of the many injuries that have affected Laurent Koscielny in the recent past.
Holding is still only 21 and has a long way to develop and Arsenal could do well to persist with him despite a few questionable performances. He still has to adapt from Championship football to playing at the highest domestic level. Holding is valued much lower than Alex Iwobi but it is well worth remembering that defenders are always valued lesser than goal-scorers. Holding fails to beat Iwobi on that count but in time could be more important to the North London club than Iwobi.
Arsenal's central defenders - Koscielny and Mertesacker - are no spring chickens and Gabriel Paulista, who was touted as the answer has left for Valencia following a mixed spell at the club. While Shkodran Mustafi is the first choice, for now, Holding has the potential to be the long-term answer to the age-old defender problem that the Gunners have faced.
To add to everything, he is English and that helps in registration rules for competitions as well. FM 18 wise, he has incredible concentration and composure for a 21-year-old. His positioning is solid and he is quite quick on his feet, strong and good in the air - in short, a perfect central defender.
