Young guns - what can we expect from the academy graduates?



Young guns - what can we expect from the Hale End academy graduates for Arsenal this season?


By Paul Martin

There’s little better as a fan than seeing ‘one of our own’ become part of the first-team furniture. 

Plenty have come through the ranks in the last few years, from Cesc Fabregas to Jack Wilshere, and some – like Hector Bellerin – remain key players.


The current crop of young guns have created a real buzz among the fanbase – and with good reason.


There were five academy graduates in the starting XI for the recent win at Leicester in the third round of the Carabao Cup and one of them, Eddie Nketiah, got his name on the scoresheet. 


Mikel Arteta has not been afraid to trust his youngsters and this could be a big season for them. The packed fixture list should mean plenty of opportunities for a talented bunch who will hope to grab their chances to shine. 

But what can we expect from these young stars in 2020/21? 


Ainsley Maitland-Niles

AMN has been an Arsenal player since he was six but spent all summer being linked with a move away. 


At 23, he knows he needs to be playing regular football and was said to favour a switch at one stage. 


But a £15m bid from Wolves was rejected and a man of the match performance against Liverpool in the Community Shield convinced Arteta that he was worthy of a spot and has vaulted him into the England squad. 


He performed well against Fulham on the opening day and looked a threat on the break in the league game at Anfield – if he keeps this form up, he should beat the 32 appearances he made in all competitions last season and become a key man for the Gunners. 


He’s now an England international too and will know he’s in with a shout of going to the Euros if he continues to impress. 


Bukayo Saka

The 19-year-old was a revelation last season, filling every role down the left-hand side and contributing four goals and 11 assists. 


He was straight into the action this time around as well, setting up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goal in the Community Shield, and was man of the match in the win at Leicester. 


Saka looks to have the quality to become a regular starter this season but will his role as Mr. Versatile come back help or hinder him? 


The teenager has the ability to become world-class and has already earned his first senior England call-up, so watching his continued improvement this season will be fascinating.



Eddie Nketiah

Another Arsenal youngster with England chances – Arteta recently backed his 21-year-old striker to make the step up to international football. 


He probably has to start scoring more regularly before Southgate comes calling but two in the first four games this season is definitely a step in the right direction. 


His goal at Leicester showed his poaching instincts and he will relish battling with Alexandre Lacazette for the right to be Arteta’s go-to man up top this season. 


There’s no reason he shouldn’t be the first-choice No.9 by the time Christmas rolls around. 


Reiss Nelson

Nelson was seen as the best of the academy bunch a few years ago – Arteta was said to be tracking his progress while he was still a player at the club – but he hasn’t yet made the same impact in the first team as some of his fellow youngsters. 


The likes of Saka have leapfrogged the 20-year-old in the pecking order, while the signing of Willian put another obstacle in Nelson’s way. 


It had been reported that Arsenal are keen to let the winger go out on loan to increase his chances of regular first-team football, and a swap deal with Crystal Palace which would see Wilfried Zaha head to the Emirates was mooted. 


That didn’t happen, so unless he’s going to be sent to the Championship in the next couple of weeks – which would surely be too low a level for him – he’ll be staying and fighting for playing time. 


A loan spell in January could be the answer if he can’t regularly crack the first team in the months ahead. 


Joe Willock 

The midfielder made 44 appearances last season but just two of those were Premier League starts after Arteta took over. 


It’s been community Shield and Carabao Cup only for Willock this season but after a start against Leicester in the Cup, he said: "I love playing for Arsenal and that is where I want to be. Every time I get a chance I need to make the manager have questions about whether to put me in again.” 


The 21-year-old’s chances of further action took a hit with the deadline-day arrival of Thomas Partey but Willock will hope to force his way further into Arteta’s plans as the season progresses. 


Emile Smith Rowe

Big things have been expected of the midfielder since he burst on to the scene under Unai Emery, scoring three goals in his first six games back in 2018/19. 


Smith Rowe impressed at Huddersfield last season and another loan move to the Championship could be his best option if he’s to keep getting minutes under his belt. 


Monaco were among the clubs said to be interested in tempting him away from North London this summer but Arsenal are keen to keep hold of the 20-year-old. 


They may well have to start giving him more game-time to convince him he’s better off staying put, or he risks falling off the radar.




Photo credit: Getty Images

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