10 Arsenal Youth Players To Watch Out For

Mikel Arteta was once criticised for not giving his youth team a chance with the first. I admit there was occasions when we could have absolutely seen a new exciting talent burst onto the scene and give the senior players something to think about. We can criticise all we want, but Arteta sees these players almost every day and he decides whose ready. He's not shy about including some of the youth team in the senior training sessions, we see it all the time. So if a particularly thrilling youngster doesn't get first team football, despite training with them, then he hasn't done enough. Besides, Arteta has well and truly put those critiques to bed given his integration of Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Max Dowman in recent seasons. Those three are still in the infancy of their careers, but they've been given a huge spotlight on the biggest stages to accelerate their path to first team stardom.

In this post I want to take a look at who could be next in Arsenal's production line of insanely gifted footballers. As a side note to this post I want to add that just because a player isn't making his Premier League debut at 15, like Dowman and Nwaneri, doesn't mean they won't be future world beaters. People in any sport develop at different rates and we can't lose sight of the fact that these youngsters will do most of their developing between 15 and 20. Dowman made his debut at 15, but another player might not until he's 20 and yet the latter might have a better career. All I'm saying is, judge the player by what he leaves out on the pitch and the attitude he brings every day, not his age or other pointless factors. With that being said let's dive in to the list, it's not in any kind of order as that's not what I'm here to promote.

1. Andre Harriman-Annous

Andre might be a familiar name to Arsenal fans as he travelled with the first team squad for their pre-season tour in Asia the summer just gone. He featured a couple of times and was deployed as a striker. However, Andre can play a multitude of positions across the front line and even a tad further back in what we know as the 'Odegaard' role. This will very much aid his progress as various positions might become available and others won't. Andre did actually make the bench against Liverpool before the international break due to various injuries across the main team, so to be called up in that format ahead of others will look very good on his C.V.

He's clearly someone that Arteta rates and wants him around the senior setup. If I was a betting man I'd say to keep your eyes peeled for his name in the Carabao Cup fixture against Port Vale. I don't think he'll start, but he'll likely make the bench and may well come on. At the age of just 17, he's already cemented a place in the U21 squad with three appearances to his name this season already.

As I mentioned earlier, Andre can play across the front three and will often pop up in anywhere in the final third. He has a knack for getting in between defenders and pouncing on any through ball. He's quick with big strides that help him gallop away from the opposition, but he can apply a finishing touch. Whether that's scoring a goal, sending it across the box or forcing a penalty, he can do it all. He can also sniff out chances in the box and he'll work hard to turn any cross or pass into a goalscoring opportunity. He sort of reminds me of Alexander Isak with the way he drifts in between defenders and uses long strides to separate himself from the chasing pack, couple that with a lethal finish and we could have our own Isak at home.

I think he needs this season to develop more and see what first team opportunities come up, but we should be looking to loan him out next season unless his impact is such that he becomes a regular.

2. Sebastian Ferdinand

Next up is Ferdinand, another attacker. He is naturally a right winger, but has featured a couple of times on the left. Sebastian hasn't made any appearance for the first team yet, but will be looking to make an impact at the U21 level to get his foot in the door. He was used sparingly last season, yo-yoing between the U18's and U21's, but not quite nailing down a starting spot in either team. Despite this he's still registered 65 games and has contributed 22 goals/assists in all youth fixtures he's been a part of.

What will give Sebastian confidence is his fast start to the current campaign. The U21's haven't started strongly, but Ferdinand will be happy with his record of two goals in three games.

Ferdinand is a traditional winger who plays his best football coming in from the touchline. He owns that right side channel and will use it to go inside or outside, he's comfortable doing both. He looks to get his crosses off early and doesn't linger which is great for an attacking team as the players in the box know they don't have to wait for the delivery. While small in stature, he makes up for in agility. The way he can use his body to get around players is similar to Lewis-Skelly. If I was to compare him to anyone, it would be Jadon Sancho, but from his Borussia Dortmund days.

Sebastian is 19 and has certainly nailed down a starting berth in the U21 team, but I think his team of people should be looking at a loan move in January. Some first team football will do him a world of good and he's at the right age for it, this would be with a view to a season long loan next summer.

3. Alex Marciniak

Alex is a left sided midfielder by definition, but will likely see more of his career deployed in an attacking midfield role. Alex is knocking on the door of the U21 squad, but will spend most of his time in the U18 setup. The Arsenal U18 team are off to a flying start in their campaign with three wins in three games and Marciniak has been crucial to it. He's contributed a goal and an assist in those three games, but his overall play is what's attracting the attention.

Alex is an all action midfielder. He seems determined to influence a game, never a passenger. With that trait comes a devastatingly effective player and he will certainly be around the U21's soon enough. Like Ferdinand, Alex uses his small stature to his advantage and can contort his body to avoid contact with an opponent and glide away from them. He's comfortable receiving on the half turn and I think that's a very important skill for a midfielder to have as you can change the flow of a game in a second. It puts the opposition on the back foot and suddenly they're chasing a shadow. Many times Alex has done this and it's ended up with a goal being scored. With that being said he's actually very good in the box, when he's not the provider, and has a goal catalogue that any striker would be envious of.

At the age of 17 he'll certainly be after more minutes in the U21's, but he's the kind of player that should be looking to bypass the U21's and head straight into the first team. Certain players need higher quality to take their game to the next level and Alex is that kind of player. I think we'll see him on our next pre-season tour.

4. Marli Salmon

This is a name that will be familiar to the Arsenal fans, much like Andre Harriman-Annous, as he featured on this summer's pre-season tour. Salmon has been mentioned in the same bracket as Max Dowman, but just hasn't found his pathway through yet. But, becoming a regular in the U21 squad at just 16 is highly commendable, especially considering he was making appearances when he was 15. In fact he was 15 when he went on the tour of Asia this summer.

Marli plays his football at the back, in that right centre back role. This has earned him comparisons to William Saliba and when you watch him play you understand why. Despite not having the physical standing of Saliba, he's been blessed with the technical attributes and intelligence. He has a fantastic understanding of the game and reads it like a book. His anticipation of what's about to unfold in front of him is second to none, which helps prevent attacks before they even get going. He's aggressive in his approach, but not in a violent kind of way, a more controlled version. So he won't allow a striker to bully him, but won't get drawn into silly little battles, he remains resolute and head strong. Aside from his mentality, he's very gifted on the ball. He's happy to receive and stride into midfield to get the team up the pitch. He's got an eye for a pass and can easily split a press wide open with a line splitting ball. Under pressure he actually thrives and that's an incredible trait for a centre back and one which will serve him well in the future.

Salmon will see first team football at some point this season, but I think in just the capacity of the bench. Like Andre, keep an eye out for his name when we face Port Vale. I think with Salmon we'll see a Lewis-Skelly kind of trajectory, as in he wasn't in the first team until we needed him, but hasn't been out of it since due to his performances. Whether Salmon takes the centre back role remains to be seen as he has featured at right back, but we'll see more of him soon.

5. Tommy Setford

Coming in from Ajax youth in the summer of 2024, he arrived a huge prospect. He's part of the goalkeeper union and is currently in our U21 setup. Like Andre and Marli, Tommy will be known amongst the core of the Arsenal fans as he managed to grab himself a debut for the first team last season. Due to an injury to David Raya and Neto being cup tied, Setford stood between the sticks against Preston in the Carabao Cup. He kept a clean sheet as Arsenal ran out 3-0 winners.

Setford is, thankfully, a very good shot stopper. He's brilliant at making himself big at 1-on-1's which aids the theory of him being a brilliant shot stopper. With modern day goalkeepers they have to be able to use their feet as they often become an extra defender. Setford certainly plays that sweeper keeper role very well and has an eye for anticipating danger, he isn't scared to chase down that danger and thwart it. He doesn't yet sit on the ball like Raya does, but that's likely due to the playing style of youth teams. His distibution is very good as he often picks out a player rather than just hoofing it up the pitch. The only criteria that he could work on is his ability to command the box and claim aerial threats.

At the age of 19 he's in a unique position as his senior counterparts aren't young. David Raya is almost 30 and Kepa Arrizabalaga is 30. Of course goalkeepers tend to have a longer shelf life than their outfield peers, so we'll likely see Raya as our starter for a few years to come, but Setford has the chance to make a claim to be number 1. I think while Raya and Kepa are still at the club, Setford should look for a loan and I think a Championship club would be best.

6. Maalik Hashi

A new name on the scene for Arsenal fans to consider. With the furore surrounding Dowman, there's quite a few players going under the radar and Hashi is one of them. A very gifted player that can certainly make waves in the first team in the next couple of years. He's predominantly used in the attacking midfield space, but it looks like he'll be comfortable in a role similar to Declan Rice. He's currently with the U18 squad and is another one of the reasons why they've started the season so strong, scoring two goals in three games.

Hashi has been compared to Odegaard in the way that he always looks busy and wants to play on the front foot. Whether that's leading the press or driving forward with the ball, he's always looking to make something happen. He's brilliant at forcing the opposition into mistakes higher up the pitch as he pretty much operates in their shadows. Hashi ensures that no defender feels safe playing out from the back. In addition to this he often finds those eye of the needle passes that can completely turn the opposition upside down.

Hashi has just celebrated his 17th birthday (8th September) so will be entering those delicate years where he could be sniffing at the first team. Until then, he should focus on his excellent form for the U18's and perhaps look towards the U21's next season, although I'm sure he'll be named amongst them on the bench a few times this season.

7. Ceadach O'Neill

Arsenal have been expanding their scouting network in Ireland in recent years and have uncovered a gem from Linfield's youth academy. O'Neill arrived last summer having already experienced first team football at Linfield as he was given a handful of cameo's in various Irish competitions. He was just 15 at the time. Ceadach is now 17 and an important member of Arsenal's U18 squad.

As mentioned in other sub-sections, the U18 team have had an impressive start to the season and O'Neill is another player that's helping the cause. In the two games he's played he's notched three goals, which could've been extended if he played the third game, but he was actually called up to the U21 team and found himself some minutes for them. Call it a coincidence, but his first appearance for the U21's saw them win their first game of the campaign after two failed attempts prior.

O'Neill is another talent on the wing who can play left or right. I wouldn't say he's got electric speed, but he can manipulate the ball so well that he can drift beyond opponents with ease. The ball sticks to his boots like glue and this helps in all areas of the attacking third. Whether he wants to attack from a central perspective or use the channels, he'll attack you from anywhere. He seems to crave the 1-on-1 duels with opponents and he'll normally come out on top. Once he is behind you he's devastating with his final ball. He can score, he can thread passes and send in dangerous crosses.

It's hard to say whether Ceadach will feature mainly for the U18's or U21's, but the most recent game of his will suggest that it'll be the U21's. O'Neill needs to spend this season working towards featuring heavily for the U21's and I think his performances will suggest that he can.

8. Josh Nichols

Josh is another player on this list that will be known to the Arsenal faithful as he too earned a debut for the first team. This came in the Carabao Cup against Bolton last season which Arsenal won 5-1. Josh also made the bench for a few Premier League games last season, additionally he was taken on the pre-season tour of Asia with the first team.

Nichols features prominently at right back but can play further forward in a right midfield role. At the age of 19 he's a constant feature in the U21 side and has played in all three games this season.

Nichols is quite small as he stands at only 5ft 5in, so think Jeremie Frimpong at Liverpool, but that doesn't take anything away from him as a defensive force. In fact he uses his height to frustrate his opponents. The kind of player that you can't shake off, constantly pressuring and hot on your heels. He doesn't give you a moment to yourself to try and create something. He's quick too and intelligent, so he's often one step ahead and makes sure he quells any danger. Even if you think you can get a start on him you won't as he turns very quickly and will be on top of you in a flash. His defensive strengths are all very well and good, but he possesses some very technical qualities. A brave passer of the ball and always looks to play forward if he can. His height means he has plenty of agility to weave in and out of an opposition press.

I think for Nichols he needs to spend a bit more time with the U21's and seek a loan move in January or next summer. His competition is Jurrien Timber and Ben White, who are both proving to be injury prone. This could open the door to doubling his appearances for the first team. However, Cristhian Mosquera can also fill in at right back which complicates his pathway. I think a loan move will do him the world of good while we wait to see how Timber and White progress. Like I've mentioned with other players on this list, I wouldn't be surprised if we see him in the squad for the Port Vale game.

9. Yabsera Meron

Yabsera is a star in the making, but he hasn't played to a level that I can find many statistics on, however, it's likely he'll start playing for the U18 side soon. At the age of 16 he'll be looking to advance his career within the academy setup, but it remains to be seen where he'll land. He does have an identical brother also in the Arsenal academy called Kaleab Meron.

Yabsera has sort of gone a bit viral for a couple of reasons. He was recently photographed with Jude Bellingham and has been photographed with Ronaldinho in the past, this has caused a small stir amongst the online Arsenal fandom. His second reason for becoming viral is through his actual ability with a football. He was clipped showcasing some incredible footwork in his early teens which has drawn comparisons to a host of current and former stars. Hopefully he can use these moments to platform himself to become a rising star at Arsenal, along with his brother.

As I just mentioned, Yabsera is unbelievably gifted with a ball at his feet. Watching clips of him is a joy as he wants to express himself and try skills that only a few can pull off. He can easily bamboozle a defender with his lightning quick feet. It states on his profile that he's a mix of a left back and left winger, but I think he can operate anywhere in the attacking section of a starting XI.

Despite the fact that he's clearly very talented, we haven't yet seen him for the U18's, but I'm sure that'll be his main focus as he did spend his pre season with the U18 group.

10. Charles Sagoe Jr

Charles is the oldest on this list and I'm using him as an example of it never being too late to make a name for yourself in the first team. At the age of 21 he's certainly a late bloomer, but that doesn't subtract from his quality. He's had two loan spells away from the club at Swansea and Shrewsbury, but only managed 20 appearances across them two loans. He's back at Arsenal for the time being and will be hoping to add to his solitary appearance for the first team that came all the way back in the 23/24 campaign.

What will certainly help his argument for further inclusion in the first team will be his fantastic start to the season for the U21's. In the three games that have been played, Charles has scored two goals and registered a further two assists. Four goal contributions in three games is nothing to sneer at and I'm sure Arteta will be keeping an eye on his form.

While he does mainly operate as a left winger, he has played as a more central target which demonstrates his flexibility in an attacking format. His low centre of gravity allows him to cause chaos amongst defences. He's very quick and can easily bypass any defender that attempts to go near him. Given how he's started his season, with the U21's, it shows that he's got an eye for a goal and an eye for creation. He works hard to create chances for others, but will quite happily take matters into his own hands if he needs to. He's an unstoppable force on his day.

At the age of 21 he does need to knock on the door with more force and almost make it impossible for Arteta to not pass him up. Considering we are lacking a certain amount of spark on that left flank, now is a good a chance as any to give Arteta a solution to his left wing problem. I would've said this summer would've been a perfect time to send him on loan to a team in the Championship or higher. A move never materialised and there has to be a reason why.

So that's the list of ten young stars to look out for after Dowman, Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly. It's important to remember that these players are all still developing and honing their skills and we can't put too much expectation on them too soon. If they don't make it at Arsenal then we need to make sure they're setup to forge a career of their own and we've done everything in our power to make sure they succeed. It's something that Arsenal need to improve on, developing an asset and selling them on for a profit, if they don't make the cut. I hope you enjoy, I'll see you in the next one!