Arsenal have long been a club that plays exciting football, with the chant of “1-0, to the Arsenal” (made famous in the George Graham era) now only sung ironically. In truth, Graham was not a manager who played boring football, he just built a superb defence. But there is no doubt that under Arsene Wenger the club became more stylish and played more exciting football. Since he left the Gunners there have been ups and downs and different managers have brought their own ideas to the club.
Mikel Arteta has Arsenal on the right path, both in terms of the way they play and, hopefully, in the results they get. As well as a reputation for exciting, attacking football, the Gunners have long garnered recognition for the high-class young players they have helped develop through their academy, and who they’ve had the nerve to promote to the first team.
As one of the most successful sides in English football, first-team opportunities have historically not been easy to come by. Even so, the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Jack Wilshere, and before that Jermaine Pennant and, well before that, Gerry Ward (in 1953), have all been given their chance as young teenagers and gone on to make at least a reasonable number of appearances for the club.
Right now, however, Arsenal may well just have the most exciting crop of young talent they have ever enjoyed. They may not be able to match the conveyor belt of red-hot football talent that Barcelona seem to be producing at the moment, but they are right up there with the best of the rest and the future could be very bright for the club – and the players themselves.
Saka the Perfect Role Model

Before we look at young Gunners who are set to shine in the seasons ahead, and/or who are having breakout campaigns in 2024/25, we must highlight one player who can act as a perfect role model for them. Bukayo Saka will not turn 24 until September 2025 but already boasts 250 appearances for Arsenal. He has bagged 67 goals and plenty of assists too, whilst also scoring 12 times in 43 caps for England.
Saka made his full Arsenal debut what seems like a lifetime ago now, back in November 2018. He has got better season by season and grown into one of his club’s most important players, as well as being a key cog for the Three Lions machine. Humble, polite and hugely likeable, he is the perfect example on and off the pitch for young footballers everywhere and of course those at Arsenal in particular.
Ethan Nwaneri

Of the many exceptional young players at the Emirates, attacking midfielder Nwaneri may be the best of the lot. He is also, aside from more established players who remain young, such as Saka, probably the best known. He has been at the club for almost a decade now, despite not yet being old enough to have a beer until March.
If it seems like he’s been around for a while despite his tender years, that is because he made his debut back in 2022, when just 15! He appeared from the bench against Brentford just five months and 28 days past his 15th birthday – so closer to 14 than 16! That made him the youngest ever player to appear for the Gunners and also the youngest in the history of the English top flight.
Nwaneri is a prodigious talent but only managed that one senior appearance in 2022/23 and just one more in the following campaign. However, 2024/25 has seen him become a squad regular getting plenty (relatively speaking – he has mainly been used from the bench) of game time. 18 appearances, including 12 in the league, at the time of writing have brought him five goals and those strikes have put him into a very elite club.
Along with Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, he is just the third player to hit five goals in all competitions before turning 18. In terms of PL goals, only four players have scored more than his current two prior to their 18th birthday and both these facts further highlight just how good the Enfield lad might be.
According to one respected transfer site, he is the 11th most valuable player in Europe aged under 19. Not bad for a 17-year-old! Nwaneri is a brilliant, creative number 10, who can also play on the right. An excellent dribbler of the ball he makes, and scores, goals. His England youth record is a further sign of his potential, with 15 goals in 28 for the Under 17s and six in nine for the Under 19s. We can’t wait to see his development!
Myles Lewis-Skelly

Lewis-Skelly is a little older and turned 18 in September 2024 and like Nwaneri he has been with Arsenal for almost a decade. Also like the attacking midfielder, he has played for England at various age-group levels, up to U19. Born in Islington he truly is “one of our own” and he plays with real joy and enthusiasm.
A common criticism of English academies in recent times has been the way they have over-prioritised developing skilful attacking players, leaving the Three Lions short in defensive areas. Lewis-Skelly can certainly help out in that regard and has everything needed to be a top-class left-back. He made his debut for Arsenal in September 2024/25 and has made 15 appearances thus far, again often from the bench, though increasingly as a starter.
He is actually a midfielder by trade but has proved brilliantly adept at playing as an often-inverted full-back. He is keeping some big names out of the side right now and after his classy performance in the 2-1 win over Spurs Declan Rice said he was “unbelievable” and that “playing the way he is at just 18 is just ridiculous. No fear.”
Who Is Next?
Goalkeeper Jack Porter could well have a bright future, with the Harlow-born youngster having made his Arsenal debut in 2024 at the age of just 16. He has played for England at U17 level and will hope he can eventually force his way into the first team, though that may be some way off yet.
Others to look out for include defender/midfielder Ayden Heaven, another young keeper in Tommy Setford, who played in the EFL Cup this term, Albanian Maldini Kacurri, a Lewisham-born defender surely named for great things, and Josh Nichols. All of these and more will be hoping to make a breakthrough into the first team in the months and years ahead and could save the Gunners a fortune in the transfer market.