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Arsenal have a number of exciting academy prospects that could follow in the footsteps of Bukayo Saka and be unleashed by Mikel Arteta. The 23-year-old is now quite clearly the Gunners' talisman with more homegrown players now making their names.
During the 2024/25 campaign, it was Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri that were the breakout stars. The former has since signed a new long-term contract after very quickly becoming Arteta's starting left-back despite the signing of Riccardo Calafiori.
He has since made his senior debut for England, which he scored in, after making 42 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal. Nwaneri, meanwhile, also looks set to pen fresh terms after some serious uncertainty over his future which saw approaches from Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund made for his services.
The 18-year-old was managed more carefully even though Bukayo Saka missed a prolonged period through injury with minor issues of his own also disrupting any consistency.
With his long-term future believed to be in midfield, it certainly explains why Arteta has moved to sign Noni Madueke from Chelsea. Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze, capable of playing on the left, is also being targeted in addition to Madueke with deals for Cristhian Mosquera and Viktor Gyokeres at very advanced stages.
From the outside, it looked as though Nwaneri was set to be the long-term replacement for Bukayo Saka but it could actually be a different academy product.
Winger Ismeal Kabia is one of many young talents to have been spotted in first-team training since pre-season began. In between Premier League 2 appearances, he made his senior debut for the final nine minutes of Arsenal's 5-1 Carabao Cup win over Bolton Wanderers.
Arsenal youth reporter Jeorge Bird has since commented that the 18-year-old, from a picture at London Colney, looks as though he has bulked up and thus got stronger physically.
Given the physicality required for the Premier League, Kabia appears primed for more involvement and if he does impress, an adequate back-up option for Saka may already be at the club which would save Arsenal a lot of money.
Currently, it is a different name in Max Dowman that is making waves in the academy. The 15-year-old is now considered to be an under-16s player which allows him to represent Arsenal in the Premier League.
Considering how careful Arteta has been with Arsenal's younger players as of late, it is unlikely Dowman is seen in a prominent senior role for a number of seasons.
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