5 Arsenal youth academy players who should play for the first team

Arsenal is a team, like Liverpool, Manchester United and Southampton that prides itself on the ability to constantly churn out talented young players and then turn them into finely tuned machines that can slot right into the first team.

But that doesn’t always work out that well and lately, it has barely worked at all, and in their current first team squad, only Jack Wilshere, Alex Iwobi, Francis Coquelin and Hector Bellerin have made the switch from the academy to the hallowed Emirates ground.

Alex Iwobi’s rise to prominence last season was as unexpected as it was whole-heartedly welcomed by the Arsenal faithful. However, in the ever-inflating transfer market that sees even the smaller Premier League clubs churn out almost £30 million for out of form players, thus managers look towards the academy, by developing youth players into stars.

Since Jack Wilshere made his debut as a 16-year-old in 2008, youth prospects good enough to play in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium have been few and far between. But there is still hope for Arsenal and their fans as a group of youngsters are waiting in the wings to take a place in the first team.

Here are five players who should make their mark in the coming seasons and could be the next Arsenal greats.

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#5 Krystian Bielik

(Video Courtesy: ScoutingPolska YouTube Channel)

In 2015, Arsenal shelled out a reported figure of £2.4 million to a Polish international, barely 16-years-old then, and drew comparisons with former Arsenal great, Patrick Vieira. Two years on, Bielik has shown immense potential.

When the Pole arrived at Arsenal he was a defensive midfielder – Wenger saw that the 18-year-old had other talents and that he could also be played in a centre back role. Since then, the Polish international has been reshaped to fit the style of a modern defender.

The 19-year-old Polish player is extremely comfortable with the ball, having started as a midfielder and Wenger saw in him the potential to be the man to start off attacks from the back. However, it’s those Vieira comparisons that have made the Polish man so interesting, and those have come about partly because of the teenager’s stature, with him being over six feet.

He also boasts a superb long-range passing game, which is one of the traits that a modern defender should possess.

Although he arrived as a powerhouse defender and Arsenal’s next midfield general, the Polish international has excelled at both positions, even captaining Arsenal’s FA Youth Cup team last season. It’s time for Bielik to be tested at a higher level.

#4 Kelechi Nwakali

Nwakali won the Golden Ball in the 2015 U-17 World Cup

Few players have a stronger resume for success on this list than the Nigeran wonderkid who was instrumental in his country's 2015 U-17 World Cup victory and was also awarded the Golden Ball award. He earned a five-year deal from Arsenal in 2016 and is currently on loan at Dutch club, MVV Maastricht.

The 18-year-old midfielder compares himself to the great Yaya Toure, the kind of player Arsenal have missed dreadfully in midfield for a long time.

(Video Courtesy: NFFTV YouTube Channel)

Nwakali has a lot to do to make the step from youth level to the rigours of Premier League football; only Toni Kroos and Cesc Fabregas have gone on to have a solid career following the U17 World Cup glories.

The 18-year-old, however, looks to follow Kelechi Iheanacho as the second Nigerian to do it in as many competitions and is undoubtedly a member of the next generation of Arsenal players trying to push their way into the first-team squad.

#3 Donyell Malen

Malen has all the attributes to be a quality striker

The only reason that Malen is not higher on this list is the fact that he’s only 17-years-old, but that hasn’t stopped him from impressing everyone at Arsenal. The Dutch wunderkid quickly rose through the ranks of Arsenal’s youth team, before usurping Stephy Mavididi in the U-21 side as the starting striker.

But what makes Donyell such a prospect is the fact that Mino Raiola – the agent of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and a host of other superstars – represents him. Raiola knows talent and if he says a youth star is an exciting player, you most definitely take notice.

(Video Courtesy: miroP10 YouTube Channel)

There is no other word to describe Malen’s talent on the pitch, other than ‘remarkable’. The Dutch teen left Ajax for Arsenal, thus becoming the ire of his home nation, but it’s easy to see why the Dutch club wanted him to stay. The youngster sensational and could be easily be knocking on the first team door within a few years, if not sooner.

He has the pace that Arsenal have been craving for, the finishing ability they’ve lacked for so long and an incredible work ethic that rivals Danny Welbeck or even Alexis Sanchez. In short, the 17-year-old has everything that any team want in a striker which is why he was quickly signed up on a senior contract as soon as he turned 17.

#2 Gedion Zelalem

Zelalem is currently on loan at Dutch side, VVV-Venlo

The 20-year-old midfielder was first spotted by an Arsenal scout as a youngster playing for a club in America before he made his first few appearances in an Arsenal shirt for the Under-21s while he was still at school. Zelalem is a massive talent and has the ability to become a classy midfielder for Arsenal and will fit perfectly with the Gunners’ style of play.

He’s great on the ball, can control from midfield similar to the way Santi Carzola has done over the last four years or so. But his loan spell last season at Rangers brought about comparisons to another Arsenal playmaker, Mesut Ozil. One minute everyone was raving about the American and how wonderful he was, the next he was accused of being uninterested and lazy, among other things. But when it comes off, it is a thing of beauty.

(Video Courtesy: FootyScoutHD YouTube Channel)

The midfielder outsmarts a player rather than outmuscles them, and it worked, as he registered eight assists in all competitions. Arsenal has always known the youngster’s strengths, he sees things that no one else sees and knows where to put the ball and how to make things just happen.

Although he was supposed to be given a shot with the first team, the sheer depth of the Arsenal squad was just too much for him to push for a first-team role and Wenger sent him off on loan VVV-Venlo, with a promise that he will get opportunities next term.

#1 Jeff Reine-Adelaide

Reine-Adelaide has made a few starts for the Gunners in cup competitions

Of all the youngsters in Arsenal’s academy, few have created the kind of buzz as Jeff Reine-Adelaide. The 19-year-old French midfielder has already made his senior bow with the Gunners first team, playing alongside the likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, and living up to all the expectations.

(Video Courtesy: TBS10HD YouTube Channel)

The 19-year-old had a brilliant season last term with the U21’s, scoring three goals and assisting five as he swapped between the number 10 role and a much more wider position. He’s tall and has a languid style of play, and against a full strength Southampton side in November, the French midfielder showcased his talents and offered a glimpse of his future as he went head to head with the Saints defence.

However, despite all his strengths, Jeff Reine-Adelaide still has a lot to improve on before he becomes a full-fledged starter for Arsenal, but his appearances in cup competitions are the perfect opportunity for him to impress in the limited chances and break into the Arsenal main team.

He certainly has the raw potential to become another French great at Arsenal, the type of player they desperately need now.