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

#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.