Mikel Arteta owes a big thank you to the Arsenal academy.
The Spaniard has been able to save millions on the transfer market because of the emergence of players like Bukayo Saka, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly over the years.
Max Dowman also burst onto the scene this season, as has Marli Salmon, who was Arsenal’s only defender on the bench in the game against Crystal Palace.
Fans can’t wait to see the next youngster to come out of Hale End, and we think it will be Brando Bailey-Joseph in 2026.
Could this be Arsenal’s starting XI in 10 years?
Brando Bailey-Joseph is one to watch at Arsenal in 2026
Bailey-Joseph has been impressing everyone in the Arsenal academy.
The 17-year-old has been at the club since he was eight and has developed into a fantastic prospect at youth level.
Arsenal fans had been crying out for a right-footed left-winger to come out of Hale End, and Bailey-Joseph could be that player.
The youngster has directly contributed to nine goals in 16 starts for the youth sides. He has been involved in six goals in three UEFA Youth League fixtures and has been the shining light for Arsenal in what has otherwise been a dismal campaign.
Bailey-Joseph recently signed his first professional contract at Arsenal. He was also a part of Arsenal’s U16 Premier League Cup-winning squad last term.
So far, the 17-year-old has only played for the U18s and U19s, but there is a chance he will get opportunities for the U21s in the coming months.
If he does well there, we have a feeling he will catch Mikel Arteta’s eye and could even get a call-up to Arsenal’s pre-season tour in the summer.
Arsenal have a major academy problem that they need to fix
Per Mertesacker deserves enormous praise for the work he has done with the Arsenal academy.
The Gunners’ youth setup is comfortably the best in the country, and they are getting much better on the recruitment front with the signings of the Quintero twins and Victor Ozhianvuna.
However, what Arsenal are really poor at is their loan system.
If there’s one thing you could change about the Arsenal academy, what would it be and why?
The Arsenal academy is already the best, but what would make them even better?
The Gunners need to be much better at sending their young players out to develop. Hardly any have seen their value skyrocket after successful loans.
Once Mertesacker achieves that, Arsenal will have better players coming through, and they could also make millions from the sales of youngsters who will not make it at the club.
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