Arsenal’s Hale End Academy is continuing to produce the stars of the next generation, with the system having a huge impact on the first team.
The Gunners have always taken great pride in the stars who make their way through the ranks, whether they stick around at senior level or not.
Mikel Arteta is seeing some of the benefits of that on his current team, with Bukayo Saka, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly all making a huge impact from the Hale End academy.
Beyond them, the likes of Emile Smith Rowe, Alex Iwobi, Eddie Nketiah and even Jack Wilshere have come through the team but moved on to new challenges.
That cycle continues each year as new youngsters look to make their impact, with the latest group looking to push Arsenal to the next level.
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Andre Harriman-Annous continues to impress in Arsenal’s youth ranks
While Hale End is having a huge impact on the first team now, there could yet be even more stars making their way into the senior team at Arsenal in the future.
One of those looking to make their mark is Andre Harriman-Annous, a versatile forward who looks destined for the top.
The 17-year-old has played across the frontline, though he has largely featured at centre-forward in the under-18s side.
His record across competitions has been impressive, with goals and assists flowing for him in recent weeks.
| Appearances | 23 |
| Goals | 12 |
| Assists | 2 |
Harriman-Annous has managed to make an impact at under-18s level, with his latest goal coming against West Brom in the under-18s Premier League.
A handful of appearances at under-21 level has followed, with his progress being tracked, while he has had some training sessions with the first-team.
While there is still some time before a debut is on the cards, the progression through the ranks could see the youngster be the next big striker prospect.
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Andre Harriman-Annous reveals Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez as idols
Over the years, the idols that players state have shifted from generation to generation, with Harriman-Annous among those who saw the latter years of Arsene Wenger when growing up.
He revealed how he idolised both Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, when speaking to the official Arsenal website.
“I’ve always been an attacking player, mainly on the wing,” he said. “Growing up I was told about Thierry Henry and how good he was. I’ve seen lots of footage of him online and the range of goals he’d score was incredible, he’s someone that I wanted to play like.
“But I’d say players that I loved watching for Arsenal at the time were Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil. They were my idols.”
If Harriman-Annous can have the sort of impact any of those players had, then it will have been a very successful career at the club.
However, he is just at the start of that, with a long road to go to get himself to those levels, but he’s certainly on his way.
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