Arsenal look to be in line to have produced one of their greatest ever academy players after Max Dowman stole the show against Everton.
Dowman looks every bit the Premier League player at just 16 and seems to have the world at his feet.
The Gunners have a rich history of producing talent through their famous Hale End academy. But just who are the greatest to have ever made it?
We at Arsenal Insider have looked at FIVE of the best Arsenal academy players.
Arsenal fans…who is Arsenal’s BEST EVER academy graduate and why?
The 5 best Arsenal players to come from the Hale End academy
It remains to be seen if Dowman will go on to join this list of players but he is firmly on course to do so.
As it stands, others are above him in the rankings and arguably the greatest of the modern era is winger Bukayo Saka.
Saka looks on course to be an Arsenal player for life. He’s already made north of 300 appearances and is rapidly closing in on the 100 goal mark as well. If he helps Arsenal to the title this season, his legacy is very much secured.
When we look back to the older days, record appearance maker David O’Leary stands out. Emerging from the youth ranks as a teenager, O’Leary went on to make over 700 appearances for the Gunners.
He is one of the lesser known names among the more ‘modern’ football fan and while some remember him for his time as Leeds manager, Arsenal fans of the past know his true brilliance.
Fast forward a few years, and the beloved David Rocastle is one of the greatest and most well-loved Arsenal players of all time.
‘Rocky’ made 277 appearances for the Gunners before going on to have successful seasons with Leeds, Chelsea and Man City. Tragically, Rocastle passed away at just age 33 after a battle with cancer but his legacy at Arsenal lives on for more than one reason.
Into the late 80s and 90s, it would be remiss to not mention Arsenal’s greatest ever captain, Tony Adams.
An absolute stalwart of a player at the back for the Gunners, Adams lifted a number of trophies and was a key figure in the early years and transformation under Arsene Wenger.
Many who played with Adams regard him as the best defender of his generation, despite well known off-field issues over his career.
Known as ‘Mr Arsenal’, Adams spent his whole career with the club and amassed more than 650 appearances, alongside 66 England caps and at just 21, became Arsenal’s youngest ever captain.
Finally, picking number five is up for debate but we go with former left-back, Ashley Cole.
Regarded by many as THE greatest left-back England have ever produced, it is down to Arsenal’s academy why we see Cole on this list.
Cole went on to win seven trophies with Arsenal and another nine with Chelsea. He is famous for pocketing world-class wingers such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Arjen Robben and Nani, among others.
Cole might have upset the Arsenal fanbase when he left but in terms of pure ability and success, he is among the best we’ve ever produced.
There are a number of others we could note, such as Paul Merson, Jack Wilshere and Andy Cole.
But these five here are our greatest ever. Who makes your list?
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