Over the years, Arsenal have had many impressive young stars come through the academy ranks to make their name in the first-team squad.
From Premier League record-breakers to silky Spaniards, the Gunners have bore witness to the next generation stepping into the spotlight.
The Hale End Academy has been praised for its ability to train players to feature across the world of football.
On occasion, some will be good enough to feature for Arsenal regularly, such as Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah in years gone by.
So, with that said, here’s a look at the top ten youngest Arsenal players in history, including their age and when they made their debut.
10 – Armand Traore – 17 years and 16 days old
Former left-back Armand Traore made his debut for Arsenal in October 2006 during a League Cup clash with West Bromwich Albion.
The Gunners won 2-0 courtesy of a Jeremie Aliadiere brace on either side of half time, earning passage into the next round.
Traore, aged just 17 years and 16 days old, came on as a substitute in the first half for Emmanuel Adebayor.
The youngster played over an hour of action for the Gunners and put himself on the radar of many at the club.
Several loan spells followed, with Traore making 32 appearances for Arsenal before leaving in 2011.
There were spells at QPR, Nottingham Forest, Cardiff and Rizespor over the course of his career.
Where is Armand Traore now?
Traore is currently retired, hanging up his boots in 2020 after a brief return to Cardiff, calling time on a 14-year playing career.
9 – Gedion Zelalem – 16 years, 11 months and 29 days
Arsenal landed Gedion Zelalem in 2013, joining the academy as a promising young midfielder for the future.
The versatile star made his debut in January 2014, coming off the bench in a 4-0 win over Coventry City in the FA Cup.
Zelalem was just 16 years old at the time and tipped for big things, but only went on to make four appearances for the first team at Arsenal before leaving in 2019.
He featured for both the USA and Germany in the youth international ranks, while on the club stage, he played for Rangers, VVV-Venlo, New York City, Kansas City and Den Bosch.
Where is Gedion Zelalem now?
After some spells in the USA and the Netherlands, Zelalem has since joined NK Lokomotiva in the Croatian first tier.
The midfielder is still only 27 years old and could still look to leave his mark in football before he reaches the latter half of his career.
8 – Ryan Smith – 16 years, 11 months and 18 days
In October 2003, Arsene Wenger gave a chance to youngster Ryan Smith at just 16 years old, featuring in a third-round League Cup encounter with Rotherham United.
The forward came on in the final 15 minutes as Arsenal were held to a late draw against the Millers, taking the game to penalties.
Despite his age, Smith held his nerve during a penalty shootout that the Gunners won 10-9 in the end.
The winger played six times for the club before moving on to play for Derby, Millwall and Crystal Palace before spells in the USA and Greece.
Where is Ryan Smith now?
Ryan Smith retired from professional football in 2013 aged just 26 years old, bringing an abrupt end to his career.
7 – Paul Vaessen – 16 years, 11 months and 11 days
Number seven on the list is former striker Paul Vaessen, who made his debut aged just 16 for Arsenal back in the 1970s.
The forward made his first appearance in September 1978 in a UEFA Cup match against FC Lokomotiv Leipzig.
His greatest moment was scoring an important goal against Juventus in the second leg of a 1980 Cup Winners Cup semi-final, which ensured a place in the final.
Vaessen made 39 appearances for Arsenal before retiring in 1983, unfortunately passing away in 2001.
6 – Gerry Ward – 16 years, 10 months and 17 days
Gerry Ward was one of the original wonderkids at Arsenal, making his debut in August 1953 against Huddersfield Town in the old First Division.
The winger featured 81 times for the club before joining Leyton Orient in 1963, retiring one year later in 1964.
Ward passed away in January 1994, aged 57 years old.
5 – Jermaine Pennant – 16 years, 10 months and 15 days
Jermaine Pennant became the youngest-ever Arsenal player in 1999 when he featured in a League Cup defeat to Middlesbrough in November.
The winger came on for the final few minutes of the match, aged just 16, with the side losing on penalties.
Pennant went on to play 26 times for Arsenal before leaving permanently in 2005 to join Birmingham City.
In a promising start to his career, the star struggled to find a permanent home to call his own, playing for 15 different clubs in total.
Where is Jermaine Pennant now?
Jermaine Pennant retired from professional football in 2018 and went on to feature on the reality TV show Big Brother that same year.
Since then, he has found a space in the punditry world, featuring on many different stations in England to voice his opinions and to share his stories.
4 – Jack Wilshere – 16 years, 8 months and 12 days
Jack Wilshere is the definition of Arsenal wonderkid, making his debut in September 2008, coming off the bench against Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League.
The midfielder went on to be a staple in the central ranks for the Gunners, with his most impressive performance coming against Barcelona in 2011.
Unfortunately, injuries ravaged Wilshere’s career and he struggled to make the impact he could’ve at the very top for a long time.
A permanent exit was confirmed in 2018, with spells at West Ham, Bournemouth and Aarhus before he retired in 2022.
Where is Jack Wilshere now?
Since retiring, Jack Wilshere has taken up a role as the head coach of the Arsenal under-18s side in the academy.
3 – Cesc Fabregas – 16 years, 5 months and 24 days
Cesc Fabregas made his Arsenal debut in the same game as Ryan Smith, starting in midfield against Rotherham in the League Cup in October 2003.
The Spaniard cemented himself as an icon with the Gunners, making 303 appearances at the club in his career with many memorable moments.
Fabregas left in 2011 to join Barcelona before spells at Chelsea, AS Monaco and Como, where he retired in 2023.
Where is Cesc Fabregas now?
Since retiring in 2023, Cesc Fabregas joined the Como coaching staff and eventually took the step to become their manager in the Serie A.
2 – Jack Porter – 16 years, 2 months and 10 days
The second-youngest Arsenal player of all-time is Jack Porter, who featured in goal for the Gunners in their League Cup clash with Bolton in September 2024.
At just 16 years old, Porter is the youngest goalkeeper to start for the side too, with David Raya and Neto both unavailable on the night.
The match ended 5-1 for Arsenal, sending the side into the next round of the competition.
Porter is still at the club and looking to make his way into the team on a regular basis in the near future.
1 – Ethan Nwaneri – 15 years, 5 months and 28 days
History was made in September 2022 when Ethan Nwaneri was subbed on in a Premier League clash with Brentford.
The midfielder became the youngest player in the club’s history, aged just 15 at the time, as well as the youngest in Premier League history.
Shortly after, Nwaneri was back in the youth setup but has been handed several first-team opportunities since.
With the youngster still at the club, there is plenty of hope that he can replicate the likes of Wilshere and Fabregas on this list with his ability.
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