Arsene Wenger said he’d become an Arsenal ‘great’ – now he’s 27 and barely playing in Croatia

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During the Arsene Wenger years, Arsenal had some brilliant youngsters at the club who never went on to fully fulfil their rich potential.

Immediately, names like Jack Wilshere, David Bentley and Carlos Vela spring to mind, three players who all once looked like the next big thing at Arsenal.

For the more indy Arsenal fan, you can even recall names like Fran Merida, Arturo Lupoli and Wellington Silva.

Wenger helped so many young players fulfill their dreams in N5, but unfortunately there were always going to be tails of frustration and heartbreak too.

And that is certainly the case with Gedion Zelalem, who was once being talked up by both Wenger and Thierry Henry as a 16-year-old – the next Cesc Fabregas.

What happened to Gedion Zelalem?

When he burst onto the scene at Arsenal, there was a three-way tug of war for Zelalem at an international level, a player who was eligible for Ethiopia, Germany and the United States.

Unfortunately, the midfielder never went to be capped by any of those countries, and he only made four senior appearances for Arsenal, too.

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Zelalem first emerged as a real big talent that fans were talking about in 2014 at Arsenal.

A few years later, the midfielder then went to the U20 World Cup with United States, a tournament which ended early for Zelalem.

The Arsenal youngster tore his ACL 34 minutes into the tournament opener, a bitter blow at any age.

Then, several months into Zelalem’s recovery, it was decided that he would need a second surgery – he didn’t play for Arsenal’s youth team for almost a year and a half.

Soon after, Zelalem left Arsenal on a free transfer to join Sporting KC in the MLS.

Arsene Wenger thought Gedion Zelalem would become a ‘great player’ at Arsenal

Since that move, it’s unfortunately been a tale of unfulfilled potential for the now 27-year-old.

Zelalem is now turning out for Lokomotiva Zagreb in Croatia, but is yet to make an appearance for the side despite joining in the summer.

That being said, in an interview in 2014 during pre-season, Wenger was very excited about Zelalem’s potential, words that are now disappointing to read.

He said: “I honestly think Gedion has the talent to become a great player, but that will be decided in the next two or three years because he has to show that he has the mental level required to be a top-level competitor.

“He is a creative player and he can create a spark, an opening with his passing, his vision through the lines. If he manages to develop his physique and keep his qualities, he can be a very important player. Let’s hope he will do it.

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“I believe he is a very young, promising talent who was educated here [in the US]. Today it is too early for him to play for us but I would say in one year we will know more about him. Maybe if it all goes well, in six months.

“Just now he is not ready to start in the Premier League, but he is with us and practises with us a lot and we have high expectations for him.”