Jack Wilshere once recommended an Arsenal gem to Mikel Arteta but he wasn’t given any chances and left for free

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Arsenal’s academy is one of the best in the world.

Hale End has produced a number of incredible talents over the years, and there are many more coming through right now as well.

Max Dowman, who amazed Arsenal fans after scoring four goals in a game on Saturday, is expected by many to be the next big thing at the Emirates.

But, over the years, many talented young players have left Arsenal after not getting opportunities under Mikel Arteta in the first team.

Jack Wilshere was a big fan of one of them.

What happened after Jack Wilshere recommended Reuell Walters to Arsenal’s first team

Arsenal have had the best defence in the Premier League for a couple of years now.

William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are the best in the business in the heart of the defence, while the likes of Ben White, Jurrien Timber and Myles Lewis-Skelly among others have done a good job in full-back positions.

But, in the very first game of the 2023/24 season, Arsenal suffered a big blow – Timber tore his ACL and was ruled out for months.

At the time, Football Transfers revealed that then-U18s boss Wilshere had recommended Reuell Walters to Arteta.

The report claimed that the Englishman told the Arsenal manager that ‘he believes Walters should be given the chance to impress and is ready for the step up’.

It was further revealed that some insiders at Arsenal were convinced that Walters could become as good as Saliba in the future.

The young defender made the first-team bench on 11 different occasions, but he didn’t get a single senior opportunity.

At the end of the 2023/24 campaign, Walters snubbed Arsenal’s contract offer and decided to leave the club on a free transfer for senior opportunities elsewhere.

Why did Reuell Walters leave Arsenal?

After leaving Arsenal, Walters joined Luton Town.

It really was a shame to see the young defender leave, but Arsenal couldn’t guarantee regular opportunities for him in the first team.

Luton Town manager Rob Edwards revealed after signing the youngster that Walters left Arsenal because he wanted to have a pathway to the senior side.

“Pathway is very important to him. That is one of the reasons why he is leaving Arsenal,” Edwards said.

Walters has played 16 times for Luton in all competitions this season. It remains to be seen if he will fulfil his potential there in the coming years.