Ayden Heaven leaving Arsenal stung a bit last summer and the defender has now been reflecting on his career so far, with a mention for Mikel Arteta.
Heaven was convinced to join United by Ruben Amorim and so far, that decision seems to have been a good one for the young centre-back.
Nevertheless, Heaven’s departure wasn’t ideal for Arsenal, with the Gunners feeling they’d lost a prospect for little and Heaven believing his path to the first-team was blocked.
Still, Heaven seems to look on his time with Arsenal fondly.
How many games do you think Ayden Heaven would have played for Arsenal if he’d not signed for Man United?
Ayden Heaven thanks Mikel Arteta after becoming a Man United regular
Despite leaving the club on ‘bad terms’, there was never any ill-feeling from Heaven or Mikel Arteta towards one another.
The bad terms were more linked to the fact Arsenal had developed a player then lost him for close to nothing.
Indeed, speaking to Man United’s media channels, Heaven has actually thanked Arteta when asked about the most influential coaches he’s had.
“I’d probably say the ones I’ve sort of played under. So, Mikel Arteta, you know, Ruben Amorim, Michael Carrick, all three of them have helped me, you know, to get where I am today. I’m thankful,” Heaven commented.
Ayden Heaven’s record since leaving Arsenal
It’s safe to say that the move for Heaven to Man United has worked out well for him so far.
Heaven featured heavily under Ruben Amorim and while he’s not quite had the same amount of game time since Michael Carrick took over, he’s still involved in the squad and coming off the bench when needed.
So far, Heaven has made 14 Premier League appearances and was even named United’s player of the month in December.
At just 19, that is not something to be sniffed at and given he’s a young up and coming English defender, the Euros in 2028 looks like a very realistic possibility for him.
Sometimes, a move is needed for a player to really kick on and progress and for Ayden Heaven, that seems to have been the case.
In a few years’ time, it does very much look like Arsenal will look back on this one as an opportunity missed.
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