Arsenal have seen several Hale End Academy talents past and present shine in recent weeks, whether at the club or elsewhere in the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta parted ways with Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe in the summer transfer window, and they are thriving, with the pair both scoring for Fulham last week, playing alongside fellow academy graduate Alex Iwobi.
In the same weekend, Eddie Nketiah continued his strong start for Crystal Palace with another impressive display despite adapting to a new position, whilst one of his former Arsenal teammates also scored in the Premier League.
Former Arsenal striker Stephy Mavididi was once a hugely promising talent in the Hale End Academy, but he departed in 2018 before he could make his debut, with an ill-fated move to Juventus.
The 26-year-old is now at Leicester City, and he will hope to score against his former side when the two teams face each other at the Emirates Stadium.
Stephy Mavididi will play against Arsenal for Leicester City
Arsenal are set to face Leicester having gone unbeaten in their seven games across all competitions so far this season, but it is a very different story at the promoted side.
Leicester are yet to win in the Premier League, and have drawn three of their five games so far. However, Mavididi has been a bright spark under Steve Cooper.
The Englishman came off the bench in their first three games of the season, before scoring in both his starts in the last two games against Crystal Palace and Everton.
Mavididi is now performing well in the Premier League after a few years abroad, and as he returns to face the club where he developed, he will hope to ruin Mikel Arteta’s push for the title.
Why Stephy Mavididi left Arsenal
Mavididi thrived in the academy, scoring 21 goals in 41 games in the Arsenal under-21s, but after several loan spells, including at Charlton and Preston, he returned to the club as Nketiah made his stunning breakthrough into the side.
This led to his departure in 2018, as he joined Italian giants Juventus, but he made just one appearance for them in 2019.
At both Arsenal and Juventus, Mavididi failed to gain senior opportunities, and this led him to Montpelier in France, where he scored 21 goals in 98 games before joining Leicester in the Championship last season.
Mavididi has scored 16 goals in 54 games for the Foxes, and he will now aim to help them in their fight against relegation by scoring against his old club, and putting a dent in Arsenal’s title hopes.
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