Arsenal are set to begin their pre-season campaign in the coming week, but questions remain over which academy stars will be involved.
Arsenal under-21s have already been involved in two pre-season matches, with a 4-2 win over Boreham Wood followed by a 2-1 defeat to Enfield Town, with plenty of rotation.
The likes of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly will be aiming to make the trip to the USA with Mikel Arteta’s squad for their upcoming pre-season friendlies, but there are some players whose futures are uncertain, and their omissions could indicate upcoming departures from the club.
This applies to right-back Brooke Norton-Cuffy, with the highly promising talent returning from a successful loan spell at Championship side Millwall, but finding himself without a place in the squad.
Brooke Norton-Cuffy omitted from Arsenal under-21 pre-season games
Charlie Patino spent last season on loan at Swansea City and faces an uncertain future, but did start and impress in Arsenal’s victory over Boreham Wood.
However, Norton-Cuffy was a notable absentee from both academy pre-season matches, which could indicate that he is on his way out of Arsenal.
The 20-year-old was excellent at Millwall last season, making 40 Championship appearances, which drew praise from teammate Ryan Leonard.
“Brooke has been excellent all season. He did well at Coventry last year and has hit the ground running,” Leonard stated in December 2023.
“They’ve both got a hell of a future in the game,” he added in reference to Norton-Cuffy and Millwall youngster Aidomo Emakhu.
Brooke Norton-Cuffy may need permanent Arsenal exit
Norton-Cuffy has impressed in loan spells at Lincoln, Coventry, Rotherham and Millwall, and at the age of 20, the Arsenal youngster has already made over 100 appearances at a senior level.
The right-back has shown the potential to develop into an excellent player, but the reality is that with Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jurrien Timber ahead of him in the pecking order, he will not receive any chances at Arsenal next season.
Whilst there could be merit in extending his contract and sending him on another loan, the player may desire a permanent transfer and a stable platform to continue his development, rather than another year where he will end the season uncertain of where he will move to next.
A lot of Arsenal youngsters will face similar issues now that the first-team is competing at such a high level with such a deep squad, and Norton-Cuffy was one of the most promising talents within the academy over the last few years but could still not force his way into Arteta’s thinking.
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