by Lewis Ambrose

Arsenal have quite the reputation for signing and developing young players, but very few players the club has signed from lower league clubs have turned into resounding successes in recent times.

Carl Jenkinson is set to go on a second loan spell, but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has made the grade. Now the club are being linked with a move for teenage AFC Wimbledon defender Ryan Sweeney, who has broken into the first team.

At the age of 17 Sweeney played twice at the back end of last season, and has followed that up by impressing during a pre-season friendly against Premier League opposition Watford. Now 18 the youngster is attracting interest from Arsenal, Fulham and Brighton but AFC Wimbledon manager Neal Ardley insists it would take a lot of money to prise the defender from the League 2 club.

 “I think if we want to hold onto him and think it’s right to then we will,” said Ardley.

“If we get a ridiculous offer and we think it’s a good move for the player as well then that will be up to the board to decide what happens.

“We’re in a position where we are producing our own and we have a great pathway and we’re coming on leaps and bounds and it’ll be a nice problem to have if it comes to an offer,” the Wimbledon manager continued before talking a bit more about what the player is like.

“He’s six foot four, he’s left sided and he’s a good player so he will attract attention.”

Arsenal undoubtedly have the resources to fund a move for the defender if the club is interested in him, but we will have to wait and see if anything develops.