Reiss Nelson has named the four stars of Arsenal’s FA Youth Cup campaign he expects to succeed, ahead of competition’s final rounds.
Arsenal are currently in the semi-finals of the cup, facing two legs against Blackpool Youth. They play in Blackpool on Tuesday March 20th at 19:00, followed by the return leg at the Emirates Stadium on Monday April 16th, also at 19:00.
Nelson told the Arsenal website that there’s a good feeling around the club academy right now.
“It’s a really exciting time for all youth teams at the moment,” he said. “We’re near the top of the table in the Premier League 2 and we’re into the latter rounds of the FA Youth Cup. I think everyone’s just buzzing in the youth section of the training ground at the moment.”
As someone who still spends half his time with the youth teams, Nelson gets a better look than most at the next rising stars at Arsenal.
Here are the four players he thinks we should watch out for:
Trae Coyle
- Age: 17
- Position: Attacking midfield
Coyle made a lot of progress this season after a tough start. The 17-year-old spent the early part of the campaign out with injury, and didn’t immediately hit his stride after recovering.
Since then though, he’s really pushed on. He got an assist on his u23 debut in December, and Arsenal named him in their updated Premier League squad in January.
As well as that, he is consistently performing well for the u18s. Although he’s get to grab a goal or assist in the cup, he has six goal contributions in seven league games so far. Even when he isn’t scoring or assisting, he still adds a lot to the young side’s play.
Hopefully he can get on the score sheet in the FA Youth Cup semi-final.
Nelson’s opinion
“We’ve got so many talented youngsters in our ranks, but the ones who have really stood out to me are Trae Coyle at No 10 and Xavier on the wing, who has also made a couple of under-23 appearances.”
2017/18 stats
- Premier League 2 (u23s): 2 appearances, 1 assist.
- U18 Premier League: 7 appearances, 5 goals, 1 assist.
- FA Youth Cup: 4 appearances.
- Overall: 13 appearances, 5 goals, 2 assists.
Xavier Amaechi
- Age: 17
- Position: Winger
Amaechi joined Arsenal at the age of 12 from Fulham FC. He’s a boyhood fan of the Gunners, so he definitely has the club at heart.
The winger is fast, carries the ball well and he’s good in 1v1 situations.
He’s also a creative player, and admitted recently that he looks up to Mesut Özil. The 17-year-old hasn’t had the chance to train with the German so far, but at the rate he’s going it won’t be long.
Amaechi’s best performance of the season so far came in Arsenal’s first match in the Youth Cup, when he scored both of the goals in a 2-1 win against Sheffield Wednesday.
A special mention also has to go to his goal and general showing as the u18s demolished Tottenham 6-0 late last year.
Nelson’s opinion
“We’ve got so many talented youngsters in our ranks, but the ones who have really stood out to me are Trae Coyle at No 10 and Xavier on the wing, who has also made a couple of under-23 appearances.”
2017/18 stats
- Premier League 2 (u23s): 5 appearances, 2 assists.
- U18 Premier League: 4 appearances, 4 goals.
- FA Youth Cup: 4 appearances, 3 goals, 1 assist.
- Overall: 13 appearances, 7 goals, 3 assists.
Folarin Balogun
- Age: 16
- Position: Centre-forward
Still just 16 years old, Balogun wasn’t initially part of the Youth Cup run, only making the bench. However, the striker has been on fire with the u18s in the league all season.
In his last three league games he scored four goals and provided two assists, so it was no surprise to see him finally get a start against Colchester United in the cup quarter-final.
As usual, he made the most of that start with a goal, Arsenal’s fourth on the night.
Powerful and clinical, the young striker is just unlucky the Arsenal academy have Nketiah and John-Jules in the u23s. Otherwise he’d surely have played more than the 111 minutes he has this season for the top academy side.
Given his age, he’ll get plenty more chances in the coming years.
Nelson’s opinion
“Flo Balogun is like a young Eddie Nketiah up front because he gets into good positions and always scores goals.”
2017/18 stats
- Premier League 2 (u23s): 5 appearances.
- U18 Premier League: 14 appearances, 9 goals, 3 assists.
- FA Youth Cup: 1 appearance, 1 goal.
- Overall: 20 appearances, 10 goals, 3 assists.
Bukayo Saka
- Age: 16
- Position: Winger
Saka is the youngest of the four, having only turned 16 this season, but he’s already having a big impact.
The youngster has as many goal contributions as appearances so far in the Youth Cup, including scoring the equaliser and assisting the winner in extra-time after coming off the bench at Anfield.
He bagged a brace as the u18s demolished Tottenham 6-0 in November, and all five of his league goals have come in his last six games, so he’s really on a good goal-scoring run.
The schoolboy winger has a great understanding of the game, and an eye for a final ball. He is also very strong technically, and versatile, as he’s played as a defender for England.
Nelson’s opinion
“I really like Bukayo Saka as well. He’s still young but is doing the business for them, including that really good goal at Anfield. He’s definitely one for the future.”
2017/18 stats
- U18 Premier League: 11 appearances, 5 goals, 2 assists.
- FA Youth Cup: 4 appearances, 2 goals, 2 assists.
- Overall: 15 appearances, 7 goals, 4 assists.