Arsenal are blessed with a very strong youth setup right now, and it seems only a matter of time before some of the youngsters make the step up to the senior squad.

A couple of members of the Arsenal academy have already managed to get first-team opportunities under Unai Emery this campaign. Julio Pleguezuelo started against Blackpool in the League Cup, whilst Emile Smith Rowe has become a regular in the cup and the Europa League, as well as making the Premier League bench a few times.

However, the Premier League 2 champions of last season have plenty more to offer the senior side if Emery wants to draw on them. Let’s have a look at the top five candidates for chances this season.

Eddie Nketiah

• Age: 19
• Position: Centre-forward/Left Winger
• Youth appearances (2018/19): 8
• Youth goals (2018/19): 7
• Youth assists (2018/19): 1

It should be no surprise at all to see Nketiah on this list, as he’s been waiting for first-team chances for a long time now. The striker hasn’t played a single minute for the senior side this season, despite making the squad on five occasions. Only Emi Martinez has appeared in the squad more without actually getting onto the pitch.

Nketiah was particularly unlucky against Sporting Lisbon. Arsenal were desperate for a goal and the England u20 international was moments away from coming on before Stephan Lichtsteiner went down injured and forced Unai Emery to bring on Ainsley Maitland-Niles instead.

Though he’s at his best in front of goal, Nketiah has also played out wide in the past, and has been particularly impressive in the position for the England youth teams:

https://twitter.com/GrantAFC80/status/1061572875411435520

That versatility, plus the injury to third-choice striker Danny Welbeck, should see Nketiah in the first-team very soon.

Click ‘Next’ for the other academy stars set for first-team minutes this season

Joe Willock

• Age: 19
• Position: Central Midfield
• Youth appearances (2018/19): 9
• Youth goals (2018/19): 5
• Youth assists (2018/19): 1

Willock is another who made his first-team debut under Arsene Wenger last season, but arguably he’s proving even more deserving of opportunities this campaign.

The midfielder never really wowed the Arsenal fans during his senior opportunities in 2017/18, but he’s pushed on massively in the current campaign. That’s been particularly evident in the EFL Trophy, where he has three goals in two appearances against senior opposition.

Willock also got an assist in his only first-team appearance in pre-season, and he’s scored big goals against Tottenham and Liverpool for the u23s. Those goals are just the cherry on top of his dominant midfield performances for the youth teams, showing he’s ready for another senior opportunity.

To the doubters, I’d like to point out that Reiss Nelson only occasionally caught the eye in the first team last season, and look at him now. Willock looks a different player this campaign, and he just needs a chance to prove he can do it at senior level under Emery.

Click ‘Next’ for the other academy stars set for first-team minutes this season

Zech Medley

• Age: 18
• Position: Centre-back
• Youth appearances (2018/19): 7

To round out the trio of youth players to get into the first-team squad without making an appearance on the pitch, we have Zech Medley, who Unai Emery selected for the squad to face Leicester City last month. Captain of the u18s at the start of last season, Medley is making a rapid rise to the first team, becoming a key player for the u23s on the way.

The defender appeared in 13 of Arsenal’s 22 Premier League 2 matches last season on the way to the title and, this season, he’s helped the Gunners keep clean sheets against Blackburn and Liverpool u23s, as well as the Coventry City senior team.

The 6’4″ centre-back has clearly caught his manager’s eye in training, considering he got the first-team squad call-up ahead of a number of other strong defensive options in the academy.

You’d think he could be given a chance in the final Europa League group stage games, if Arsenal are looking to rest players ahead of the North London derby on December 2nd, for example.

However, unfortunately, he’s ineligible, having spent less than two years at the club and not making Arsenal’s A-list squad. The FA Cup looks like his next best chance.

Click ‘Next’ for the other academy stars set for first-team minutes this season

Bukayo Saka

• Age: 17
• Position: Left Winger
• Youth appearances (2018/19): 15
• Youth goals (2018/19): 4
• Youth assists (2018/19): 7

Last week Joe Willock called Saka “one of the most talented players we have in the team”, and he’s not wrong. In 875 minutes for the youth teams this season, the 17-year-old has contributed to 11 goals, that’s one every 79.5 minutes.

This is the winger’s first proper campaign as a regular for the u23s, and he’s taking the chance with both hands. Most recently, he scored against Chelsea in the Premier League 2 and set up two goals against Forest Green Rovers in the EFL Trophy. If you haven’t watched Arsenal’s compilation of that performance, it’s worth checking out:

https://twitter.com/ArsenalAcademy/status/1060592795579166720

Saka is exactly the sort of player the first team are looking for, a fast and skilful dribbler who can play a cross or killer pass but can also score goals when called upon. The only thing holding him back is his age and inexperience at the top levels.

Of course, you can’t ignore experience as a factor. If Saka hasn’t even played regularly against u23s before this year, throwing him into senior games would probably be too great a risk at this stage. However, if he keeps playing the way he is, and Arsenal get a favourable FA Cup draw in January, he may well find himself in the squad.

Click ‘Next’ for the other academy stars set for first-team minutes this season

Daniel Ballard

• Age: 19
• Position: Centre-back
• Youth appearances (2018/19): 11

Despite Zech Medley and Julio Pleguezuelo getting the call-ups to the first team, Ballard has arguably been the best performing centre-back for the academy sides.

The defender has been a reliable presence for the Arsenal u23s, but also for the Northern Ireland u21s. He scored, kept two clean sheets and made a crucial goalline clearance over the most recent international break.

In fact, goalline clearances have become a bit of a speciality for the 19-year-old, and he’s made a habit of bailing his goalkeepers out at the last possible moment:

https://twitter.com/afcDW/status/1055067922933133312

When the likes of Laurent Koscielny and Konstantinos Mavropanos return from injury, Ballard might find it hard to get first-team opportunities. However, unlike Medley, he’s an eligible candidate for the upcoming game against FC Vorskla, if Unai Emery wants to rest players for the North London derby. We’ll see if he gets a chance.