Arsenal’s academy has produced some fine players down the years, but who have been the greatest Arsenal youngsters to pull on the red and white?
A homegrown player donning the red and white and leading the team success evokes no end of pride. Even after the player has left the club, there’s still some fondness attached to them, as if they still represent the club and everything it stands for.
Over the years, the Arsenal academy hasn’t been the most prolific talent factory around, but it has produced some exceptional footballers. Getting the list down to just five was a tough order, and a couple of choices may seem controversial.
Nonetheless, here are my five greatest Arsenal youngsters of all time.
4Cesc Fabregas
How much of an Arsenal product Fabregas is, is up for debate, but there’s no denying he blossomed as a top talent at the club.
After joining from Barcelona as a 16-year-old in September 2003, he made his first team debut the following month, and remained in the team until he departed in 2011.
Fabregas was a boy-wonder who played with a maturity far beyond his years.
His technique and vision typified Arsene Wenger’s approach, and he became a talismanic performer before he even reached adulthood.
By 2008, he was the club’s captain and the centre of everything the team did.
However, in 2011, having only won one trophy with Arsenal, he went back home to Barcelona to work with his idol, Pep Guardiola, and play with friends Gerard Pique and Lionel Messi. He spent three seasons there, winning the Spanish title before moving to Chelsea.
By this point, affection for Fabregas had taken a massive hit.
Yet, much like Cole before him, there’s no denying the success he’s had at Chelsea. Two Premier League titles and the League Cup was more than he won at Arsenal or Barcelona.
Internationally, Fabregas also enjoyed huge success, amassing 110 caps for Spain so far, winning two European Championships and the World Cup.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQCRurw9Xqs