The youth system around the Arsenal football club is one of the best in the world. Here are five hot prospects who have all played for the gunners.

Arsenal is enjoying a great start to the season, currently sitting on top of the table after eight matches played. Arteta can thank this build of form to a lot of the young players coming through the ranks. The likes of Saka and Smith Rowe have been a staple in the Arsenal infrastructure, with both players coming from Hale End. Saka has been a dependable presence on the right flank, while Smith Rowe has excelled in central midfield or on the left.

Saka alone scored 11 goals last season and provided 7 assists, while Smith Rowe bagged 10 goals with 2 assists. The talented duo is one of many good players to come out of the Arsenal youth academy. The U-23 team is a great stepping stone for several youngsters to show off their skills, one of the main reasons the best online sportsbook always features these kinds of players. Here are 5 players who are looking to be bright prospects for the future.

Omari Hutchinson 

Hutchinson signed for Arsenal at the age of 10, making him a well-known name among Arsenal supporters. A boost to his career in the form of Arteta selecting him as part of his matchday squad. Hutchinson had also been seen training more often with the first team. Although he has yet to make his senior debut, Hutchinson was a regular in the U-23 matches. In 17 games, he has put the ball in the back of the net 6 times and made 4 assists playing a dominant role in 10 goals. In recent times Hutchinson can be seen in a more attacking role in the midfield area, but as with Saka, the 18-year-old started his career as a full-back, changing his position. This season, Hutchinson has signed to Chelsea, scoring three times and assisting twice for the under 21 team. 

In a chance meeting, Hutchinson left the Brazilian maestro, Pele, in awe. With this kind of backing, it looks like the young player could be an exciting prospect for the future, adding greater depth to the midfield while bringing the reinforcement options Arteta wants.

Charlie Patino

As soon as Patino scored against Sunderland on his debut, he captured the attention of football fans worldwide. It wasn’t a surprise to most Arsenal fans that the 18-year-old possessed a lot of talent due to his 12 games for the U-23s. Patino fits well into Arteta’s current system, where he could serve as a backup to Martin Odegaard or Smith Rowe. He might even provide some extra midfield depth. He’s been dubbed “the next Jack Wilshere” and has received a lot of praise. However, Arteta has exercised caution in exposing the youngster to the limelight at such a young age. This season, Patino can be found on loan at Blackpool, where he has already scored, showing his true talent.

Mika Biereth

Arsenal signed the Danish midfielder from Fulham in 2021. During his time with the U-23 side, the 19-year-old has made many appearances, scoring 10 goals and assisting 4 times. With the departure of Balogun, he has effectively filled the missing puzzle piece. Standing over 6ft tall, Biereth is a dominating presence in the box, but this isn’t his only attribute. He can also play very well on the flank if needed. This position is in high contention at Arsenal, with many young players, such as Folarin Balogun and Tyreece John-Jules, appearing in the squad rotation.

Salah Eddine Ouland M’Hand

The Gunners signed M’Hand as a free agent in 2020 from Feyenoord. With Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka injured in January 2021, the Dutchman Salah M’Hand was unlucky not to make his first-team debut. His technique in deep midfield makes him a valuable player, already so early in his career. He contributed five goals to the U-23 squad last season. The youngster has also caught the attention of Arteta, providing justification for his FA Cup selection against Leeds United last season. 

“We are rewarding him for what he does every day in training and the games that he’s playing, for his attitude and the quality he has – he totally deserves to be with us”.

This year, M’Hand sees himself playing on a season-long loan spell for Hull, with lots of speculation that the championship side is looking to keep him long-term.

Marcelo Flores

A free transfer from Ipswich Town brought him to Arsenal’s U-18 side. As an U-16 and U-21 representative for England and Canada, Marcelo Flores possesses a wide range of experience. His senior national team appearances also include Mexico. In addition to playing in an attacking midfield position, Flores is also capable of playing on both wings. With the U-18s, he makes regular appearances, while with the U-23s, he scored four goals and offered an assist last season. Mexico’s Revelations Cup victory was made possible by his brilliant performance, where he scored twice and assisted once. This season sees Flores on loan at Real Oviedo to gain some extra experience.