Jimi Gower has become the latest academy player to put pen to paper on a new contract with Arsenal, the club have confirmed.

Arsenal posted on Friday that Jimi Gower has signed his first professional contract with the club, after six years in north London.

“It’s a really proud moment for me, something I’ve been working towards for a long time. I’m happy and also excited for the future,” Gower said.

“I just think it’s going in the right place, bringing young players through, so I think it’s the right place for me to continue my career.

“I think the club has progressed a lot over the last few years. Obviously, it was a good one last year with the first team and I just think it’s going in the right place, bringing young players through. So I think it’s the right place for me to continue my career.

“I’m a creative midfielder. I like to create chances and score the odd goal as well.”

Gower had a particularly impressive run of games to kick off 2023, scoring four goals in five u18 Premier League games across January and February, which was perhaps a factor in him receiving his Premier League 2 debut for the u21s in March.

“Yeah (that was important),” Gower said of the debut. “Especially being with under-21s, I think it was good to get a taste of what I’m going to be doing more this year.

“It’s a different challenge. It’s harder, but I enjoyed it.

“I’m looking to get myself in the U21s team next year, enjoy my football and play a lot of games. Hopefully, we can do well in the league and the competitions that we’re in.”

Arsenal have been busy on the academy contract front this week, also confirming new professional contracts for Ismail Oulad M’Hand, Josh Robinson, and Elian Quesada-Thorn.

The club also confirmed their new scholarship group, including highly-rated youngsters Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Now that their contract situations are sorted, the u18s and u21s will be focusing on pre-season preparations ahead of the new season.