Arsenal’s youth system has long been a prolific source of emerging talent, however, the production line at the club’s Hale End academy has been cranked into overdrive in recent years, with more and more players with genuine world-beating promise being promoted to Mikel Arteta’s first team.
The connection between the team and the Gunners support seems to tighten every time a new starlet is promoted from Arsenal’s youth ranks, indeed, fans have been paying tribute to Hale End with a new chant intoned to the tune of ABBA hit, “Super Trouper”.
“Saka, Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly, a Hale End dream come true. The Arsenal through and through. Putting on a show for you” are the lyrics, namechecking the trio of Hale End academy kids that have become first-team staples at The Emirates Stadium.
However, more youngsters are threatening to make the same leap as Saka, Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly as Hale End threatens to become one of Europe’s top academies.
Max Dowman
Few emerging players have captured the imagination of Arsenal fans as much as attacking midfielder Max Dowman has. Considered by many observers to be the best English player of his generation, the schemer is already a regular participant in first-team training at Arsenal at the age of just 15.
Dowman, who is a supremely gifted ball carrier, showcased his class during the recent international break when he notched a goal contribution in three successive outings for England’s U17s.
The wonderkid, who has been likened in style to former Brazilian superstar Kaka, already made history by becoming the youngest-ever player to score in the UEFA Youth League at the tender age of 14 years, 8 months and 19 days, though we expect that to be the tip of the iceberg in terms of career achievements for his talented teen.
Dan Casey
Described as the “new Jack Wilshere” by some and “Martin Odegaard 2.0” by others, box-crashing midfielder Dan Casey has been catching the eye for Arsenal’s U18s this season, where his prolific output has been unparalleled.
Casey, who doesn’t turn 18 until August, has scored 17 times and claimed two assists this term and has been averaging a goal involvement every 83.63 minutes for the young Gunners.
Like Dowman, Casey has been treated to some first-team training involvement and with a little more physical development, the midfield goal-getter should be able to make an instant splash when exposed to football at the top level.
Andre Harriman-Annous
Centre-forward Andre Harriman-Annous has been on Arsenal’s books since the age of seven and the promising attacker has been climbing the ladder at Hale End with confidence since.
Harriman-Annous has already scored 13 times in 27 appearances for Arsenal’s youth sides this season and the 17-year-old has already been moved up to compete at U21 level, which suggests he is being primed for bigger things.
The youngster has been in and around first-team training in recent months, so a summer introduction during Arsenal’s preparations for the 2025/26 campaign could be in the offing.
Brando Bailey-Joseph
The emergence of Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri has equipped Arsenal with some of the Premier League’s most exciting wingers and has made the Gunners a go-to side to back for punters surfing bookmakers’ betting markets, and another Hale End flanksman is following the same trajectory as his fellow academy alumni.
Indeed, it’s easy to imagine a future where Bailey- Joseph is tearing the division up alongside his fellow graduates.
The 16-year-old is blessed with explosive acceleration and the kind of marker-beating close control that has made both Saka and Nwaneri such major hits in the Premier League, so expect to hear more about him soon.
Marli Salmon
Marli Salmon has already been the topic of excited conversations among Arsenal supporters on social media this year, with the 15-year-old showing real promise while playing above his age group for the club’s reserves.
The defender became the third 15-year-old to play for Arsenal’s under 21’s this season when he starred against Newcastle in February, earning rave reviews for the maturity of his display in a 4-1 win.
Salmon also impressed as one of the youngest players on the pitch in Arsenal’s FA Youth Cup quarter-final defeat to Man Utd, showcasing a blend of aggression and composure on the ball while looking like the archetypal modern centre-half and heir apparent to William Saliba.