Matt Smith

Six players from the Arsenal academy ranks joined senior training ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Chelsea.

Mikel Arteta held his first training session as head coach on Thursday, and six of the academy players joined in with the senior group.

At the end of the Arsenal academy’s season, let’s have a look at our picks for the top five players of the campaign.

Arsenal u18 captain Matt Smith is top of the u18 Premier League for assists this season, after providing a hat-trick of them in Saturday’s 8-0 victory over Swansea City.

Arsenal u18 captain Matt Smith has had an impressive season in 2018/19, leading his team to the top of the table with some impressive goals and assists on the way.

Matthew Smith has signed his first professional contract with Arsenal, the club announced on Monday.

Matthew Smith has hit 10 u18 Premier League assists in 14 games in the current campaign, and the young midfielder’s creativity continues to catch the eye.

Sam Greenwood and Matt Smith kept their respective good runs of form going on Saturday in the Arsenal u18s’ 3-1 victory away to Swansea.

Arsenal’s u18s tore Reading apart in their league match over the weekend with a 6-2 victory, increasing their unbeaten run in all competitions.

Arsenal’s u18s progressed to the knockout stages of the Premier League Cup with a 4-2 win over Stoke City.

Arsenal’s u18s ran riot on Saturday, outclassing their North London rivals in a rampant 6-0 win.

Arsenal got back to winning ways in the u18 Premier League with a comfortable 3-0 win against Norwich City on Friday.

In an exclusive recently covered by Jeorge Bird, some of Arsenal’s schoolboys have already been offered scholarship deals with the remainder of them hoping they can earn a contract before the dreaded summer release period begins.