Arsenal: 5 Youngsters Who Could See First-Team Action Next Season

With Arsenal raring for a run at the 2012-13 Premier League title, it is likely that manager Arsene Wenger will look to experience ahead of unproven (but talented) youth when constructing his first-team lineups.

But there is always the off-chance that a Jack Wilshere or an Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (or a Cesc Fabregas so many years either of them) could emerge in the early portions of next season and make such an impression that Wenger is given no choice but to play him on a consistent basis.

After all, if there's one thing Wenger has shown during his 16 seasons at the helm in north London, he is not afraid of playing youth.

Premiership appearances may be at a premium next season, but there's every reason to think that the newest batch of talented Arsenal youngsters could crack the first team for the Carling and FA Cups—at least in the opening rounds.

Here's five who could make that type of mark.

Joel Campbell

Many fans might have predicted that Benik Afobe was on the cusp of cracking the first team when they saw him enter into play during the Emirates Cup last July.

But a crippling groin injury scuppered that option, and Arsenal's forward production would start—and end—with Robin van Persie for the entire season.

Now there's another teenager who could be ready to enjoy the playing time Afobe looked ready to win last summer.

Joel Campbell, signed last August from Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa, could not acquire a work permit for the 2011-12 Premier League season and ended up making a season-long loan move to Ligue 1's FC Lorient.

Under the tutelage of Christian Gourcuff, Campbell made 25 league appearances and scored three goals while making such an impression that the Lorient manager said he hoped Campbell would come back on loan in Brittany in 2012-13.

That's unlikely, given that Wenger is likely looking forward to including Campbell in some Arsenal games this season.

Upon signing the teenager, Wenger told Arsenal.com, "Joel Campbell has already shown that he is a player with great ability, and has also performed well on the international stage at a young age."

Campbell first jumped onto the world's radar last summer when he starred for Costa Rica at the U-20 World Cup in Colombia, scoring two goals and providing an assist in four matches.

The forward now has his sights set upon making an impact for the Gunners.

"I've got every confidence in my ability to go to Arsenal and play," he told Arsenal.com.

"I think I can bring a lot of things to the Arsenal attack. I can contribute goals and assists, [and] I want people to see what I can do. I always think big, so I want to go to Arsenal and play as many games as possible."

Benik Afobe

Afobe had professed to be itching for a chance to prove himself at the first-team level last summer following his appearance against New York Red Bulls in the Emirates Cup.

But just as the player he'd come on for in just the seventh minute of that match (Jack Wilshere) would end up missing a lengthy period (the whole season) due to injury, Afobe would endure his own lengthy spell in convalescence after picking up a debilitating groin knock in the match that ruled him out for six months.

Once recovered, however, Afobe wasted little time in picking up right where he'd left off. He scored in his first match back in an Arsenal shirt—a 5-0 Reserves thrashing of Norwich.

Afobe has caught the eye of van Persie, who told Arsenal.com that the teenager "is a fantastic lad, a really good character to have in the squad and a player I genuinely rate."

Van Persie praised the dedication Afobe has shown toward furthering his career, and spoke of how impressive it was that the Leyton-born product was able to make such an effective return from that lengthy spell on the sidelines.

There's a reason for that.

Afobe told Arsenal.com that the two greatest influences in his life are his parents and Bible study. He credits both with helping keep him grounded.

Even if it is not this season, expect to see Afobe making an impact for Arsenal in the seasons to come. When van Persie praises your "strength and quickness," it says something.

Afobe ended last season on loan with Reading, a move Wenger explained would help him "to get a step up." Perhaps with an eye on using him in the first team next season? Wenger did call him "the next central forward to come into our squad."

Thomas Eisfeld

Eisfeld made his 2011-12 Gunners season debut against Swansea on Feb. 1—two Reserves fixtures ahead of Afobe.

Whereas the latter was deprived of making his first appearance of the season because of injury, Eisfeld's was simply logistical. 

He wasn't even an Arsenal player until the day before the match.

Wenger plucked him from the ranks of Borussia Dortmund on Jan. 31 for a reported fee of £600,000. He'd enjoyed a productive campaign with the Dortmund U-19 squad up to that point, scoring six goals and notching six assists.

While Premier League football may not be on the cards at the moment—Wenger classified Eisfeld as a player he looks forward to watching in "seasons to come"—Eisfeld should get games in the Carling and FA Cups next season.

He struggled with a knee problem for much of the spring, but when he did play, he impressed.

Reserves manager Neil Banfield professed to having been "delighted" with his play in that Swansea match on Feb. 1—just hours after Eisfeld had completed his move. The young German netted his first goal in an Arsenal shirt (it turned out to be a winner to boot) in a Reserves match against Everton on April 10.

Oguzhan Ozyakup

He only recently elected to represent Turkey over the Netherlands at the international level, but to the relief of Arsenal fans, Oguzhan Ozyakup's club future is far more settled.

Ozyakup made his first-team debut last September in the Carling Cup against Shrewsbury, and within minutes of entering play had provided the assist for Yossi Benayoun's winner within minutes of entering play.

Not the worst way to announce your arrival at the senior level.

He is a technically astute midfielder, who was even named to the substitutes' bench for the return leg against AC Milan on March 6, a testament to Wenger's growing faith in him.

Ozyakup told Arsenal.com back in February that he was "really happy" with the way his career was progressing at the Emirates. First-team chances have not come thick and fast for him, but he doesn't appear daunted by that fact, instead using it as motivation.

Exactly the type of player you want within a side.

Chuks Aneke

When Wenger—normally one to eschew "hyping up" young players for fear of burdening them with unwelcome expectation—compared Chuks Aneke to Manchester City's terrific midfielder Yaya Toure while speaking to Arsenal.com last October, it said something about the youngster's quality.

"Chuks is a bit like Yaya Toure—he has body power and good technique,” Wenger said. "For me, Chuks is a bit similar because he can play behind the striker or in a deeper role as well."

Aneke sees himself more in the vein of an Abou Diaby than a Toure, praising the French midfielder (dubbed L'Araignee, or "The Spider," for his superb ability to hold onto the ball) for his footwork and and physical presence in the middle of the park.

Wenger has not ruled out moving Aneke to a more deeper-lying midfield role in the future, although for the present it looks as if the Newham-born 18-year-old, who joined Arsenal in 2001, will continue to play in a more advanced position.

Like Toure or Diaby, Aneke's versatility and ability to play multiple positions should serve him well in the coming seasons.

Aneke made his first-team debut alongside Ozyakup against Shrewsbury in the Carling Cup last season, and is raring for more opportunities at the senior level.

Fresh off a loan stint with Preston North End, Aneke will certainly be on Wenger's radar ahead of next season.