Arsenal: Getting to Know Elton Monteiro, One of the Gunners' Best Young Talents

With the rate he's advancing through the ranks of the Arsenal youth system, 18-year-old central defender Elton Monteiro may be featuring for the senior team before long.

Monteiro had joined Arsenal as a scholar in the summer of 2010, and after earning a consistent string of games at the Premier League Academy level, he signed his first professional contract with the club in February, 2011, just days following his 17th birthday on Feb. 22.

Monteiro captained Steve Bould's academy side this season, making 23 starts and scoring two goals.

His run of form at that level didn't go unnoticed, and after making the bench for the Reserves last July against Boreham Wood, Monteiro appeared in eight games for Neil Banfield, including four starts.

Monteiro raves about the experience he's gained with the Reserves. "I have travelled with the reserves a bit this season," the 6'3" defender told Arsenal.com in March. "There are a lot of senior players in the squad and it is good to see how they prepare before games and their conduct and attitude during the game."

As his last name suggests, Monteiro has strong links to Portugal.

But aside from his passport, which is Portuguese, the youngster considers himself 100 percent Swiss and harbors hopes of representing the national side.

"I am Swiss," he said. "I have nothing drawing me to play for Portugal, as I was born and raised in Switzerland. Portugal has a strong football reputation, but the football is getting stronger in Switzerland."

Kind of like at Arsenal, where Monteiro is eager to be a part of the quest for silverware, which the club have missed out on for seven seasons running.

Monteiro has never won anything before and is angling to experience what it feels like to lift a winner's trophy aloft on a podium with confetti spilling all around him.

The 18-year-old, formerly of FC Sion, is one of three Swiss central defenders in the Arsenal youth ranks, joining Sead Hajrovic and Martin Angha. (Counting senior team member Johan Djourou, that makes four.)

Monteiro said he grew up trying to emulate Ronaldinho on the playground, which helps explain why he is listed as a "ball-playing center back." Few, after all, possessed the individual skill of the Brazilian midfield maestro in his prime.

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When I first came here I heard people criticise me for being inconsistent," Monteiro said. "I think the biggest improvement I have made is that my performance levels are higher but I have good consistency now and that has come because I have learnt from different situations. The more experienced you become, the better you become as a player.

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