5 Arsenal Youngsters Who Should See Playing Time in 2016/17 Season

Arsenal have an admirable tradition of bringing academy graduates through to the first team. The 2016/17 season should be no different.

Whether in the domestic cup competitions or even the Premier League, manager Arsene Wenger has always shown he is not afraid to give youth a chance.

Go to the next slide to discover the first of five young talents who deserve the opportunity to appear in the senior squad next season.

Jeff Reine-Adelaide

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Of all the youngsters in the Arsenal academy, few have as much of a buzz around them as Jeff Reine-Adelaide. The 18-year-old French midfielder has already made his senior bow, coming on as a substitute in Arsenal’s FA Cup win over Sunderland in January. Next season, he should be granted more opportunities to shine.

He first caught the eye in the Emirates Cup last summer. After his stunning cameo against Lyon, Wenger said, per Amitai Winehouse of the Telegraph: "Reine-Adelaide is something special you know. He is a great talent and when he came on you could see that—17 years old let's not forget that. In fact I don't remember how I played at 17 but I didn't play like that!"

Reine-Adelaide will hope for another chance to impress in the forthcoming preseason fixtures.

Alex Iwobi

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It should go without saying Alex Iwobi will be granted more opportunities in the first team next term. Iwobi’s emergence was one of the bright spots of Arsenal’s otherwise-disappointing 2015/16 season, and he has shown that he is ready to contribute regularly to the cause.

Although the 20-year-old became a mainstay of the team in the later part of the campaign, he might find his place in the pecking order is influenced by Arsenal’s summer transfer activity. Wenger must strike a balance between improving squad depth and blocking the development of an exciting talent.

Chris Willock

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After his excellent performances for the academy sides this season, Arsenal fans will hope to see more from precocious attacker Chris Willock in 2016/17.

Although predominantly right-footed, Willock generally prefers to play from the left flank. From that starting position, he cuts inside to cause havoc in the opposition defence with his aggressive dribbling and incisive passing.

Willock is 18 and should be knocking on the door of the first team. If Arsene Wenger elects to keep him at the club rather than send him out on loan, we could see him make the odd appearance for the senior side next year.

Edward Nketiah

Edward Nketiah only turns 17 on May 30, yet he could be pushing for inclusion in Arsenal’s Capital One Cup squad for next season.

Much will depend on which other young strikers are available. If the likes of Chuba Akpom are loaned out again, Nketiah could find himself bumped up the pecking order.

It would represent a dramatic turnaround for a player released by Chelsea in his early teens. Just two days after the Blues let him go, Arsenal called to say they were interested. Chelsea’s loss has been their London rivals’ gain, as Nketiah has gone from strength to strength with the Gunners.

A pacy striker with unerringly composed finishing, he starred at various youth levels last term. According to the club's website, he finishing 2015/16 with a staggering record of 24 goals from just 20 starts. Even if next season comes too soon for Nketiah, he remains one to watch.

Krystian Bielik

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In January of 2015, Arsenal completed a multimillion-pound deal to sign Polish youngster Krystian Bielik. Given he had already been playing senior football in his homeland, it was expected he would soon transition to the Arsenal senior squad.

That may come next season. Although he arrived with a reputation as a powerhouse defensive midfielder, much of Bielik’s football with the Gunners has been played at centre-back. 

Having excelled in both roles in this early stage of his career, it's time for Bielik to be tested at a higher level.