Ranking Arsenal's 6 Brightest Youth Prospects

With the exception of players who have been involved in international duty over the course of the summer, Arsenal are now back in training. With several stars yet to return, this is a great opportunity for some of the squad’s younger talent to try to impress Arsene Wenger.

In this piece, we count down the six brightest prospects currently on the Gunners’ books. That assessment does not just entail who might be the most likely to make the breakthrough this season—it’s also an examination of who could have a long-term presence in the squad.

Plenty of young players make fleeting cameos but fail to nail down a regular place. Here, we look to identify the players with the ability and the attitude to sustain themselves beyond that.

Go to the next slide to begin the countdown.

6. Ben Sheaf

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Former West Ham United trainee Ben Sheaf, who signed professional terms with Arsenal in the spring of 2015, is one of the academy players to have made the most dramatic progress in the last 12 months.

Sheaf is capable of operating at right-back or right-wing but is most comfortable as a deep-lying central midfielder. As he told Arsenal's website:

"

The demands between right back and central midfield are different but I feel I've met the challenges well. I enjoy central midfield most. You have to cover a lot more ground, be able to get from box-to-box, defend and attack and that requires good energy levels which is natural to me, especially as I was Kent County cross country champion four years running when I was at school.

"

Although Sheaf is blessed with excellent stamina, his technical level is also good. He’s a dead-ball specialist, reliable from penalties and a threat from direct free-kicks. He’s not necessarily the quickest player in a sprint, but he makes up for that with an ability to read the game that belies his tender years.

5. Gedion Zelalem

Lionel Ng/Getty Images

Since arriving from America in 2013, Gedion Zelalem has been regarded as one of the most gifted youngsters in the Arsenal squad.  

It has become customary for Zelalem to play with the first-team during pre-season. While away on tour with Arsenal in 2014, Wenger said, as noted by the Daily Record:

"

I honestly think Gedion has the talent to become a great player. But that will be decided in the next two or three years because he has to show that he has the mental level required to be a top-level competitor.

He is a creative player and he can create a spark, an opening with his passing, his vision through the lines. If he manages to develop his physique and keep his qualities, he can be a very important player. Let's hope he will do it.

"

With so many qualities, it’s perhaps something of a surprise that Zelalem doesn’t figure higher in this ranking. The reason for that is simply because he has struggled to convert his talent into tangible contributions at senior level thus far. Last season he was on loan with Rangers in Scotland, and although his side were ultimately promoted, he was not a key component in the team.

If Zelalem can’t yet make a significant impact in the Scottish second tier, there are understandable question marks over his ability to do so in the Premier League.

4. Chris Willock

Stanley Chou/Getty Images

There are very high hopes for Chris Willock in the Arsenal camp. Speaking to Arsenal's website, Wenger has described him as a rare talent:

"

Chris is a very gifted player with natural strength and natural talent. He has what you do not find very easily.

He can have a go at people, can get past people in one on ones. We forget sometimes that the basis of team sport is to first be strong one against one and Chris has that quality.

"

The 18-year-old creative midfielder has starred for Arsenal’s U18 and U21 sides and now seems destined for a chance with the first-team. However, Wenger has sounded a word of warning as well as some encouragement.

Speaking in March, the Gunners boss said:

"

Overall I would be very comfortable to play him now but of course there is a lot of competition for places because there are players like Walcott, Alexis and Welbeck in front of him at the moment.

If I had to play him then I would have no fear in doing so. Next season I think he will be a player who will get to feature in the team.

"

Right now, it looks certain that both Alexis and Welbeck will miss the start of the season through injury. Willock must seize this chance to impress and stake his claim for a place in the squad.

3. Chuba Akpom

David Rogers/Getty Images

The fact that Arsenal need a new striker is the worst kept secret in football. Academy product Chuba Akpom will be hoping against hope that it could be him.

The truth is that this summer probably comes too soon for Akpom to have a realistic chance of being the Gunners’ new No. 9.

If he had set the world alight during his loan spell with Hull City in the Championship last season, then maybe he’d be under consideration. As it is, he struggled to hold down a regular place in the side.

There were a couple of eye-catching performances, but the overall impression was of a player who has not yet figured out how to take his prolific form at youth level into the senior game.

Nevertheless, it’s too soon to dismiss him. Akpom has speed, power and composure in front of goal. Another loan spell this season could be the catalyst required to kickstart his Arsenal career.

2. Jeff Reine-Adelaide

Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

Jeff Reine-Adelaide first caught the eye in last summer’s Emirates Cup. After he created the winning goal for Theo Walcott against Wolfsburg, Wenger said, per Goal: "Reine-Adelaide is something special you know. He is a great talent and when he came on you could see that. I don't remember how I played at 17 but I didn't play like that!”

Signed from Lens in the summer of 2015, Reine-Adelaide’s first season in England was interrupted by injury. However, he did manage to make his professional debut in the 3-1 win over Sunderland on January 9. 

The rangy midfielder will hope he gets yet more chances to demonstrate his ability to the Arsenal faithful soon. Tall, skilful and deceptively quick, the Frenchman has all the attributes required to become a top player.

1. Alex Iwobi

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Alex Iwobi is the obvious choice as the brightest prospect on Arsenal’s books. For starters, he has already made his first-team breakthrough. The Nigerian was almost an ever-present during the final stretch of Arsenal’s 2015/16 campaign, starting regularly ahead of the likes of Theo Walcott and Joel Campbell.

It doesn’t seem like he’s going anywhere in a hurry. The club have already moved to prevent him participating in this summer’s Olympic games, which suggests he remains a key part of Wenger’s plans.

Iwobi is a perfect Arsenal player: quick, technically gifted and remarkably confident in possession. It appears he’s destined to be part of the squad for many years to come.