Arsenal has always excelled at developing top young players, some of whom have gone on to achieve great success elsewhere, while the Gunners themselves have benefited from their promotion to the first team. The most prominent current examples include Saka, Max Dowman, and Lewis-Skelly, while Nwaneri continues to hone his skills in the early stages of his development. However, there are many more young players emerging from the academy who have not yet entered Arteta's first-team plans. Some are close to the first team, having made a few senior appearances, while others remain in the youth ranks to continue their development. Football.London has highlighted several players that fans should keep an eye on in the future.
When people talk about Max Dowman—the 16-year-old who is no longer seen as an academy player but a genuine first-team star—the next person expected to break into the first team at a similar pace is Luis Muñoz.
The 14-year-old has already played at U19 level in Europe, also playing as an attacking midfielder, but he is right-footed, whereas Max Dowman is stronger with his left. This season, he became the second-youngest goalscorer in UEFA Youth League history after scoring a late winner from outside the box against Napoli.
Like Max Dowman, he is known for his flamboyant and confident dribbling, effortlessly evading opponents, and his shooting is equally threatening. Every time Arteta talks about how rules restrict exceptionally young players from making their first-team debut earlier, Max Dowman is always the first name mentioned, and Luis Muñoz will be next.
There's another name many fans are already familiar with, though more so because of his brother, Nwaneri. Emerson Nwaneri is the younger brother Arsenal persuaded to stay this summer, which was crucial after the team lost Michelle Nduka.
Unlike his brother, Emerson is right-footed but prefers to operate from the left flank and has even played as a central striker. He easily racks up double-digit goals and assists, and with limited first-team options on Arsenal's left wing, his path to advancement is clear; few would bet against this 16-year-old getting an opportunity to shine at some point in the future.
Marli Salmon is not yet considered a first-team regular like Max Dowman, but he faces more competition ahead of him. Fans are already familiar with the 17-year-old, who can play as a center-back or right-back.
The young player experienced his first setback after an extremely bright start in one of the most difficult positions in senior football. His error led to Fleetwood Town scoring in a League Cup upset.
Marli Salmon is highly rated at Arsenal, but after Saliba's injury, the club signed Ngoyo to reinforce, making his path to first-team appearances even more challenging. Furthermore, Cristhian Mosquera has already established himself a few years earlier, and the Espanyol player is also highly regarded.
At 17, Marli Salmon may need a loan spell to gain more consistent high-level playing time and continue to develop physically, better preparing himself for the first team.
Ceadach O'Neill—a winger who has already impressed Arteta and started to get first-team minutes. He might find it difficult to break directly into the first team, but he is considered a truly talented player who could fetch a substantial transfer fee for the club in the future.
Marcell Washington—the son of Champions League winner Ryan Bertrand, the Gunners poached this left-back from Chelsea's academy, and he has performed well since joining.
Myles Bernard—joined this summer from Crystal Palace's academy, and at 16, he has already appeared for the U21s. The striker scored 3 goals in 4 games at U18 level, including a brace against Tottenham, making him a focal point early on.
Vincent Joseph—another 16-year-old striker brought in this summer. He scored a hat-trick against Brentford in his U18 debut and is highly touted for a big future after his high-profile move from Liverpool.