Arsenal under Arsene Wenger have always been a club renowned for nurturing young talent and turning them into household names. The manager has had a history of picking up players from obscurity and turning them into superstars. Be it a player from their own academy or brought in from other club Wenger’s affinity towards promoting young talents have been remarkable and appreciable at the same time.
In an age where everybody looks for instant success and ready made solutions there are only a few clubs like Arsenal and managers like Wenger who look towards the future and prioritize the long term development of a young player. For the last couple of seasons, players like Hector Bellerin and Francis Coquelin has been able to make a considerable impact on the pitch and last season the performances signaled the rise of another young player in Alex Iwobi which kept up with the rich tradition of developing young talents under the French manager at the club. Now, with the new season looming over the horizon, let’s check out three young players who can have a similar kind of impact in 2016/17.
Serge Gnabry
Serge Gnabry has been a player who came to Arsenal in 2012 and made his debut in the league that season. He played just one time in the league and made a couple of appearances in the league Cup and in the Champions League as well. The German winger showed his quality and potential in the next season where his performances were appreciated by the fans as well as by the manager himself.
Gnabry missed much of 2014/15 through injury and spent last season on loan at West Brom where he was not given any chances at all and made only a single performance. Gnabry is a player who has lots of potential and with Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain both being disappointing for some time now, next season we are likely to see the Germany U-21, highly rated by his countryman Mesut Ozil, get some playing time and can make a serious impact justifying his talent.
Jeff Rene-Adelaide
Rene Adelaide is one of the most exciting prospects in the arsenal squad at the moment who has just been promoted to the first team by the manager for the next season. Coming from the RC Lens in France, the attacking midfielder has shown glimpses of his potential in the Emirates Cup against Wolfsburg last year.
Adelaide is yet to make his debut in the Premier League but has played for Arsenal twice in the F.A Cup. The midfielder possesses excellent ball control, trickery and maturity and is all set to take the step to the next level after spending a full season with the reserves.
Chuba Akpom
With Olivier Giroud being given extra time off after the recently concluded Euro Cup 2016, Chuba Akpom would be handed some opportunities to show what he can do in front of goal. Despite being only 20 years old Akpom, an academy graduate of the club has been promoted to the first team since 2013 but made only 4 appearances for his parent club so far as he spent most of his time in those last three years on loan at other clubs.
The striker had played in both the League One and the Championship on loan. Last season he played 35 times for Hull city in the Championship but only scored 3 goals. This time, he will be given a chance to show his quality and talent at Arsenal and the striker can make the most of it after gaining some valuable experiences with the other clubs and can score a few as well.
