During their tour in the USA, there are 4 young talents that coach Mikel Arteta is heavily relying on. Playing in key positions where Arsenal currently lacks personnel, these players are expected to compete for first-team spots in the future.

Ethan Nwaneri (born in 2007)

Ethan Nwaneri is currently Arsenal’s brightest teenage prospect. He possesses a great left foot, coupled with quick and decisive movements, which gives the midfielder a smooth ability to move and pass the ball. Nwaneri’s body language is also quite similar to Odegaard’s.

Nwaneri is the most promising raw talent at Arsenal. The young English player made his first-team debut in the 2022/2023 season but has only accumulated 14 minutes of play in the Premier League so far. With continuous trials by coach Mikel Arteta during the preseason, Nwaneri’s time is very near.

Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand (born in 2003)

Signed by Arsenal in 2020, injuries have hindered the young Dutch talent’s progress. Nevertheless, Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand has performed very well in the two recent friendly matches for the Gunners. Starting as an attacking midfielder, Salah has gradually developed into a central midfielder, a position Arsenal still lacks.

Salah has shown that he fits well in the central midfield position. Confident on the ball, smart in handling pressing situations, and impressive in linking up play, this midfielder plays with maturity and is expected to debut for the first team soon.

Myles-Lewis Skelly (born in 2006)

Originally a defensive midfielder, Myles-Lewis Skelly from the Hale End academy is being experimented with in the left-back role by Arteta. Surprisingly, Skelly has performed well in the recent friendly matches. With good game-reading ability, strong tackling, and excellent speed, the young English player fills a crucial gap at left-back for Arsenal.

Given the current situation, if Oleksandr Zinchenko or Jakub Kiwior leaves, Myles-Lewis Skelly could be promoted to the first team for more exposure. Everyone knows that the left-back position caused Arteta the most headaches last season.

Ayden Heaven (born in 2006)

At 17, Ayden Heaven has the ideal physique of a center-back, standing at 1.89 meters. At this rate, Heaven will be taller than both William Saliba (1.92m) and Gabriel (1.90m) in the future. Having started both matches against Bournemouth and Manchester United, Heaven has somewhat affirmed his potential as a top center-back in the future.

Ayden Heaven, at 17 years old, stands at 1.89 meters. Although he made a critical mistake in the match against Man Utd by letting Hojlund get past and score, Heaven was not overwhelmed or phased by this “disaster.” On the contrary, the young center-back played firmly, with good individual technique, smoothly passing the ball from the back. Heaven is currently the second most played Hale End youngster in the two recent matches with 109 minutes on the field, behind Ethan Nwaneri with 130 minutes.