Arsenal's New Crop of Young Guns - Ranked

Arsenal have always had a reputation for giving their younger players a chance, and it is often to great effect.


And this season has seen a new wave of youngsters coming through at the Emirates, with several youth players establishing themselves in the first team.


Here is how we, at 90min, rank these young guns:



6. Joe Willock

Willock scores his first career league goal

Joe Willock first made his debut for Arsenal two seasons ago, however it was only until this season that the 20-year old managed to establish himself in the first team.

Willock has made a total of 41 appearances for the north London side this season, scoring five goals in all competitions.



5. Reiss Nelson

Reiss Nelson has started seven league games for Arsenal

After an impressive loan spell at Hoffenheim last season, Nelson was set to be given his chance at the Emirates. The form of talisman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, as well as the acquisition of Nicolas Pepe for a club-record fee however, have limited the Englishman's chances.

Nonetheless, Nelson has still started seven league games this season, as well as making nine substitute appearances. On Wednesday, Nelson even bagged the winner against runaway champions Liverpool.



4. Eddie Nketiah

Nketiah spent half the season at Leeds before breaking into the Arsenal side

Having scored an exceptional 27 goals in 29 games for England's youth teams, it was only a matter of time before Eddie Nketiah got some game time at Arsenal.

While spending the first half of the season on loan at Leeds United, Nketiah surprisingly struggled to nail down a starting spot in Yorkshire and was shipped back down south in January.

Since returning to north London, the forward has scored four goals, with two coming in the Premier League.



3. Matteo Guendouzi

It's not been a great restart for Guendouzi

Since signing from Lorient in 2018, Guendouzi has been a regular in the Arsenal squad, making 82 appearances in all competitions, netting one goal.

However, the Frenchman has not enjoyed the greatest of times since the restart to football. After a dispute with Brighton striker Neal Maupay at the AMEX Stadium, the France youth international has not made an appearance for Mikel Arteta's side, with rumours now circulating that the Spaniard is ready to let him go.

Nonetheless, there is no denying that Guendouzi has the potential to become a very useful player for any side - whether that be Arsenal, or elsewhere.



2. Gabriel Martinelli

The Brazilian forward has had a promising debut season in England

Not much was known about Gabriel Martinelli when he was brought in from Ituano in the summer of 2019. One year on, the Brazilian is a fan favourite at the Emirates Stadium.

Despite injury troubles keeping him sidelined since the restart, Martinelli has scored ten goals for the Gunners, most notably an impressive solo goal at Stamford Bridge.



1. Bukayo Saka

Saka has been fantastic for Arteta's side this season

Top of the list is 18-year old Bukayo Saka. The relatively unknown youngster announced himself in fine fashion in his first appearance of the season, scoring once and assisting twice against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League.

Since then, it's only got better for Saka. He has made 18 league starts for the Gunners this season - showing his credentials as a winger and as a left-back. His left foot has proven to be particularly deadly, as Wolverhampton Wanderers found out recently when Arsenal visited Molineux.

Despite Arsenal's early exit, Saka boasts an outstanding record in the Europa League, bagging two goals and assisting a further five in six appearances.




Source : 90min