The Arsenal Academy has had its fair share of criticism in recent times, whether it be for the perceived lack of first-team graduates or for eye-catching results of the negative kind, such as the 10-1 defeat to Aston Villa Reserves two years ago or the several heavy losses suffered this pre-season.
There was a huge boost for those involved in the Academy set-up on Wednesday, however, as an Arsenal side containing several youngsters eventually prevailed past West Bromwich Albion on penalties in the Capital One Cup. Isaac Hayden, save for one reckless challenge, was impressive on his debut, whilst Chuba Akpom and Kristoffer Olsson entered the fray late on and proceeded to dispatch their spot-kicks in the shootout. Hector Bellerin also shone in an unorthodox midfield role, although Serge Gnabry did not deliver the most convincing of performances.
Just three days earlier however, Gnabry made his first Premier League start at home to Stoke City and gave a rather positive account of himself. The 18 year old was recently promoted to the senior side after two years of rapid progression in the Academy, whilst he is joined in the first-team squad by 16 year old Gedion Zelalem, who is currently out injured.
The Arsenal Academy is far from perfect, and it is certainly true that only a small percentage of those who commence their full-time careers at London Colney will ever be called upon for the senior side, but all of the above does at least prove that the club are producing players, whether developed internally or abroad, who are capable of representing the first-team in a competitive fixture.
Add to that the fact that three key members of the first-team – Wojciech Szczesny, Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere – served their scholarships at the club and the situation concerning the Academy does not seem to be as bad as initially envisaged. There is no escaping the fact that there are still many problems to be dealt with, however, with one of the issues of primary concern being that many players each season are sent out on loan without receiving regular game time.
Wellington Silva, for instance, has barely started a league game in recent seasons during his loan spells in the Spanish second division, whilst, this season, Ignasi Miquel, in a crucial year of his development, is far from a regular for Leicester City. Another gripe that many have with regards to the club’s academy is the alleged preferential treatment afforded to foreign youngsters. Whereas homegrown talents have to strive arduously to earn a professional contract, those brought in from abroad are afforded that luxury automatically once they turn 17, regardless of how they have developed in the interim.
The likes of Gnabry, Bellerin, Olsson and Jon Toral have proven that some foreign youngsters are worth prevailing with, but others, such as Jonas Rasmussen and Sean McDermott have not even come close to breaking into the first-team squad.
Overall, then, there are still many improvements that the Academy has to make, but this week’s exploits at The Hawthorns served as a reminder that the Academy is still capable of producing players with a genuine chance of succeeding at the club in the long-term.
