In Focus: Arsenal academy stars gunning for first-team football

Mikel Arteta is not afraid to put his faith in youth and Arsenal's next generation of stars will fancy their chances of making a breakthrough at the Emirates.

Hale End academy graduates Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe excelled for the first team last season.

And fellow youngster Eddie Nketiah was handed the club's prestigious No14 shirt — previously worn by Thierry Henry — upon signing a new contract earlier this month.

Now all eyes are on the Gunners' emerging talents to see which hot prospects will seize their opportunity in 2022-23.

Ahead of the upcoming campaign, we take a look at five players who could make a big impression in North London.

Charlie Patino

There has been plenty of excitement around 18-year-old Charlie Patino ever since he signed his first professional contract with Arsenal in 2020.

And former Gunners scout Brian Stapleton explained why the midfielder is causing a stir.

Speaking in July last year, he said: "Of all the years I've been scouting, he's the best kid I've ever seen.

"I got a tip-off about Charlie from a guy, so I went over there and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. He was 11 and I think he was playing in the Under-13s, and I was like, 'Wow'.

"His first touch was unbelievable, his vision, his awareness of space. He was way above his years, he was on another planet to anyone else on the pitch."

Patino made an instant impact on his first-team debut by scoring against Sunderland in last season's Carabao Cup quarter-final — and more big moments of that ilk will be expected from the England U-19s international next term.

Brooke Norton-Cuffy

Dubbed 'Brooke Norton-Cafu' while on loan at Lincoln in 2021-22, right-back Brooke Norton-Cuffy will be hoping to emulate the iconic Brazilian over the coming seasons.

An attacking full-back who excelled at Sincil Bank last season, the 18-year-old has been tipped for big things by former Imps boss Michael Appleton.

He said: "I don't want Arsenal ringing me up saying, 'What have you said that for?' But I've been saying it behind the scenes, I think he will play for Arsenal’s first team on a regular basis.

"It might not be for a couple of years but it's definitely going to happen."

The London-born prospect will hope to get that opportunity during this summer's pre-season fixtures in Germany and the USA.

Lino Sousa

Arsenal have a shortage of left-backs, so 17-year-old Lino Sousa may be handed a chance to impress this season.

Kieran Tierney is currently the only out-and-out left-sided defender in the North Londoners' squad, though they are believed to be keen on signing Ajax star Lisandro Martinez.

Regardless, Sousa will fancy his chances of making a breakthrough, especially since fellow left-back prospect Joel Lopez was released this summer.

The Gunners signed the England youth international from West Brom in January — and Baggies' U-18s coach Peter Gilbert is tipping his former player for success.

He said: "Lino's an athletic full-back, reads the game well, has a lovely left foot and it's not often a 16-year-old plays an entire season with the 18s, but that's credit to him because he has so much potential."

Salah-Eddine Oulad M'Hand

Few Hale End graduates have been as successful as Jack Wilshere — so Salah-Eddine Oulad M'Hand will be delighted to have been name-checked by the former Gunner.

Speaking in March, he said: "I don't want to tell you about a player who I think is really good then put pressure on him and it doesn't work out.

"But there are a few in the academy. The fans will watch the U-23s and know about Charlie Patino, who got his chance.

"But then there are other players out there, there's a boy called Salah who is really good coming through. There's a lot of players in that group who are technically very, very good."

A box-to-box midfielder or No8 with impressive movement, passing and close control, the 18-year-old Dutchman could make his debut this season as Arteta rotates his squad while competing on four fronts.

Omari Hutchinson

Tricky speedster Omari Hutchinson is one of the most exciting talents to emerge from Arsenal's academy in recent years.

The 18-year-old forward was in sensational form for the Gunners' U-23s team last term — netting a series of outrageous strikes and driving defenders to distraction with his mesmerising runs.

And he has already made an impression on Brazilian great Pele while playing at the South London-based Pele Tournament.

Hutchinson said: "They asked one member from each team to come out and do a skill and all the boys were saying, 'Go on Omari, go on!'

"So I went up there and did it. They gave me the ball and I just started doing my skills.

"When we got a picture with Pele afterwards, he said something like, 'That was amazing' in his Brazilian accent."

Plenty more people will undoubtedly be dazzled by Hutchinson’s skill set when he finally makes his Arsenal debut.