From Tony Adams to Ashley Cole, from Cesc Fabregas to Jack Wilshere, and from Bukayo Saka to Ethan Nwaneri, it's safe to say Arsenal have spawned some of the best young talent in world football over the last three decades.
The Hale End academy is revered around Europe and they're not slowing down.
The start of Mikel Arteta's reign was dominated by that man, Saka, and now, a few years into his tenure, it appears as though Nwaneri is beginning to make a name for himself too, starring in the offensive line.
ethan-nwaneri-arsenal
With 15-year-old Max Dowman also causing a stir at youth level, the Gunners certainly look like they're set up for a bright future.
From the above list, we've missed off a few names, perhaps most notably Myles Lewis-Skelly. Sadly for him, Andrea Berta and Co could be about to sign some competition.
Arsenal targeting one of the finest young talents in Europe
A lot of the talk so far this window has been dominated by the elusive striker. Will Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres arrive? Only time will tell.
That said, it's important that Berta doesn't neglect other areas of the pitch, and probably to the dismay of Arsenal fans aplenty, the defence could be bolstered again.
Reports from the Athletic this week suggest that they are looking to sign someone who can play second fiddle to William Saliba and Gabriel with Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi earmarked. We've also seen less concrete reports suggesting that Arsenal are looking at former Manchester City centre-back, Aymeric Laporte, who now plays in Saudi Arabia.
Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi
However, there's a player who's a great deal more exciting than both of them; Jorrel Hato.
Arsenal have a long-standing interest in the Ajax star and this summer, he could finally be on the move with a host of clubs interested in prising him away from Amsterdam.
The young Dutchman is attracting the interest of Chelsea, but recent reports from journalist Graeme Bailey this week suggest their London rivals have also held talks regarding a move.
Hato-Ajax
Bailey revealed that Arsenal considered a move for £40m-rated defender last summer and are now considering making a formal bid following 'successful talks' with Ajax.
How Hato could replicate Arsenal's great young talents
It's safe to say that when things have been tough for Arteta at Arsenal, the younger players at his disposal have come up trumps.
It was Saka and Emile Smith Rowe who combined so successfully during the Spaniard's first year at Arsenal and with injuries decimating the squad in 2024/25, it was Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly who stood up.
Myles Lewis-Skelly for Arsenal
The former ended up playing 37 matches in all competitions, scoring nine goals, most notably bagging against Manchester City in Arsenal's remarkable 5-1 win at the Emirates.
Also on the scoresheet that day was Lewis-Skelly whose meteoric rise has been staggering. He hadn't made his debut for the club before this season but ended the campaign having dominated Real Madrid, shone against PSG and even scored on his England debut.
Well, Hato, aged just 19, is very much cut from the same cloth as his fellow teenage stars.
Like Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly, he made his senior debut as a boy. While Nwaneri was only 15 at the time of his Premier League debut, making him the youngest player in the competition's history, Hato was only 16 when Ajax gave him his Eredivisie debut.
Arsenal's youngest debutants
Player
#1 Ethan Nwaneri
#2 Jack Porter
#3 Cesc Fabregas
#4 Jack Wilshere
#5 Jermaine Pennant
#6 Paul Vaessen
#7 Ryan Smith
#8 Gedion Zelalem
#9 Armand Traore
Data via Transfermarkt.
Since then, the defender - who can play at left-back and centre-back - has risen up the ranks remarkably swiftly.
He's already played 111 times for the Dutch giants - making him the youngest member of Ajax's 100 club, and has been described as "one of the most talented CBs of his generation in Europe" by scout Jacek Kulig.
Also labelled as an "elite talent" by data analyst Ben Mattinson, Hato evidently has the world at his feet. He's making a stir just as Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly have. He's got the confidence and swagger they both have too.
Incredibly, he's already got amazing leadership skills despite his tender age. He's captained his boyhood club on several occasions, which is just one of many boxes Hato seems to tick.
Versatile? Check. Leadership skills? Check. Experience in Europe? Check. This would be an amazing deal if Arteta and Co can get it over the line.
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