footballfancast.com

Imagine him & Dowman: Arsenal have Rice 2.0 brewing in 17-year-old Hale End sensation - opinion

When it comes to the top academies in the Premier League today, it's hard to look past Arsenal's Hale End.

The most obvious success for the North Londoners is undoubtedly Bukayo Saka, but the likes of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly look set for bright futures in the game.

On top of that, Max Dowman is arguably the most exciting prospect in the country at the moment, as at just 15 years old, he is already "humiliating Premier League players," in the words of analyst Ben Mattinson.

Max-Dowman-Arsenal

As if that wasn't enough, there is now another crop of exciting prospects who could make their debuts in the coming years, including one who could be another Declan Rice.

Arsenal's next breakout star after Dowman

Everyone and their dog is now aware of how unbelievably talented Dowman is, but there are several other academy gems who could be future stars for Arsenal, like Andre Harriman-Annous.

The 17-year-old will be a familiar name to those who follow the developments at Hale End, as he's been a real star in the Junior sides over the last few years.

For example, in 35 appearances last season, totalling 2559 minutes, he scored 15 goals and provided three assists, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.94 games, or every 142.16 minutes.

Harriman-Annous' 24/25

Appearances

Minute

Goals

Assists

Goal Involvements per Match

Minutes per Goal Involvement

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Moreover, he already has three goals to his name in seven games for the U21 side this season.

Another 17-year-old who looks destined to make it into the first team at some point is Alex Marciniak.

Described as having "an eye for goal" and being an all-around "insane" talent by Hale End expert Will Balsam, the Cardiff-born maestro can play on both sides of the pitch and in the middle of the park.

Moreover, he's already racked up an impressive tally of one goal and three assists in five appearances this season and has rapidly ascended the Welsh youth sides, currently playing in the U18s, with a goal to his name in two caps.

With all that said, there is another youngster making waves in the academy at the moment, someone who could be unreal alongside Dowman and a homegrown Rice.

Arsenal's homegrown Rice

With Rice being an undeniably world-class midfielder, any youngster compared to him has to be pretty special, and that is certainly the case with Ife Ibrahim.

The "excellent" 17-year-old prospect, as dubbed by Balsam, joined Arsenal in 2016 and has worked his way up to the U21s, but what makes him a potential Rice-type player?

Well, first and foremost, while he started out as a striker, he is now a colossal defensive midfielder, but one who can move more into central midfield when needed.

He appears to have many of the same qualities the former West Ham United captain has, with respected U23 scout Antonio Mango describing him as "composed, technically talented in possession and calculated out of possession."

Moreover, Balsam points out that the young prospect "eats up space, recovers the ball, and glides past players with ease", which sounds a lot like a certain England international.

It's not just the defensive side of the game, though, with Balsam also highlighting the fact that he "continues to show his bravery in his passing, without hesitance on either foot."

In other words, the Hale Ender is someone who can, and does, win the ball deep, drive past opposing players and deliver the ball to his attacking teammates through accurate passes.

It's these similarities to the Gunners' £105m man that could make him such an incredible future teammate for Dowman as well.

His boundless energy and ability to collect and recycle the ball would allow the 15-year-old to focus all his attention on happenings at the sharp end of the pitch.

Ultimately, it's still very early, but Ibrahim looks like one of the most exciting players in Arsenal's academy and someone who could be a future star.

Read full news in source page