The Arsenal today is practically unrecognisable from the one that hired Mikel Arteta six years ago.
The North Londoners have transformed themselves from a fallen giant stuck in mid-table to a team genuinely capable of winning the Premier League and the Champions League.
Arteta has helped create one of the very best teams in the country, and the board has been working to ensure the future is even brighter.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta celebrates after Bukayo Saka scores their second goal
It's this goal that led new Sporting Director Andrea Berta to secure a deal for one of the most exciting talents in the game, someone who could become Arsenal's answer to Michael Olise.
How Arsenal are getting ready for the future
While fans and Arteta, for that matter, are focused on the here and now, Arsenal as a club have to be preparing for the next iteration of the team and the one after that, if they want to keep up with their rivals.
Fortunately, the powers that be at the club seem well aware of this and have been taking steps to do just that, from signing some seriously exciting youngsters from around the world to nurturing the best at Hale End.
For example, while they've already become a part of the first team, the likes of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly most certainly fall into the second category.
Nwaneri in 25/26
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All Stats via Transfermarkt
After all, they are still just 18 and 19 years old, so while they're already making an impact, they won't hit their peak for quite some time.
After them, it looks like Andre Harriman-Annous could be the next one to be integrated into the first team.
Finally, at least for now, perhaps the two most exciting prospects from the academy for quite some time are Max Dowman and Marli Salmon.
The former has already made five games for the first team, becoming the youngest to start for the club and the youngest player in Champions League history.
Salmon, on the other hand, has only made one competitive appearance this season, but has been described as "the best CB Hale End has produced" by respected analyst Ben Mattinson.
Now, when it comes to signing some of the most exciting youngsters from around the world, the Gunners have also improved.
For example, just a couple of months ago, they secured the services of 16-year-old Victor Ozhianvuna from Shamrock Rovers, who has been described as blessed "with explosive acceleration" by Mattinson.
A year before that, the North Londoners signed the then-17-year-old goalkeeper Tommy Setford from Ajax, whom Mattinson once again gave the seal of approval, describing him as "England's most talented ball-playing GK's."
tommy-setford-arsenal-premier-league
Finally, and undoubtedly most exciting of all, Arsenal have secured the services of two incredible Ecuadorian talents earlier this month in Holger and Edwin Quintero, the latter of which could be the club's answer to Olise.
Arsenal's answer to Olise
Earlier this month, seemingly out of nowhere, it was announced that Arsenal had signed both Holger and Edwin Quintero, and that, once they turn 18 in 2027, they will join the first team.
Now, both youngsters have been talked about as having massive ceilings, but when it comes to which one could emulate and become the Gunners' answer to Olise, it can only be Edwin.
There are a few reasons for this, with one of the most important being the fact that, unlike his brother, his primary position is right-wing.
Moreover, like the former Crystal Palace star, the 16-year-old gem is not simply a goal threat, but also someone more than capable of creating chances.
In fact, Mattinson described him as someone with "the ability to run games and create something out of nothing."
What makes his ability to create even more impressive is the fact that he can do so in multiple ways.
For example, U23 scout Antonio Mango has highlighted that, on the one hand, he "likes to play with short pass-and-move principles," while Mattinson has dubbed him an "explosive" dribbler who uses flair to fool defenders.
Finally, respected scout Jacek Kulig has also weighed in on the teenager, describing him as "an absolute joy to watch" and more crucially, a "10/10 talent."
Ultimately, Arsenal have an exceptional squad today, and thanks to smart planning and youth development, look set to have one in the future, in which Edwin Quintero could be their own Olise.
Viiera Pires Henry Cole Arsenal 2004 Related
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It's time for Arteta to take the frustrating Arsenal star out of the team.