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Mikel Arteta’s eldest son, Gabriel Arteta Bernal, made his competitive debut for Arsenal’s Under-18s as the young Gunners secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Reading on Wednesday.
The 16-year-old came off the bench in the 70th minute at Bearwood Park, marking another milestone in his steady progression through the academy ranks at Hale End. Goals from Emerson Nwaneri and Alex Marciniak, who scored a second-half brace, sealed the win for the young Arsenal side.
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Rising through the ranks
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Gabriel, who is not officially contracted to the club, had previously been named on the bench for the U18s ahead of their friendly against Ipswich Town in February. His latest appearance represents significant progress for the teenager, who only made his competitive debut for the U17s in their Premier League Cup clash against Watford in October.
Unlike his father, who operated as a central midfielder during his playing career with Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Everton, Rangers and Real Sociedad, Gabriel plays on the wing. While it remains unclear whether he will be offered a contract at the club, his development suggests he is highly regarded at the academy.
Family connections at Hale End
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Gabriel is not the only player with notable family connections to feature for Arsenal’s youth teams this season. Emerson Nwaneri, who opened the scoring against Reading, is the younger brother of Ethan Nwaneri and has been making waves in his own right.
The 15-year-old recently broke his brother’s record to become the youngest ever player to start for Arsenal’s U21s, featuring in their Premier League 2 defeat to Liverpool at the age of 15 years and 152 days in January.
**According to the Evening Standard**, former QPR Head of Emerging Talent Dean Barker has also joined Arsenal’s academy recruitment team, announcing his arrival on social media with a post featuring the club’s Sobha Realty Training Centre.
Arsenal’s academy continues to develop promising young talent, with Gabriel Arteta Bernal’s progression representing another example of the pathway available to aspiring players at Hale End. The teenager’s debut adds another chapter to the ongoing story of the next generation coming through the club’s youth system.