Of the group of players that signed scholarship terms with Arsenal in the summer of 2025, seven of them have already progressed to professional terms in Marli Salmon, Brando Bailey-Joseph, Callan Hamill, Maalik Hashi, Josiah King, Remi Lupinski and Teshaun Murisa.
That means that there are eight players who still face uncertainty regarding their futures in Gabriel Arteta, Marley Frohock, Abraham Owusu-Gyasi, Bowen Phillips, Saurap Sampang, Patrick Stachow, Josh Tahou and Jack Talbot.
Of those, Sampang appears to have the best chance of earning an extended stay given that he has already played at U21 and U19 levels this season, while he is capable of making an impact in midfield or at right-back.
For some of the others, however, it seems that there is much work to do if they are to be kept on and many have seemingly fallen behind younger prospects in the pecking order.
Tahou, for instance, is a talented left-back but he has struggled with injuries during his scholarship and has seen the likes of Elyon Mbala and Hakeem Abubakar get off to good starts as first year scholars.
Owusu-Gyasi can play at right-back or centre-back and has often given a good account of himself when called upon. However, after starting the first three games of the season, he has mainly been a substitute for the U18s of late and the signing of Daniel McCarron has pushed him down the pecking order at centre-back.
Patrick Stachow has also been on the bench for some games following Mbala’s progress but the left sided centre-back, who is a Poland youth international, could still have a chance of being retained.
Forward Marley Frohock has found himself somewhat crowded out by the arrivals of Mylo Bernard and Vincent Joseph, as well as the development of schoolboy Jaden Maghoma.
Bowen Phillips, meanwhile, has shown glimpses of his undoubted ability during his scholarship and is capable of playing in midfield or out wide but he too isn’t guaranteed a place in the starting lineup at U18 level.
Gabriel Arteta has demonstrated his technical ability in previous matches but the winger has featured just once for the U18s so far this season.
Goalkeeper Jack Talbot started the season as the first-choice goalkeeper for the U18s before a red card against Brighton. He will be looking to reclaim his place in the side after the international break.
Overall, it is perhaps too early to make a real judgement regarding which second years will be offered professional contracts but Sampang certainly seems to be a player worth keeping.
Talbot and Stachow could also be potentially kept on but many of the others will be aware that they will need to quickly establish themselves in the starting lineup for the U18s if they are to remain at Arsenal beyond this season.