Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal, almost more than any other football club in England, are all about promoting youth.
Indeed, throughout their history, Arsenal have relied on young players and academy graduates to drive their success, from the likes of Tony Adams, Ashley Cole and Paul Merson all the way to Max Dowman, Myles Lewis-Skelly and, of course, Bukayo Saka.
Of course, not every storied Arsenal youngster came directly through the academy – Cesc Fabregas was signed from Barcelona as a teenager and became one of the best young stars in the world, while Aaron Ramsey had a similar story after arriving from Cardiff.
Now, once again, Arsenal are on the trail of one of the best young players in world football.
Indeed, Arsenal are keen on signing Rio Ngumoha from Liverpool, and if they can get this deal done, the Gunners would, once again, have one of the most remarkable young partnerships in English football.
Image of Rio Ngumoha celebrating during a Liverpool game, overlaid a rumour linking him to Arsenal
Credit: Getty Images/George Wood
Cast your mind back 15 years or so, and you’ll remember that there was so much excitement around the idea of Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere being the future of the Arsenal midfield – two young stars, one from the academy, one signed from elsewhere, becoming top players together.
Now, Arsenal could do the same again – Ngumoha playing the role of Ramsey, arriving from another club, and Max Dowman ticking the Jack Wilshere box as teenage sensation from Hale End making it in the first team.
Sadly, Ramsey and Wilshere never quite became the all-conquering midfield pairing they perhaps should have been. Injuries plagued both players’ careers, and despite their brilliance, they never won a Premier League title.
However, in 2026, Arsenal are a different beast, and if Ngumoha and Dowman link up at the Emirates as a young wing pairing ready to take the next decade by force, there may be no stopping Arsenal this time around.
Much like Wilshere and Ramsey, Arsenal could soon have the best young pairing in the world if they get Ngumoha and Dowman in the same team.