Arsenal may claim European glory before the season is out, yet if all else fails, Mikel Arteta and co can still reflect on what has largely been a positive campaign - not least due to the rise of the latest Hale End sensations.
In truth, this has been the year of Ethan Nwaneri. This has been the year of Myles Lewis-Skelly - the teenage pair following in the footsteps of Bukayo Saka by forcing their way into the first-team ranks.
In the case of Nwaneri, the playmaker's emergence has almost been preordained, with talk surrounding the 18-year-old having been rife ever since he became the Premier League's youngest-ever player back in September 2022.
For Myles-Skelly, however, those outside of the Emirates had likely heard little regarding his quality prior to his introduction off the bench against Manchester City just over six months ago.
Fast forward to the present day, and the 18-year-old is now a senior England international, having also surged past a sea of senior stars to become Arteta's leading figure at left-back.
Lewis-Skelly-England
Transfer talk will dominate this summer, yet as the cases of Saka, Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly showcase, the biggest jewels can come from within. That being said, there are those in the youth ranks who also have to fly the nest to flourish elsewhere...
Arsenal's notable academy departures
A good place to start would be with regard to two of the most recent starlets to move on from the Gunners' academy set-up, with Manchester United having snapped up Chido Obi and Ayden Heaven over the last year or so.
The teenage duo - who only made one senior appearance between them under Arteta - have already worked their way into Ruben Amorim's first-team squad, with Heaven having started twice thus far against Real Sociedad and Leicester City.
Much like Obi, the north Londoners also saw another centre-forward prospect depart last summer, with Danish starlet, Mika Biereth having been sold to Sturm Graz for just £4m.
Arsenal-Biereth
The 22-year-old - who joined Arsenal from Fulham in 2021 - has since linked up with another Hale End graduate, Folarin Balogun, at Monaco, having already scored 12 goals in just ten Ligue 1 games for his new side.
Speaking of Craven Cottage, the likes of Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith Rowe and Alex Iwobi are all currently part of Marco Silva's squad, with the trio chalking up 21 goals and assists between them so far this season.
Those examples showcase that moving on to pastures new can help to kickstart a career, with another Hale End product - Brooke Norton-Cuffy - no doubt hoping his own exit can prove just as fruitful.
Arsenal already sold Lewis-Skelly 2.0
One of the key features of Lewis-Skelly's game is the teenager's innate versatility, with the Englishman having comfortably slotted in at full-back, despite having largely featured in a central midfield berth in the youth set-up.
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What has also stood out regarding the promising left-footer is his impressive physicality, with teammate Declan Rice highlighting the youngster's "Mousa Dembele-type strength", following the north London derby win back in January.
Those key traits are also shared by Norton-Cuffy, with the 21-year-old having operated at right-back or in a wing-back berth in his career thus far, while also showcasing the flexibility to feature in central midfield if needed.
Brooke-Norton-Cuffy
Now on the books at Serie A side Genoa - after being sold by the Gunners for just £3.5m last summer - the England youth international had previously been hailed as Arsenal's "very own Reece James" by analyst Ben Mattinson, following a series of promising loan moves.
Like Lewis-Skelly, the versatile defender has been lauded for being "ridiculously physical" - in the words of Mattinson - while he is also an "insane carrier" due to his ability to drive his side up the pitch from deep.
Arsenal's highest value academy players
Player
Bukayo Saka
Harry Kane
Michael Olise
Eberechi Eze
Ethan Nwaneri
Emile Smith Rowe
Joe Willock
Myles Lewis-Skelly
Figures via Transfermarkt
That quality was on show last season on loan at Milwall, with Norton-Cuffy - who registered two goals and four assists in that time - ranking in the top 18% of Championship full-backs for progressive carries, as well as in the top 2% for successful take-ons per 90.
While injury has ensured that the London-born gem has only made eight appearances since his switch to Italy - having failed to make a senior appearance at the Emirates - it would be no surprise to see him flourish if he is afforded a consistent run of game time over the coming years.
That lack of impact has ensured that Arsenal and Arteta won't be regretting their decision to sell the one-time Coventry City loanee on the cheap just yet, although it might not be too long before that situation changes.
Perhaps, the Gunners have let another Lewis-Skelly slip from their grasp.
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[Arsenal's "special" teen was meant to be Ramsey 2.0, then Arteta sold him](https://www.footballfancast.com/arsenals-joe-willock-was-meant-to-be-ramsey-then-arteta-sold-him/ "Arsenal's "special" teen was meant to be Ramsey 2.0, then Arteta sold him")
The talented midfielder never made it at Arsenal.