Arsenal confirmed yesterday that youngsters Maalik Hashi and Teshaun Murisa have both signed their first professional contracts with the club.
It represents another significant step forwards in the development of both 17-year-olds, who have been key figures for the U18s so far this season in the first year of their scholarships.
Hashi signed for Arsenal as a schoolboy and is a creative midfielder with excellent technical ability.
He has made two competitive appearances so far for the U21s and scored at that level in pre-season last summer.
Murisa, meanwhile, is a defensive midfielder who is impressive at winning the ball and playing neat passes to his team-mates. He has made one appearance for the U21s so far.
It is anticipated that Hashi and Murisa will continue to be key figures for the U18s in the remainder of the campaign and they will also be hoping to get on the bench for the U21s if the opportunity arises.
By tying Hashi and Murisa to professional deals, Arsenal have sought to avoid scenarios that have occurred in the past when players have elected to leave with their scholarship contracts set to expire.
The pair join Brando Bailey-Joseph and Josiah King in having already signed professional contracts from this season’s scholarship intake, with defender Callan Hamill likely to be the next to do so.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird