Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Arsenal, Premier League, Football
Ryan Smart
Arsenal have promoted four academy players to Mikel Arteta's first team squad.
The club's Hale End setup has gained a reputation as one of the best academies in English football, but in terms of on-field success and in producing future internationals.
Current Arsenal star Bukayo Saka came through the setup, alongside the likes of Ashley Cole, Tony Adams, Martin Keown, David Rocastle and Jack Wilshere.
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Six academy graduates are currently playing in the Premier League, while various others - including Folarin Balogun, Ismael Bennacer and Serge Gnabry - are playing in Europe's top five leagues.
There has been much excitement among Arsenal fans about the current crop of youth stars, with several impressing during the club's pre-season schedule.
Ethan Nwaneri - the club's youngest Premier League debutant - is now one of four new players to be promoted to the first team squad.
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The 17-year-old featured on the new Arsenal first team photo, which showed several new additions.
Young goalkeeper Tommy Setford, who was signed from Ajax this summer, has been placed into the third-choice goalkeeper role following the departure of Aaron Ramsdale.
Midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly, who impressed during pre-season, is also a part of the squad.
And fellow midfielder Ayden Heaven, who played in four of Arsenal's five pre-season fixtures, is the final academy graduate to have earned a promotion.
And Gunners fans believe the quartet could eventually save the club millions of pounds.
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They do not need to registered in the first team squad as they are all under the age of 21, meaning any squad slots available can remain open.
All four have featured regularly for Arsenal's U21 side this season, except Nwaneri, who has been a regular member of the first team matchday squad.
He made a five-minute cameo from the bench during the 1-0 north London derby win over Tottenham on Sunday.