Arsenal's Hale End academy is a source of pride for the north London outfit after years of nurturing talent through the system to become first-team players. The current success of the senior squad has the blueprint of the youth squad throughout, with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson all featuring regularly.
While they are the present and ideally the future of the club, the generation after them are embarking on their journey towards the top. In charge of guiding the next set of stars are players who have the Arsenal DNA embedded into them in academy manager Per Mertesacker and Jack Wilshere.
The latter took up a role as under-18s head coach and has managed well since taking the reigns after calling an end to his playing career. The former England international has brought the side through to the FA Youth Cup final that plays out later this month, a competition he won during his time at Hale End as a player.
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“I spoke to them today about how important these memories are and how you’re sitting next to a brother," he told football.london after beating Cambridge earlier in the competition. "When I see the guys I won the Youth Cup final with now, we don’t say ‘Oh, we won the Youth Cup’ but there’s that feeling. When you share a big moment - and for these boys that’ll be the biggest moment of their careers to date. I said to them ‘You’ll have so many bigger nights, but this is your first big night, big moment’. When you share that with someone, it’s very special so I’m glad they shared that tonight and I think we can build on that.”
A dramatic victory over Manchester City in the semi-finals at the Emirates Stadium saw Arsenal drawn against London rivals West Ham in the final on April 25. The official club website has revealed details on how to get tickets to watch the final at stadium later this month, with members able to receive one free ticket.
It means that fans will be able to view the next generation in a major cup final at the home ground, with starlets such as Amario Cozier-Duberry touted to be the "next Bukayo Saka". It remains to be seen which of the group will go on to become first-team stars, however they will get a taste of playing in front of a packed out crowd at the Emirates Stadium in a huge game.
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