With Edu Gaspar now assuming over-arching responsibility for Arsenal Academy activities following his promotion to the sporting director role, it could be fantastic news for a number of the club's most promising prospects.
It was announced on Friday morning that in addition to the Brazilian's technical director role, he will have even more of an influence over the club's academy operations as he will be working together with Per Mertesacker to strengthen the integration between the men's first team and academy.
This means the search is on to find the Gunners' next academy graduate to follow in the footsteps of current first-teamers Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith-Rowe and Eddie Nketiah. Judging by Edu's comments amid news of his promotion, it's certainly a top priority for him moving forward.
READ MORE: How Edu is transforming Arsenal into title contenders as Mikel Arteta dynamic shapes the future
"I'm delighted to have this new role which I see as an evolution and consolidation of the way we've been working. We are making good progress in all areas of our men's, women's and academy, and we are all excited about what can be achieved," he told the club's official website.
"I look forward to building on the hard work of so many people and helping all of us grow together and enjoy more success, and I am thankful for the trust the club has put in me. We move forward together."
As Edu is set to be more involved in the club's academy, football.london has taken a look at five youngsters who could be in line to benefit from the Brazilian's promotion in the near future.
Charlie Patino
An easy one for Edu to begin with. The 19-year-old is currently enjoying a loan spell in the Championship with Blackpool and he is blossoming under the tutelage of Michael Appleton, with four goal involvements (two goals and two assists) in 16 appearances across all competitions so far.
However, Charlie Patino is said to be attracting interest from elsewhere as Barcelona are reportedly among a number of clubs hoping to lure the teenager away from Arsenal, with his long-term future yet to be resolved due to his contract expiring at the end of this season.
And football.london understands that the Gunners are yet to trigger the option of a two-year extension. Nor has a new contract offer been made to the youngster while he has been out on loan.
If Edu can sort out Patino's contract situation before the end of the campaign and the midfielder maintains his impressive form, then Arsenal could end up saving millions in the transfer market as he does seem a perfect fit for the 'left eight' role in Mikel Arteta's 4-3-3 set up.
Reuell Walters
During the summer it wasn't lost on many Arsenal supporters that Reuell Walters was the only academy player included in the first-team squad for the pre-season tour of the United States. This came on the back of being included in the Germany training camp and a start against Nurnberg.
Perhaps this is a clear indication of how highly-rated the teenager is at the club and he's certainly a project for Edu to keep a close eye on. Described as an attacking right-back who is also comfortable on the right of a back three, Walters has often trained with the senior team this season, so it may not be too long before it's a permanent situation.
Brooke Norton-Cuffy
Speaking of promising Arsenal right-backs, this is the perfect segue for Brooke Norton-Cuffy. The 18-year-old is another youngster spending the season out on loan and his development is going smoothly with Rotherham, who handed him the No. 10 shirt upon completing a deal in the summer.
Just like Walters, he too has experience training with the first team, so Edu will be familiar with him and a potential decision in the upcoming January transfer window just might create a pathway for Norton-Cuffy to be in Arteta's plans when his loan spell ends next year.
As reported by football.london, Cedric Soares is attracting interest from Fulham, Villarreal and Bayer Leverkusen. In fact, the trio have reached out to the player's agent in the hope of reaching an agreement with regard to a move in the new year, thus leaving Arteta and Edu with a big decision to make.
If the experienced defender does end up leaving Arsenal at some point in 2023 - whether that be in January or in the summer - money can be saved on his replacement as Norton-Cuffy could be an option to be promoted as backup to Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu at right-back.
Lino Sousa
Regarded as one of the most highly-rated left-backs in England, Lino Sousa arrived in North London during the January transfer window and, in less than a full year, has already broken into the under-23 side, trained with the senior team and made the matchday squad for a Premier League fixture.
After being included in the pre-season training camp in Germany, the defender has already caught Arteta's eye and that should bode well with Edu's increased involvement. Of course, Sousa will have to remain patient for the time being with Kieran Tierney, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Tomiyasu sharing left-back responsibility so far this season.
Mika Biereth
Assuming the Arsenal striker pecking order doesn't change and Folarin Balogun is sent out on loan next season, a spot will be open to being the third-choice option. It appears Khayon Edwards is in that position right now having been named on the bench against Bodo/Glimt when Gabriel Jesus didn't travel to Norway.
But it's worth keeping Mika Biereth in mind. An arrival on a free transfer in the summer of 2021 after turning down a professional contract at London rivals Fulham, the 19-year-old weighed in with 12 goals and five assists in 26 appearances for the U21s last season and was on the bench for Arsenal in both Carabao Cup semi-final ties against Liverpool.
Significantly, as reported by football.london a year ago, the plan had been to gradually integrate Biereth into the first-team last season with a view to going out on loan this term and that's been the case, with the striker getting experience in the Netherlands with RKC Waalwijk.
Injuries have limited Biereth to a handful of appearances so far, although he still has two goals in 80 minutes of Eredivisie action, and if he can put a run of games together after the World Cup break, then perhaps Edu can continue with the club's plan for the talented striker.
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