Arteta can unleash Arsenal wonderkid Chido Obi-Martin with Saka blueprint amid Liverpool record
Arsenal have produced a catalogue of highly-talented youngsters across their modern history. Bukayo Saka, Serge Gnabry, Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, Emiliano Martinez and Wojciech Szczesny are among those to have graduated through the Hale End academy and enjoyed stellar careers to date.
Millions have been made through player sales from the Gunners' academy and an emphasis been placed on creating a pathway for the youngsters to the first team. Last season, attacker Ethan Nwaneri made his professional debut at 15 years, 181 days in the 3-0 Premier League win over Brentford.
Arteta's decision to give Nwaneri a taste of first-team football was a reward for his performances in training and fine form in the youth teams. Nwaneri was also the subject of a glowing reference from Academy Manager Per Mertesacker.
«It was a pure gut feeling. I met the boy [and] really liked what I saw,» Arteta said in September 2022. "Per Mertesacker and the academy staff are giving me really good information, Edu as well.
«I met him, he's trained a couple of times with us. Yesterday he had to come because we have injuries, especially the injury of Martin [Odegaard], and then I had that feeling from yesterday that if the opportunity could come that I was going to do it and I just done it.»
The teenager hasn't appeared for the first team since but has continued his development with the Under-21s, scoring four goals in four games this season. Now, Chido Obi-Martin is the newest name on Arsenal fans' lips after his remarkable display against Liverpool.
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