11 players you won’t believe came through the Arsenal academy

11 players you won’t believe came through the Arsenal academy

byFootballBOAST Published on

Arsenal have produced some truly world-class players over the years, but we bet that you didn’t know some of these players came through their academy.

The Gunners currently have the youngest squad in the Premier League and Mikel Arteta has done some great work with the young players in the squad.

We’ve scrolled through the archives and picked out eleven players you won’t believe came through the Arsenal youth academy.

Fabrice Muamba

Muamba is most known for his spell at Bolton Wanderers from 2008-2012, but he actually started out at Arsenal. The midfielder joined Arsenal’s youth system as a schoolboy from 2002 and went on to make two first-team appearances.

Aged 11, he started life in a London comprehensive having just moved to England from the Democratic Republic from Congo, formerly known as Zaire. His journey into football is truly inspirational.

READ: Fabrice Muamba: Football gave me confidence as a refugee to be myself

Jamie O’Hara

Believe it or not, former Spurs boy O’Hara actually started his footballing journey with arch-rivals Arsenal. The former Spurs midfielder spent five years with the Arsenal academy before joining Spurs in 2003.

These days you will find him on talkSPORT after he hung up his boots in 2020 after 308 professional appearances across the football pyramid.

Leon Britton

Swansea City legend Britton spent his younger years with the Arsenal academy. The midfielder joined the Gunners aged nine before he was then poached by West Ham for £400,000 in1998.

At the time he became the most expensive 16-year-old in football history. As a teenager, he then struggled to break into West Ham’s first team and so joined Swansea in 2002, initially on a loan deal. He went on to make 520 appearances for the Swans and is certainly a modern-day legend.

Andy Cole

Most known for his prolific spells at Newcastle and Manchester United, things could have unfolded very differently for Cole had he stuck with Arsenal.

The striker joined the Gunners in 1988 after leaving school but only made one league appearance before he joined Bristol City. He went on to win five Premier League titles with Man United and often proved to be the difference in the title race.

Sebastian Larsson

Larsson initially played for his hometown team, IFK Eskilstuna before he was picked up by Arsenal aged 16. The Swedish midfielder made his first-team debut for the Gunners as a teenager in 2004.

He made just three league appearances before joining Birmingham City from 2006. Across his career he racked up 133 caps for his country and scored some worldies along the way.

Colin Kazim-Richards

Kazim-Richards has had quite a career to say the least. Since turning professional in 2004 he has played for 18 different clubs throughout his career and played in eight different countries.

The journeyman striker spent three years of his youth career with Arsenal from 1998–2001 before he then left to join Bury where he first turned professional.

Malcolm Ebiowei

Ebiowei is one of the hottest upcoming talents in the Premier League right now and perhaps one who slipped through the cracks at Arsenal. The 19-year-old was part of the Gunners academy from 2015–2019.

The winger made a name for himself in the Championship last season with Derby County before he was picked up by Crystal Palace in the summer. He’s got a bright future ahead of him.

Luke Ayling

Now a fan favourite at Leeds United, Ayling began his footballing journey with Arsenal back in 1999. Ayling spent 10 years with the club but never made a first-team appearance. The closest he got to the first team was being an unused substitute in the Champions League in 2009 against Olympiacos.

After leaving Arsenal, Ayling made a name for himself at Bristol City and was then picked up by Leeds for a mere £200,000 in 2016. He’s gone on to make over 200 appearances for the club and was a crucial player in their promotion from the Championship.

Steve Sidwell

While Sidwell is most known for his spells at fellow London clubs Chelsea and Fulham, he actually started out at Arsenal as a youngster back in 1997.

The midfielder joined Arsenal at nine years old but never made a first-team appearance for the club. After a series of loan spells, Sidwell left Arsenal in 2003 and joined Reading.

Jaidon Anthony

Anthony spent 10 years in the Arsenal academy before he joined AFC Bournemouth in 2016. Since joining the Cherries the winger has gone from strength to strength.

The winger had a real breakthrough season last year in the Championship as he scored eight goals as they were promoted back to the Premier League. He’s been a real asset for them this season too.

Ian Poveda

Poveda has had quite the football upbringing to say the least. As a youngster, he has spent time with the Chelsea, Arsenal, Barcelona and Manchester City youth academies. The winger is currently playing in the Championship for Blackpool, on loan from parent club Leeds United.


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