It has been a positive week for Arsenal who bounced back from a disappointing defeat in the North London derby with a back-to-back home wins against Leicester City and Middlesbrough.
The Gunners now sit one point outside the top four whilst Olivier Giroud’s double against the Teessiders has set up a mouth-watering FA Cup quarter final against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
With Arsenal’s form having improved over the past five weeks, Arsene Wenger’s side will fancy their chances of progressing to a Wembley semi-final and possibly going on to retain the FA Cup trophy they won last May.
A slow start to the season sees them battling for the top four in the Premier League whilst a favourable Champions League tie against Monaco next week will give Wenger’s side the chance to impress on the biggest stage of all.
Next season the supporters will demand a Premier League title challenge however and here we have identified five youngsters who may well play a part in that challenge next season.
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Click on Arsene Wenger to reveal the 5 Arsenal kids to breakthrough into the first team in 2015/16.
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Serge Gnabry
The 19-year-old could well have featured regularly this season for the Gunners had it not been for a series of injury problems.
Arsenal fans have seen bits and pieces of the young German wide man who has made nine starts and 19 appearances in total for the first team.
Capable of playing anywhere across the front three, Gnabry has frightening pace and plenty of skill. He scored his first goal for the club in the 2-1 win over Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium last season – a goal which Arsenal feel confident will prove to be the first of many for the club.
Chuba Akpom
After rumours linking the 19-year-old forward with a switch to Premier League rivals Liverpool, Chuba Akpom put pen to paper on a new four year deal at the Emirates Stadium.
There have been whispers regarding the strikers ability for some time with Akpom having scored 15 goals in 23 appearances for the academy sides last season.
Akpom has made seven first team appearances from the bench for the first team, having served his time with loan spells at both Brentford and Coventry City.
The fact he has just recently signed a new deal suggests he will have some part to play next season.
Wellington Silva
The 22-year-old is a Brazilian Under-21 international and is one of several players the Gunners have sent out on loan for the season.
Silva has impressed whilst on loan with La Liga side Almeria, clocking up 19 appearances so far this season.
Arsene Wenger has been chasing a defensive midfielder for several months but has also shown a desire on plenty of occasions to give youth an opportunity, such as in the case of Francis Coquelin.
Should he decide to do so again next season, the former Fluminense man may finally be able to stake his claim for a spot in Wenger’s team after becoming eligible to play in England last October.
Isaac Hayden
Alternatively to Coquelin, 20-year-old Isaac Hayden could be the man called upon to fill that defensive midfield gap long-term.
Hayden has been an integral part of the Gunners’ under-21 side and has captained the side on many occasions.
The England youth international has the fact he is adaptable in his favour with Hayden also having the ability to play at centre back.
He has made two senior appearances for the Gunners so far, partnering Per Mertesacker at centre back during last season’s Capital One Cup victory over West Bromwich Albion as well as starting against Southampton in this season’s third round of the competition.
Gedion Zelalem
Another exciting young German on the club’s books, Gedion Zelalem became the first Arsenal player to play for the club who was born after Arsene Wenger took charge when he made his debut in a fourth round FA Cup tie against Coventry City.
The creative midfielder was signed from Hertha Berlin and has impressed during pre-season matches for the first team. He also featured in the Champions League win over Galatasaray earlier in the season with the Gunners having already booked qualification for the last 16.
