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This group of Arsenal players have been through some mighty ups and downs since Mikel Arteta became manager.
From three second places in a row to finally lifting the Premier League title in 2026, there was yet more heartbreak in Budapest when they lost the Champions League final.
Yet, the Gunners will be back. Arteta is building a dynasty and right at the heart of that are five key players; David Raya, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka. They feel like the untouchables in this side.
They have been through it all with the manager and while they will remain core members of the team next season, they could be joined by some of the finest young talent in Europe.
As far as instant improvements go to the squad, leading targets Eli Junior Kroupi of Bournemouth and Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa tick a lot of boxes.
That said, the Gunners are also looking further ahead to the future.
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It does look as though Berta and Arteta will lean towards Premier League proven options again with talks already underway with the representatives of Rogers and Kroupi to gague their interest and work out what it may take to complete a move.
The attacking pair were two of the best players in the top-flight this season. No teenager has scored more goals (13) in their debut Premier Legue season than Kroupi. As for Rogers, he won the Europea League and netted 14 times in all competitions.
They would instantly improve the forward line at Arsenal but it’s not just all about the here and now. Indeed, according to TEAMtalk, the north Londoners are edging closer towards completing the signings of Leicester City’s Jeremy Monga and PSG’s Emmanuel Mbemba.
The report notes that both Arteta and Berta have personally spoken to Monga during negotiations and he is convinced that the Gunners are the right choice for him. As such, there is a confidence a move will be completed soon.
The 16-year-old is yet to pen professional terms with the Foxes but will do in a matter of weeks. Despite that, it’s likely a fee will need to be agreed via tribunal.
As for Mbemba, Arsenal are ‘leading the race’ to sign him. The 18-year-old is out of contract in Paris this summer and talks are ongoing with the player’s camp. Like Monga, he currently favours a move to the Emirates Stadium.
What makes Monga and Mbemba so special
Opening up the window with two teenage signings may not have been the expectation among fans after winning the league but there are plenty of reasons to be genuinely excited here.
In the form of Monga, Arsenal look set to win the race for one of English football’s brightest young talents. He is the third youngest player in Premier League history behind Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman, while Como scout Ben Mattinson has heralded him as “England’s Ousmane Dembele”.
Despite being just 16, it is remarkable to think that Monga has already played 37 games of senior football already.
So what’s he all about? Well, in the words of Leicester City writer Josh Holland, “Monga plays football like he is playing in the street. He is a remarkable ball-carrier who is obsessed with beating his man and driving forward.”
|
Youngest players in Premier League history |
|
|---|---|
|
Player |
Age of debut |
|
1) Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal) |
15 years, 5 months |
|
2) Max Dowman (Arsenal) |
15 years, 7 months |
|
3) Jeremy Monga (Leicester) |
15 years, 8 months |
|
4) Harvey Elliot (Fulham) |
16 years, 1 month |
|
5) Matt Briggs (Fulham) |
16 years, 2 months |
|
6) Izzy Brown (West Brom) |
16 years, 3 months |
|
7) Aaron Lennon (Leeds) |
16 years, 4 months |
|
8) Jose Baxter (Everton) |
16 years, 6 months |
|
9) Joel Drakes-Thomas (Palace) |
16 years, 6 months |
|
10) Gary McSheffrey (Coventry) |
16 years, 6 months |
In that regard, this is a player who is a lot like Saka. Slender in build and small in stature, there is something of a Jeremy Doku about the way he dribbles and manipulates the ball in tight spaces.
A clinical finisher and a brilliant creator, the left winger looks like the real deal and could have a massive impact on Arsenal in the forthcoming years.
In the case of Mbemba, he will be less familiar to English audiences but like Monga, he is another exceptionally talented young player. He’s got a bit of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes to him.
Like Saliba, he’d be arriving from France as a teenage defender but the comparison extends beyond just that. Described as “one of the most exciting centre-backs of his age category in Europe” by scout Jacek Kulig, he “reads the game with sharp anticipation and intelligent positioning” just like Arsenal’s French centre-back.
Furthermore, the teenage defender is “excellent in 1v1s” in the words of the aforementioned Mattinson. Similarly to Saliba, he’s very difficult to get past and is a brilliantly composed passer too. Mattison notes how he has “lovely long passing out to the wings.”
He may well be more of a left-sided centre-back like Gabriel but a lot of his attributes and indeed the fact he is French, mean comparisons to Saliba are very natural.
Arsenal are very much looking to win now but in the form of Monga and Mbemba, they may well be on the verge of securing two signings who could ensure success remains for years to come.
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