Arsene Wenger Commends Arsenal’s Youth Development: Iwobi Shines Among Academy Products

In a testament to Arsenal’s robust youth policy, Arsene Wenger expressed pride in the achievements of players such as Super Eagles forward Alex Iwobi. The former Arsenal manager’s comments came in the wake of Tuesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final, where four academy graduates—Joe Willock, Reiss Nelson, Ben Sheaf, and Josh Dasilva—featured prominently in the Gunners’ 1-0 victory over West Ham.

Wenger, known for nurturing young talents during his tenure, highlighted the significance of fielding homegrown players. “On Saturday (against Newcastle), we played with four players who have been educated here: Iwobi, Wilshere, Maitland-Niles, and Bellerin,” Wenger remarked in an interview with arsenal.com. He challenged comparisons with other top teams, emphasizing, “You look at the other teams who played at the top and you tell me who has played with four players who have been educated in their academy? We do that every time we can, but overall I believe it remains the basis of our philosophy.”

Acknowledging that the approach doesn’t always yield the desired outcomes, Wenger underscored Arsenal’s unparalleled commitment to youth development. “I agree with you it doesn’t always come off as we would like, but we still are one of the teams who, if you look at the last 20 years, puts more players out than anybody else.”

As Arsenal gears up to face Liverpool at the Emirates in a highly anticipated Premier League clash tonight (Friday), the spotlight remains on the club’s enduring commitment to nurturing and showcasing emerging talents from its esteemed academy.