Having a squad made up largely of academy players is definitely where we're heading, or what the aim is, but actually achieving it is another thing altogether. Barcelona have managed it, so it can be done, but to stay competitive at the level we're at, the quality coming through has got be exceptional. We know the generation in and around Jack's - Szczesny, Bartley, Lansbury, Aneke, JET, Afobe, and others - are exceptional and have a big chance of making an impact here, and the next crop of kids just coming into the U18s now look special too, but we'll have to see how it continues - it's looking good though.
BTW - not sure if anyone here picked up on this, but there was an interview with Arsenal youth coach, Steve Giessing on Young Guns about a month back, that caused a bit of a stir, where he said;
"we have a 13-year-old at the moment, who I can't name, who I think is a genius."
The name that a few Arsenal fans have put forward (including in the comments section at the bottom of the article) is Alfie Costello, and apparently he does play for Arsenal U13s and is absolutely shit hot. He also plays for Isledon Wolves youth side in Islington, if anyone knows them? So that's a name to look out for in the coming years.
