After all, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli made their breakthroughs under Unai Emery and Emile Smith Rowe was eventually frozen out of the team.
Moreover, while the former captain has coached Saka into a world-class talent, he and Martinelli are the only genuine youngsters who have become regular first-teamers under his tenure - until this year, that is.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta celebrates after the match
This season has seen Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri become prominent players within the squad, and Arteta has handled their progression excellently.
So, the emergence of another up-and-coming prospect in the academy, who could be the next Nwaneri, should excite fans.
nwaneri-lewis-seklly-arsenal-champions-league
Nwaneri's impressive rise
It was back in September 2022, in a 3-0 win away to Brentford, that Nwaneri was first introduced to the wider footballing world, when at 15 years and 181 days old, Arteta made the teenager the league's youngest player of all time.
Arsenal-Ethan-Nwaneri
The Enfield-born dynamo made another slightly longer cameo in the club's emphatic 6-0 win away to West Ham United last season but has truly established himself as one of the most exciting talents in world football this term.
So far, the often "unplayable" 17-year-old, as dubbed by former wonderkid Jack Wilshere, has made 28 appearances for the first team, totalling 1076 minutes, in which he's scored eight goals and provided one assist.
That means the Hale End star has averaged a goal involvement every 3.11 games, or more impressively, every 119.55 minutes.
It's not just the goals and assists that have caught the eye of fans and pundits alike, but his overall play, bravery and determination to make things happen whenever he has the ball.
Ethan-Nwaneri-Arsenal-Brighton
In short, the young dynamo looks like a superstar in the making, so fans should be excited about another prospect coming through Hale End who could be the next Nwaneri.
Arsenal's new Nwaneri
While plenty of the attention has gone the way of the incredibly exciting Max Dowman in recent months, he's still just 15 years old, so the chance of him playing even semiregular minutes next season seems low.
However, Dan Casey, on the other hand, is 17 years old and will be 18 in late August, so the chance of him making a debut next year is not farfetched, especially as he could be another Nwaneri-esque addition to the squad.
That might sound hyperbolic, but considering how sensationally well the youngster has fared in the youth teams this year, it might not be.
Casey's 24/25
Appearances
23
Minutes
1507
Goals
17
Assists
2
Goal Involvements per Match
0.86
Minutes per Goal Involvement
79.31'
All Stats via Transfermarkt
For example, in just 23 appearances this season, totalling 1507 minutes, the "box-crashing" midfielder, as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored 17 goals and provided two assists.
That means the tremendously promising phenom is currently averaging a goal involvement every 79.31 minutes in the academy.
However, it's not just his output that makes the young star so similar to Nwaneri, but also his versatility.
For example, this season alone, the teenage monster has played in attacking midfield, centre midfield and defensive midfield and has even made appearances up top and off the left.
Ultimately, while Nwaneri is undoubtedly the most exciting youngster at Arsenal this season, don't be too surprised if you see Casey break into the first team in the coming years.
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