Arsene Wenger's talent factory: Five of the best from Arsenal's academy

Published: 18 Dec 2009 - 07:31:29

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Arsene Wenger's talent factory: Five of the best from Arsenal's academy

Arsenal have produced a string of prodigiously gifted young players. Here we pick out five of the best young players to graduate from Arsenal's academy and examine how they used their talent, knowledge and skills. Ashley Cole(1997-2006)The mere mention of his name still makes Arsenal fans wince. A player they considered one of their own committed the cardinal sin of moving to west London rivals Chelsea. And there was also the infamous confession in his autobiography that he nearly crashed his car when he discovered Arsenal were only offering him a new contract worth £55,000 a week. However, Arsenal's Youth Academy Director Liam Brady believes that Cole's development into a world class left-back is the academy's greatest achievement so far. A striker in his formative years, Cole was transformed into the attacking left back we now see marauding down the wing and he benefited greatly from a loan spell at Crystal Palace in 2000. After his £5million plus William Gallas switch across London to Stamford Bridge he has added two FA Cups and the League Cup to the three FA Cups and two league titles he won with the Gunners. Verdict: Good start, shame about the sour ending. David Bentley(1997-2006)At one time hailed as the next Dennis Bergkamp, Bentley has fulfilled his potential - if his potential was solely to move to north London rivals Tottenham and sit in the reserves.Highly rated by Arsene Wenger (for a time), Bentley was training with the senior squad when he was just 16 and dramatic goals like his first - the lob against Middlesbrough - gave fans reason to believe that he was to be their next terrace hero. Bentley cited a lack of first team opportunities as his reason for wanting to leave Arsenal and he showed real promise after his move to Blackburn but his time at Spurs has been a nightmare, expect another transfer soon.Verdict: Good start, shame about the hair. Cesc Fabregas(2003-present)You have to wonder just how they feel over in Barcelona after letting one of the finest talents of a generation slip through their fingers. Fabregas may not be a local lad but he is a genuine product of the Youth Academy after moving on a free from the Nou Camp to north London aged just 16 and became Arsenal's youngest player (at the time) when came on as a sub in the League Cup game against Rotherham.Schooled by the likes of Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry, the Spaniard is an accomplished playmaker, goalscorer, was made Captain of the club age 21 and is certain to add to his tally of just one FA Cup in his time at the Emirates.Verdict: The real deal Nicklas Bendtner(2004-present)The imposing striker joined the Gunners' Academy aged 16 after time at local sides in his native Denmark and soon made a big impression on the reserve side.Bendtner scored 18 goals in 24 matches for Arsenal's reserves in one season and he became the youngest player to be selected for Denmark's under 21 team, scoring two goals on his debut against Spain.A loan spell with Birmingham helped his development as did the departure of Emmanuel Adebayor, who he clashed with in such a public manner during the Carling Cup clash with Tottenham.Verdict: Needs to find the net more often Jack Wilshere(2001-present)Of the current crop of young guns to come through the academy, Wilshere is without doubt the player with the potential to go the furthest. Born in Stevenage, the left-footed midfielder joined Arsenal when he was nine years old and became the Gunners youngest league debutant when he featured in the clash with Blackburn Rovers last September.But it was at last summer's Emirates Cup that he really made his mark - two goals and two man-of-the-match performances heralded his arrival as a future first-team regular.Verdict: The sky's the limit EXCLUSIVE: Step inside Arsene Wenger's talent factory as Arsenal's football nursery is laid bareSteve Bould: From Arsenal's 'famous four' to the production of world class playersEXCLUSIVE: Cedric Evina case study from inside Arsenal's talent factory GALLERY: Graham Chadwick's exclusive look into Arsene Wenger's talent factoryARSENAL FC