Reports from last week suggested that Arsenal could face the prospect of losing promising defender Ayden Heaven, with Manchester United and other clubs from abroad showing significant interest in him. Heaven, who is on the verge of a first-team promotion at Arsenal, has long been regarded as one of the brightest young talents at the club. His development has been closely monitored, and it is anticipated that he will soon join the senior squad, following in the footsteps of Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri.
However, the potential for Heaven to leave the Emirates has raised concerns, particularly among Arsenal fans, who are already worried about the club’s inability to retain its top young talents. Manchester United’s interest in Heaven has only intensified these fears, as supporters recall the recent departure of Chido Obi-Martin to United. The idea of another young player being poached by a Premier League rival has left many anxious about the future of Arsenal’s youth prospects.
Heaven, however, remains highly regarded among young players in English football, and Arsenal has a clear plan for him within their squad. If he continues his progress, the club intends to include him in the senior team, offering him a path similar to that of other young talents making their way into the first team.

Despite the external interest, Heaven’s desire to stay with his boyhood club remains strong. However, the temptation of a move could always turn a player’s head, and Arsenal had valid concerns about the situation.
Fortunately, a report from Caught Offside has provided some positive news for the Gunners. The article revealed that Heaven’s first choice remains Arsenal, despite the interest from other teams. According to the report, the young defender is focused on developing his career at Arsenal and is currently prioritising his growth within the club. This focus suggests that he is likely to extend his contract at the Emirates, rather than seeking a move elsewhere.
Given his commitment and ambition, Heaven should soon be afforded opportunities to demonstrate his capabilities with the senior squad, reinforcing the belief that Arsenal is serious about offering him a pathway to the first team.
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If he really wanted to stay he would not have turned down the two new contract offers he received this season.
Exactly. Disingenuous.
We do not know what is happening inside the club. Maybe then he felt Mikel was staying so he thought of moving, now there could be whispers of his imminent sacking, so the change in mind.
One could dream
Imminent sacking? 😂😂
He should take inspiration from the likes of Nwaneri and Lewis-Kelly who have broken into the first team and are doing very well.
On the other hand, where are the likes of Omari Hutchinson? Will likely be in the Championship next season.
@CM
WOW!!! 2 academy players have been promoted to the first team in 5 yrs. And Hutchinson may not be playing in the EPL next season. But at least he’s plying his trade and honing his skills, with the possibility of being seen. Instead of rotting on the bench in the U21s, waiting for Arteta to throw him a bone.
I’ve just read on the BBC website that he’s poised to join United. If true, we’re starting to make a habit of losing rising talent to our rivals. A worrying trend me thinks.
This is a worrying trend Derek, but I’m at a loss as to what the club can do about it.
With fans demanding world class signings in every position and clubs like city115, chelsea, manure and pool happy to do exactly that, Mikel is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t.
The clamour for a top striker is the perfect example, wouldn’t you agree?
Your right Ken1945,
It’s a tough balance to get right that’s for sure.
While as a fan you want to see your club competing for some of these big star players. But on the other hand you need to be mindful of the home grown talent that’s in the academy.
You can’t really blame them for looking for pastures new, if they can’t see a way through to the first team.
Although I will say, that todays player seems to have a lot less patients, and just won’t bide there time.
As I said its a tough call to make isn’t it. 😉👍
Derek
I know it’s not Arsenal, but Cole Palmer shipped out and wouldn’t wait. So far so good for him. I think Arteta is a gently, gently manager and it appears to me that Nwaneri and MLS got their chances because options were limited and that’s working too. On the flip side, not all academy players have the ability to succeed at the highest level and move on to lower league football instead. To not succeed in the EPL must be a bitter pill.
SueP,
While I agree with your Cole Palmer comment, he is one of a few who have hit the ground running at a new club. For one so young anyway.
I also agree with Nwaneri and MLS maybe getting their chance a little bit earlier than they might have regarding the injury situation.
Who would have thought that having some injury’s could turn out to be a blessing in disguise concerning them both getting their chances, and so far they’ve looked the part. 😉👍
If one goes back to the Willian signing, it was only because of his awful play and (I believe) a injury, that MA was forced to give Martinelli his chance… and the rest is history.
Even though I haven’t seen him play, Maldini Kacurri supposedly has been incredible for the U21s and I noticed he was on the bench for the Zagreb and AV contests. Did Hayden believe he had been passed by a player likely to make it to the first team prior to him making it?
The thing that’s concerning regarding keep losing our academy players to other teams is it’s becoming a regular occurrence.
One of the most disappointing one’s for me was the young lad Dewsbury Hall, now if I’m not mistaken he played on the same side as Saka. And in fact his style was compared to Saka by some I do believe.
Apparently he’s another one who couldn’t see a way through to the first team and decided to join Brighton. But what confuses me the most about the young lad himself is on joining Brighton, they then loaned him to Blackburn.
Surely the lad could have stayed at Arsenal and been loaned out to Blackburn. And who knows, with a little more patients by the young lad. He could have started to get a regular squad place on his return from the loan at Blackburn.
Football seems to have changed in this regard to years gone by. I seem to remember players willing to bide their time more, and wait for their chance.
And also remember, that the young players today are better paid than ever before, so It’s not as if they need to be in a hurry to get to the big money contracts is it. As well as their ambition to play at the highest level of course. (Just thought I’d throw that in of course🙄🤦♂️).