The best Arsenal academy graduates of all time — from Adams to Saka

Arsenal never got to enjoy Andy Cole’s full potential. After graduating from Hale End in 1989, the striker made just one league appearance before leaving for Bristol City. He went on to score 187 Premier League goals and win five league titles with Manchester United, later earning a place in the Premier League Hall of Fame.

Tony Adams

A true one-club legend, Tony Adams embodied Arsenal’s heart and grit. The commanding center-back led the Gunners to two Premier League titles and three FA Cups, while also earning a Ballon d’Or nomination in 1998. Like Cole, he’s immortalized in the Premier League Hall of Fame.

Bukayo Saka

Few modern players better represent Hale End’s success than Bukayo Saka. Joining Arsenal at age seven, he developed for a decade before his senior debut in 2018. Now one of the best wingers in the world, Saka has already lifted the FA Cup and become a cornerstone for both club and country.

Ashley Cole

Though his move to Chelsea in 2006 made him unpopular among Arsenal fans, Ashley Cole remains one of England’s greatest left-backs. Rising through the ranks in 1999, he earned 107 England caps, made four PFA Team of the Year appearances, and was inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2024.

Paul Merson

Paul Merson is a cult hero at Arsenal. After joining the academy in 1982, he went on to make 423 appearances, scoring 99 goals and providing 51 assists. A creative force, Merson helped the Gunners win two First Division titles and became one of the most beloved figures in North London.

Ray Parlour

Known as “The Romford Pele,” Ray Parlour joined Arsenal at 12 and never looked back. The midfielder made 465 appearances, won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups, and was named Arsenal’s Player of the Season in 1998. His tireless work rate defined the club’s spirit during the late ’90s and early 2000s.

Kevin Campbell

A prolific scorer at youth level, Kevin Campbell once netted 59 goals in a single season for Hale End. He scored 60 goals in 228 senior appearances, winning a First Division title, an FA Cup, and a League Cup before moving to Nottingham Forest in 1995. His rise from local talent to top-flight striker was classic Arsenal.

Martin Keown

Martin Keown’s Arsenal journey came in two acts. After leaving for Aston Villa in 1986, he returned in 1993 to become one of the Premier League’s fiercest defenders. Across 449 appearances, Keown won three league titles and helped forge the defensive backbone of the Invincibles era.

Cesc Fàbregas

Although he began at Barcelona’s La Masia, Cesc Fàbregas truly blossomed at Arsenal. Joining at just 16, he became the club’s youngest-ever first-team player. During his career, he won a World Cup, two European Championships, and countless individual honors — including two Arsenal Player of the Season awards.

Ethan Nwaneri

The youngest Premier League debutant ever, Ethan Nwaneri symbolizes Arsenal’s future. At just 15 years and 181 days old, he made history against Brentford in 2022. By 2025, he had already joined the elite company of Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney by scoring five top-flight goals before turning 18.