Arsenal Young And Old Players
Arsenal young and old players? Who is Arsenal’s youngest player? Who is Arsenal’s oldest player? Here we take a look at Arsenal‘s best young and old players. Who are Arsenal’s young and old players? Which young players have played for Arsenal? Watch & Bet on Football =>
Over the years, we have had many old players who have excelled at the club including Tony Adams, Ian Wright and David Seaman. We have also seen many youngsters such as Cesc Fabregas, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere establish themselves as stars right from being teenagers.
Arsenal Youngest Players
Here. we take a look at Arsenal youngsters. Which players have been the youngest ever players to have played for Arsenal?
Arsenal’s Youngest Players: A Look at the Club’s Teenage Trailblazers
Arsenal Football Club has a long history of nurturing young talents, giving them opportunities to shine on the grand stage. Over the years, several players have made their debuts as teenagers, cementing their names in the club’s history books.
Arsenal’s Youngest Players
So here is the list of the Arsenal young players:
# | Player | Position | Nationality | Debut Date | Opponent | Result | Age at Debut |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ethan Nwaneri | Attacking Midfield | England/Nigeria | Sep 18, 2022 | Brentford FC | 0:3 | 15 years 05 months 28 days |
2 | Jack Porter | Goalkeeper | England | Sep 25, 2024 | Bolton Wanderers | 5:1 | 16 years 02 months 10 days |
3 | Cesc Fàbregas | Central Midfield | Spain | Oct 28, 2003 | Rotherham United | 10:9 | 16 years 05 months 24 days |
4 | Jack Wilshere | Central Midfield | England | Sep 13, 2008 | Blackburn Rovers | 0:4 | 16 years 08 months 12 days |
5 | Jermaine Pennant | Right Winger | England/Jamaica | Nov 30, 1999 | Middlesbrough FC | 5:3 | 16 years 10 months 15 days |
6 | Gerry Ward | Left Winger | England | Aug 22, 1953 | Huddersfield Town | 0:0 | 16 years 10 months 17 days |
7 | Paul Vaessen | Striker | England | Sep 27, 1978 | 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig | 1:4 | 16 years 11 months 11 days |
8 | Ryan Smith | Left Winger | England/United States | Oct 28, 2003 | Rotherham United | 10:9 | 16 years 11 months 18 days |
9 | Gedion Zelalem | Defensive Midfield | United States/Germany | Jan 24, 2014 | Coventry City | 4:0 | 16 years 11 months 29 days |
10 | Armand Traoré | Left-Back | Senegal/France | Oct 24, 2006 | West Bromwich Albion | 0:2 | 17 years 16 days |
11 | Bukayo Saka | Right Winger | England/Nigeria | Nov 29, 2018 | Vorskla Poltava | 0:3 | 17 years 02 months 24 days |
12 | Serge Gnabry | Left Winger | Germany/Ivory Coast | Sep 26, 2012 | Coventry City | 6:1 | 17 years 02 months 12 days |
13 | David O’Leary | Centre-Back | Ireland/England | Aug 16, 1975 | Burnley FC | 0:0 | 17 years 03 months 14 days |
14 | Theo Walcott | Right Winger | England | Aug 19, 2006 | Aston Villa | 1:1 | 17 years 05 months 03 days |
Impact of Youth Development at Arsenal
Arsenal has always placed a strong emphasis on youth development, with a well-structured academy that has produced some of the biggest names in football.
From Cesc Fàbregas’ creativity in midfield to Bukayo Saka’s electrifying wing play, the Gunners have continuously given young players the chance to establish themselves at the highest level.
Youngest Player In Arsenal’s History
The youngest player ever to play for Arsenal is Ethan Nwaneri.
He made his debut on September 18, 2022, in a 0-3 victory against Brentford FC at just 15 years, 5 months, and 28 days old.
This milestone made him the youngest player in Premier League history as well, highlighting Arsenal’s faith in youth development.
His debut was a significant moment for the club, reinforcing its philosophy of nurturing young talents and providing them with early exposure to top-level football.
Second Youngest Player In Arsenal’s History
The second youngest player to make an appearance for Arsenal is Jack Porter, a promising goalkeeper who made his debut on September 25, 2024, in a 5-1 victory against Bolton Wanderers at just 16 years, 2 months, and 10 days old.
His inclusion in the first team at such a young age is a testament to Arsenal’s long-standing tradition of providing young talents with early opportunities.
Porter’s debut was particularly significant as he became one of the youngest goalkeepers ever to play in English football. His calmness and shot-stopping ability impressed fans and pundits alike, marking him as a player to watch for the future.
Arsenal’s commitment to youth development continues to bear fruit, and Porter’s breakthrough further solidifies the club’s status as one of the best academies in world football.
Arsenal Oldest Players
Here we take a look at some of the Arsenal’s oldest players. Which players have been the oldest at Arsenal? Who are the Arsenal oldest players?
Take a look below and find out the ten oldest players to have played for Arsenal:
# | Player | Position | Nationality | Last Match Date | Opponent | Result | Age at Last Match |
1 | Jens Lehmann | Goalkeeper | Germany | Apr 10, 2011 | Blackpool FC | 1:3 | 41 years 05 months 00 days |
2 | Jock Rutherford | Right Winger | England | Jan 23, 1926 | Liverpool FC | 3:0 | 41 years 03 months 10 days |
3 | John Lukic | Goalkeeper | England | Nov 11, 2000 | Derby County | 0:0 | 39 years 11 months 00 days |
4 | Pat Jennings | Goalkeeper | Northern Ireland | Mar 9, 1985 | Sunderland AFC | 0:0 | 39 years 08 months 25 days |
5 | Joe Mercer | Midfielder | England | Apr 10, 1954 | Liverpool FC | 3:0 | 39 years 08 months 01 day |
6 | David Seaman | Goalkeeper | England | May 17, 2003 | Southampton FC | 1:0 | 39 years 07 months 28 days |
7 | Leslie Compton | Centre-Back | England | Apr 19, 1952 | Stoke City | 4:1 | 39 years 07 months 07 days |
8 | George Swindin | Goalkeeper | England | Sep 12, 1953 | Sunderland AFC | 7:1 | 38 years 09 months 08 days |
9 | Frank Bradshaw | Centre-Forward | England | Oct 28, 1922 | Newcastle United | 1:2 | 38 years 04 months 26 days |
Arsenal’s Oldest Player
The oldest player to have ever taken the pitch for Arsenal is Jock Rutherford. In a rather confusing set of circumstances, Rutherford ended up coming out of retirement as a player and also leaving Stoke City as their manager at 39 years old.
The Gunners were hosting a retirement party for him when the former Newcastle United player decided to join back instead of coaching a terrible Stoke City side, who at the time were relegated from the top division.
Rutherford had already spent a decade at Arsenal prior to his association with the Potters. On his return to North London as a veteran, he made over 20 appearances across two seasons. He became the club’s oldest player ever by making an appearance on 20 March 1926, aged 41 years and 159 days.
He left Arsenal that summer after scoring 27 goals in 232 total games for the club. Rutherford passed away on 21 April 1963 at 78 years old.
Second Oldest Player In Arsenal’s History
Jens Lehmann is the oldest player to have ever played for Arsenal in the Premier League.
The German came out of retirement on 14 March 2011 when the Gunners were facing an injury crisis in the goalkeeping position. At the time, Arsenal had only Manuel Almunia as their fit shot-stopper with Wojciech Szczesny, Lukasz Fabianski and Vito Mannone all injured.
Lehmann signed on a rolling contract to play till the end of the season only. He ended up making only one appearance for the club against Blackpool before hanging up his boots for good.
Currently, an assistant manager at FC Augsburg, Lehmann did serve in a similar role at the Emirates for the 2017/18 season. He has recorded 200 appearances for the North London club and also 61 caps for the German national team.
Arsenal Youngest And Oldest Players 2024/25
Those are the youngest and oldest Arsenal players in the current squad under Mikel Arteta.
Jorginho is the oldest Arsenal player this season at 32 years old. The Italian signed from Chelsea last summer. He will be 33, once his contract with the Gunners is up.
Thomas Partey is the second oldest Arsenal player in the current squad at 31 years of age. His contract will expire next summer.
Ethan Nwaneri is currently the youngest player of the season 2024/25. He is only 17 years old.
The second youngest player in the Arsenal squad this season is Myles Lewis-Skelly at 18 years. He graduated from the Gunners academy to make his first-team debut this season under Arteta. He has greatly impressed on the left flank and is pegged to be a future star at North London.
The third-youngest player to be registered into the Arsenal squad this season is Riccardo Calafiori. He is the latest signing of Arsenal who joined the Gunners in the summer of 2024. Watch & Bet on Football =>
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