The Arsenal youth trio that have impressed on international duty

Arsenal’s famed Hale End continuing to deliver

In what has been a relatively dire few years for Arsenal, their crop of young talents have been a shining light, and offer the smallest hope of light at the end of the tunnel. Bukayo Saka has become an integral part of both the Arsenal and England side in the past 12 months, appearing four times at Euro 2020 for the Three Lions.

Bukayo Saka, Mason Greenwood and Jude Bellingham are among the 🔟 nominees for France Football’s 2021 Kopa Trophy! 🏆👏🦁 pic.twitter.com/Vkjgj6mDbO

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 8, 2021

Emile Smith Rowe too has impressed at domestic level, with the 21-year-old having appeared in all seven of Arsenal’s games so far this season under Mikel Arteta. Southgate revealed that he too was close to making the England squad, saying:

“He is a player we like a lot and was very close to making this squad.

At this moment in time I don’t want to bring in any more younger players out of the Under-21s. They have got to earn that right over a longer period.”

Southgate on Smith Rowe: “He is a player we like a lot and was very close to making this squad.

“At this moment in time I don’t want to bring in any more younger players out of the Under-21s. They have got to earn that right over a longer period.”

— Mark Mann-Bryans (@MarkyMBryans) September 30, 2021

Smith Rowe found himself in the Under 21s for this international break, and started the 2-2 draw against Slovenia. In fact, he was joined in the pitch in the second half by two other Hale End talents, with manager Lee Carsley fielding a front 3 of Smith Rowe, Arsenal loanee Tyreece John-Jules and highly rated forward Folarin Balogun for the final 20 minutes of the tie.

Another duo impress on international duty

Two other young players have also impressed in national team colours over the past week. Firstly, new signing Nuno Tavares was in action for the Portugal U21 side as they played Lichtenstein in an entirely one way affair. 9-0 at half-time, the encounter finished 11-0, with the Arsenal man providing one goal and two assists from the left flank.

A goal and two assists for Nuno Tavares last night as Portugal U21s thrashed Lichtenstein 11-0. pic.twitter.com/yakHJWXuJE

— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) October 8, 2021

Meanwhile, it was another brilliant outing for Karl Hein in between the posts for Estonia. In the previous international break, Hein won many plaudits for his performance against Wales, which held on to a valuable point for his side.

Turning into a frustrating night for Wales against Estonia. Arsenal’s teenage goalkeeper Karl Hein has made two excellent saves to deny Bale and Roberts in the second half. Pressure building

— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) September 8, 2021

And come this international break, he repeated the trick, keeping a clean sheet as his side beat Belarus 2-0 in their latest World Cup qualifier. Currently third-choice at Arsenal, but with Bernd Leno’s future uncertain, could Hein make a play for the no.2 spot next season?

Read more:

Arsenal talent Karl Hein showered in praise after holding Gareth Bale and Wales at bay in MOTM display

 ‘Every goalkeeper makes mistakes’: Aaron Ramsdale speaks out on replacing Bernd Leno at Arsenal