Arsenal will be kicking themselves over a couple of youngsters leaving their ranks in recent times, and one is now showing promise closer to home.
Serge Gnabry is the big case having starred at Bayern Munich, whilst Donyell Malen is thriving at PSV Eindhoven after Arsenal let him go in 2017.
Add in that the likes of Eberechi Eze and Josh Dasilva have left Arsenal in their formative years to impress elsewhere, and some may be wondering just what the Arsenal squad could look like now had those players not moved on.
Another youngster who left the club earlier this year was Stan Flaherty, as the midfielder moved on to Newcastle United following a successful trial spell.
The 18-year-old wasn’t a big-name prospect at Arsenal, but he’s now showing real potential in the Newcastle ranks having starred for their Under-23’s.
In just four Premier League 2 games this season, Flaherty has bagged three goals and one assist, making a blistering start to the season.
A technically-gifted playmaker, Flaherty is turning heads at Newcastle, and whilst he is just 18, he is surely on Steve Bruce’s radar for future playing time.
Competition for places is strong at Arsenal; fellow playmaker Emile Smith Rowe can’t get a kick in Mikel Arteta’s side, so Flaherty likely felt he had to move on for first-team opportunities.
If he continues this early-season form, Flaherty will be pushing for playing time under Bruce – and will hope to follow in the footsteps of Gnabry and Malen by showing Arsenal were wrong to let him go.
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