Arsenal must go all out to retain this 17-year-old academy star amidst interest from Serie A heavyweights

Arsenal should hold on to Sam Greenwood amidst Serie A links

According to Football London, Arsenal academy starlet Sam Greenwood is the subject of interest from Italian Serie A heavyweights, AC Milan and Juventus, with the report suggesting that the 17-year-old could leave the Gunners before the continental transfer deadline on September 2. 

As well as the Serie A duo, several clubs in the Bundesliga are also understood to have made an enquiry about the availability to the talented youngster, who only made his move to North London from Sunderland last summer. (h/t Football London)

Juventus snapped up Stephy Mavididi from Arsenal’s youth system last summer and after the youngster’s breakthrough in their senior ranks in the previous campaign, the reigning Italian champions could once again make an attempt to raid the Gunners’ academy, this time for Greenwood. 

Milan, on the other hand, could have an upper hand in this deal due to the presence of former Arsenal managing director Ivan Gazidis in their administration. Interestingly, Gazidis was the one who had overseen Greenwood’s arrival from Sunderland last summer. 

It is still unknown as to what kind of plans Arsenal have in store for Greenwood and the report doesn’t reveal anything about the club’s stance amidst all the speculation over the youngster’s future. 

However, given his stellar run of form in the youth ranks last season and the fact that the Gunners had to beat off competition from rivals Man United and Liverpool to sign the player,  it doesn’t seem likely that the Gunners would let him depart so early in his career. 

Greenwood has made a massive impact for the Gunners at the youth level over the past twelve months or so, adapting seamlessly to his new surroundings following a move from Sunderland. 

The 17-year-old, who is held in high regard by the academy staff,  has accumulated 10 goals and 4 assists in 20 U-18 Premier League outings thus far, returns which are quite sensational considering that he has been deployed in a wide attacking role more often than not. 

The teenager, though, has led the line as a No.9 for England at the U-17 level, with his sharpness and goalscoring ability drawing comparisons with former Gunners legend Robin van Persie. (h/t Football London)

To put things into perspective, Arsenal are going through a painful rebuilding phase under Unai Emery after the end of the Arsene Wenger era and it is imperative to say that the Gunners need to retain the services of some of their top-academy talents, with a view to promoting them to the first-team in the near future.  

And Greenwood, who has been firing great guns at the youth level over the past year or so, certainly falls in that bracket.

Emery didn’t hesitate to field academy starlets like Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith-Rowe and Eddie Nketiah in some of the domestic cup fixtures, as well as in the group stages of the Europa League last season, and Greenwood might also get his chance to impress for the Gunners at the senior level in future. 

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The existence of a clear pathway from the academy to the first-team has been one of the hallmarks of Arsenal’s legacy in English football and Sam Greenwood might be the next big name at the Emirates if he goes on to fulfil his vast potential in the years to come.

With that in mind, Arsenal should turn down approaches for the 17-year-old from Juventus and Milan without a moment’s hesitation.