Dan Crowley Jump-Starts Arsenal Stock With International Goal (Video)

Arsenal’s youngsters are in the midst of a turnaround. The beginning of the year was not good. Optimism was abounding when Isaac Hayden, Chuba Akpom, Emiliano Martinez, Gedion Zelalem, Serge Gnabry, Daniel Crowley, Jon Toral and Ainsley Maitland-Niles were sent out on loan. It was a time for these young prospects to build some first team experience.

Related: Arsenal’s Top 5 Midfield Transfer Options

The results have been mixed. Some of the youngsters are doing just fine. Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Emiliano Martinez are still holding down regular game time. Chuba Akpom is doing adequately. Gedion Zelalem was doing well until he was recently called out for playing timid and cowardly.

But then there is Daniel Crowley. The 18-year old Englishman was said to have the world at his feet. He was supposed to be capable of anything. Those were the words of Lee Johnson, manager of Barnsley.

Fresh off of being sent home for not being a team player, yet still having “the world at his feet and being capable of anything”, Daniel Crowley has went off and made a name for himself with the England U19 squad in their match-up against Japan. Have a look:

The real question is why he didn’t pass it (that is a joke). The goal was rather impressive, we must admit. The young man ran 65 yards, dribbled through the Japanese defense, and coolly tapped it into the back of the net.

More from Arsenal News

• 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park

Daniel Crowley weighs in as one of Pain in the Arsenal’s top ten prospects. He is regularly compared to the next Jack Wilshere. And no, not the injured part, the part that can be a game changer. He has a healthy supply of confidence for an 18-year old. Which apparently was part of the problem with his stay at Barnsley.

Arsenal clearly have a technically sound, composed young midfielder who is already making a splash in internationals. It may be international U19. But the more competitions you can succeed in, the better. Arsenal is just the next step on his agenda.

Next: 5 Things To Expect From Jack Wilshere

There is going to be a mass of openings in the Arsenal midfield. It is unlikely that it will be filled with an 18-year old however. So young Mr. Crowley will have to keep learning in the ranks so that when the void opens up again, he is ready. That could mean more loans. Or it might just be Arsenal reserves time, but whatever the case, Crowley has a ways to go to make it at Arsenal. And yet this goal certainly helps.