Arsenal’s Intentions Highlighted With Nigerian Duo Transfers

Arsenal is reportedly locking up the signatures of two of Nigeria’s brightest talents. With so many wonderkids, surely some of them will pan out.

The name of Arsenal’s game recently has been loading up on as many wonderkids as humanly possible. Arsene Wenger, in the past year alone, has nabbed Polish wonderkid Krystian Bielik, French ace Jeff Reine-Adelaide, the Netherland’s No. 1 prospect in Donyell Malen, and the Romanian youngster Vlad Dragomir. They are all currently proving themselves in the Arsenal system.

Related Story: 5 Reasons To Press For Kevin Mirallas

Add to that the newest two, if reports are to be believed. The Metro is reporting that Arsenal is wrapping up the transfers of the Nigerian wonder duo Kelechi Nwakali and Samuel Chukwueze. Nwakali has been linked to Arsenal for quite some time but the addition of Chukwueze is obviously quite the welcome addition. You can never have too many chances at striking gold.

Anybody that is either 16 or 17 years old that is coming out of Nigeria is footballing gold at the moment. This stems from Nigeria taking home the U17 world cup in rather commanding fashion. They won the competition, outscoring opponents by a combined score of 24-4. Hard to argue with those results.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 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

These two youngsters were two of the main cogs that ensured their nation’s success. Nwakali and Chukwueze both contributed three goals and they tied for the team lead with three assists a piece. Nwakali compared his play style to Yaya Toure, so safe to say there is reason to be excited about his potential.

While the two cannot be offered a professional contract until they turn 18, it is expected that long term deals will follow.

This takes the wonderkid count to six, with some other promising prospects, in the last year alone. Arsene Wenger has always been about developing youth talent, but never to this extent. It is pretty clear what his intentions are. Wenger has always said that he wants to leave the club in a better state than it was in when he got it. That way, whoever succeeds him will have a fantastic foundation to build off of.

More from Arsenal Transfer Rumours

• Arsenal Transfers: Emile Smith Rowe could leave club before summer deadline
• Arsenal Transfers: Gabriel will not be leaving this summer
• Why Arsenal could sell Folarin Balogun to London rivals
• 5 defenders Arsenal could sign after Jurrien Timber injury
• Why was Kieran Tierney left out of Arsenal’s matchday squad?

Essentially, these wonderkid acquisitions indicate that Wenger is probably preparing for this retirement. By prepping the youth squad with a mass of teenagers, Wenger is allowing his successor to focus on other things while the posterity of the club provides for itself. If Wenger does ride out his contract until 2017, perhaps even beyond, then at least when he does retire, whoever comes after him will be able to reap the benefits of this foresight.

Wenger is an intelligent manager. He knows the importance of building prolonged success. The only way to ensure prolonged success is by establishing a base of youth talent that can fuel the club with exciting players for years to come. Purchasing a team each and every year is no way to establish consistency. It is what causes teams like United to jump up and down in the table. They are playing with complete strangers.

Next: 5 Reasons Arsenal Must Retain Aaron Ramsey

Having teenagers play with their future team mates from the age of 16 establish so much added incentive when/if they become professionals.