Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Excitement Grows Following Jeff Reine-Adelaide Goal

By Josh Sippie

By joshjdss (Arsenal Members' Day 2015) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By joshjdss (Arsenal Members' Day 2015) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons /
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Arsenal have several handfuls of young, exciting prospects to get in a tizzy about, but given Jeff Reine-Adelaide’s most recent goal, perhaps he tops the charts.

Arsenal’s two youth stars closest to making their impact in the Premier League have to be Alex Iwobi and Jeff Reine-Adelaide. While Reine-Adelaide has yet to play a significant portion of any game yet this year for the Gunners (nine minutes), Iwobi has made a few appearances, with his game time increasing as the season goes on.

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However, beyond the first team, we can bear witness to the growth of Arsenal’s stars in the youth league. Down there, players like Donyell Malen and Jeff Reine-Adelaide are making a habit out of making opponents look downright foolish at times.

In his latest escapade, the young French midfield phenom was witnessed looping the ball over Swansea’s academy products with the ease and the deft touch of a wizardly veteran. Have a look:

Watching this, you can hear Arsene Wenger’s words ringing. Following a very promising display in the Barclay’s Asia Cup, Wenger said “Reine-Adelaide is something special you know. He is a great talent and when he came on you could see that — 17 years old let’s not forget. I don’t remember how I played at 17 but I didn’t play like that.”

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Wenger knows his football, and he knows his french teenage midfielders. But we don’t need his words to see how special this young French midfielder is. Reine-Adelaide is constantly putting on displays that have to leave us wondering how far off he actually is.

Still only 18, there is no need to rush him. He is already being spotted on the Arsenal bench on match days. While that is mostly down to injury, it is not the first time that a young, talented midfielder has started to breach the first-team. Cesc Fabreagas, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere were all nearing the first team, or were already solidified, when they were 18 years old.

Reine-Adelaide has the makeup to be the next young Arsenal star to accomplish that. He has the talent, that is for sure. It is his composure that sets him apart. Most young stars are eager to make an impression and can get a tad wild at times. Chuba Akpom and Alex Iwobi have both made appearances where you could pick out the heavy touches and the nerves.

Not Reine-Adelaide though. He was never introduced to nerves. No matter where he appears on the pitch, he looks cool and confident.

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Even beyond his skill, Reine-Adelaide has that token appreciation for where he is. When speaking about his Arsenal move, the young Frenchman called himself lucky. “I was lucky Arsenal came [in for me]. I could have been a Ligue 2 player in France. I’m so grateful to be here,” he said, as quoted by London24.

Modest too? What isn’t Reine-Adelaide? Let’s put this ‘lucky’ business to rest. With how well he performs, he is not lucky to have been found. He has earned the right to work his way into a top class team like Arsenal.

Hype can get to some people, but given the circumstances, I don’t think Reine-Adelaide will be affected by it. As mentioned, his composure is to die for. Not only that, but he is already of considerable size for an 18 year old. He stands just about the same size as Mesut Ozil.

One of the primary detractors of fellow midfield prospect Gedion Zelalem is that he does not have the frame to make it in the Premier League. Well, this early on, Reine-Adelaide does.

Next: 5 Reasons Mikel Arteta Is Not For Sale

Arsenal has a lot to be excited about with this young man.

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