It is no secret that Arsenal have long benefitted from their ability to produce outstanding young talent, with the club's academy continually churning out potential prospects.

Not only is the talent there - nurtured and fostered by the Gunners youth system - but there is also a clear pathway into the first-team, evidenced by the recent emergence of both Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka.

While the duo have taken different routes to becoming regular starters - with Smith Rowe enduring a learning curve out on loan at both RB Leipzig and Huddersfield Town - their rapid development has been a benefit to all concerned, with the two starlets having also already forced their way into Gareth Southgate's England plans.

Not satisfied with those success stories, however, the north Londoners will be eyeing that next fledgling talent who can step into the limelight from the youth team, with 20-year-old centre-back Omar Rekik potentially the next to do so.

Much has been made of the ability of current Marseille loanee William Saliba, although with the Frenchman currently on his third temporary stint away from the Emirates, doubts remain over whether he has the backing of manager Mikel Arteta.

Should the club wish to cash in on the 21-year-old this summer, then in Rekik the Gunners boss has a perfect alternative, with the former Manchester City youngster potentially the next name on the seemingly never-ending conveyor belt of talent.

Having been signed on a £540k deal from Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin back in January 2021, the Netherlands born gem is yet to feature in the first-team, although has done enough already to catch the eye at youth level, with Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley recently lavishing him with praise.

Speaking about the central defender - whose brother Karim plays for Sevilla - earlier this season, Cowley said of the youngster that: “Omar [Rekik] is a centre-half who I watched at Bournemouth a few weeks ago.

“He’s technically very good with a lovely range of passing and he breaks his lines taking real responsibility on the ball. He looks a talented player.”

Speaking further about the current crop coming through the ranks at Hale End, the club's Head of Emerging Talent Yousuf Sajjad called him "exciting".

A move to Championship outfit Stoke City was touted in January, only to collapse on deadline day, albeit with that interest suggesting that it is not just those inside London Colney who are getting excited about his quality.

Equally, despite his lack of senior action thus far at club level, he has already made three appearances for the Tunisian national team, notably making two brief outings at this year's AFCON tournament back in the winter.

The signs are there that Arteta has a real prospect on his hands, all the Spaniard needs to do now is put some faith in him.

IN other news, Vieira 2.0: Arsenal gifted chance to sign "top-class" £25m ace, he could guarantee UCL...