Arsenal: 6 Promising Players in Gunners' Youth System to Keep an Eye on

Tony Adams, Liam Brady, Ashley Cole, Cesc Fabregas, Niall Quinn. And now, Jack Wilshere.

Those six names are but a few of the many graduates of Arsenal's illustrious youth academy, exemplifying a rich heritage of football development at the club for more than three decades.

With an academy of such repute packed with exciting talents, Arsene Wenger has, throughout his tenure as manager, learned to give the very best of Arsenal's young talents a chance at first-team football—often with brilliant results.  Recent examples like Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain show Le Professeur is yet to lose his knack with younger footballers.

In that vein, here are six of the finest young academy talents at Wenger's disposal.

Becoming a Gunner in January 2012, Thomas Eisfeld is one of Wenger's most propitious academy players.  The midfielder, signed from Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund, was the club's sole long-term transfer acquisition in the January transfer window.

Eisfeld has already demonstrated his eye for goal on top of his capabilities as a central midfielder, with two goals on the club's preseason tour of the Far East.  Wenger obviously sees much promise in the 19-year-old German youth international; his performance on tour reflects the manager's observations and may well be rewarded with some first-team action this term.

If preseason friendlies are for stating your case for first-team inclusion, Eisfeld would have struggled to do better.

Nico Yennaris' Arsenal career really begun as Arsenal hosted Manchester United in January 2012, replacing Johan Djourou at halftime and putting in a comparatively impressive shift, shutting down Nani.

Although the England Under-19 international had featured previously last season, in a Carling Cup tie against Bolton, Yennaris' performance in the United game earned him a stint on loan at Notts County, increasing his first-team experience.

While traditionally a midfielder, his time in Arsenal's reserve squad has seen him employed more as a right-back.  As such, his excellent work on tour in Asia bombing down the right wing should come as no surprise.

Yennaris is certainly a versatile, gifted footballer, one whom Wenger would be wise to look at for first-team action this term should it prove necessary.

Having just signed his first professional contract with the club, Serge Gnabry may not be ready for first-team football quite yet. Nevertheless, the 17-year-old, formerly of VfB Stuttgart, has already impressed in his short time at the club in the under-18s squad

Another Germany youth international in the same vein as Eisfeld, Gnabry's pace and strength are his key attributes, which held him in good stead as he netted twice in six appearances last campaign.

While his time in first-team colours may not be coming quite as soon as this season, his time will certainly come should his development continue as successfully as it has been so far.

With comparisons to the likes of Yaya Toure that abound, Chuks Aneke is a technically adroit playmaker capable of both creating goals and slotting them home.

Though first-team opportunities have been rare for Aneke thus far in his career, successful spells on loan at League One's Stevenage and Preston North End have seen his play develop immensely. His winning goal against Malaysia XI on tour this summer demonstrates his keen eye for goal.

Look for Aneke to feature in League Cup action once more this term.

Although Benik Afobe has already tasted the champagne of title success with newly promoted Reading on his most recent loan spell, his ambition this year is to break into the first team and chase Premier League success with his parent club.

And despite struggling to find the net on tour in Asia this summer, Afobe, a player the Guardian labelled as "powerful and pacy" when he was just 17, has nevertheless impressed with his ability to create attacking opportunities and to get into space with ease.

Regarded by many as one of Wenger's finest young talents, should Afobe break through to the first team this season, it will only benefit Le Professeur's squad.

Of our spectacular six, Ignasi Miquel is the one with the most first-team exposure, with a string of Premier League performances and 40 minutes of Champions League football tucked under his belt.

His strength, leadership and maturity at the back set him apart from his colleagues, making him a natural defensive general.  Although he hasn't blown anyone's mind, his solid performances in the back four have gotten the job done—exactly what the doctor ordered.

Despite this, the reserve squad's captain still has plenty of room to grow as a defender, and as the manager's favoured deputy for his first-team defenders, Miquel can expect to see much more time on the pitch in Arsenal colours come next season.