Arsenal’s Hale End academy could have its latest prodigy in the form of talented young midfielder Mauro Bandeira, who has excelled in his early years in north London.
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners are one of Europe’s most prestigious clubs right now, having stormed into title contention this season, a newfound stature that shows little sign of eroding given the meticulous and measured approach taken in recent years.
Arteta has failed to qualify for the Champions League in any of his six seasons since signing for the club at the midpoint of the 2019/20 season, though he did win the FA Cup that same season, which may have disappointed some fans.
The emergence of Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, and Reiss Nelson, three Hale End graduates who have played important roles during Arteta’s tenure, has been a staple of the current success, with the £106m-rated Saka becoming one of the world’s most coveted forwards and Nelson recently remarkably salvaging a crucial victory against Bournemouth in the division; Smith Rowe has spent much of the season injured, but netted 11 times last year.
With this in mind, Arteta must now sift through his youth ranks to unearth the latest gem in Bandeira, who could even take over for the beloved Aaron Ramsey in north London.
Who exactly is Mauro Bandeira?
The dynamic central midfielder can play a variety of roles in the midfield, having previously been known to play out wide as well as in central and wide defensive roles.
Bandeira, a distinguished veteran of Arsenal’s various youth outfits, has made 61 appearances, scoring four goals and registering ten assists.
The 19-year-old signed his first professional contract last summer and was hailed as a “key player” by the club’s official website for his “powerful” strikes by journalist Layth Yousif.
If Bandeira continues to develop at a rate that propels him into senior contention, he has the potential to follow in the footsteps of Ramsey, who played 369 games for the Premier League giants and scored 64 goals and 66 assists, helping them win the FA Cup three times.
Ramsey was once dubbed “the best attacking midfielder in the Premier League” by Steven Gerrard, who knows a thing or two about flourishing as a central engine on English soil. According to WhoScored, Ramsey has averaged 1.6 shots and 1.2 key passes in his career, demonstrating an efficiency and output in front of goal, both direct and as an auxiliary presence.
Bandeira will undoubtedly hope to reap similar rewards as his career progresses, and the £88k-rated gem will benefit from his “lively” approach to his game, as noted by the aforementioned Yousif.
He, like Ramsey, can gallop from box to box at high speed, with striking similarities in their ability to carve out opportunities and find the net.
The Welshman’s versatility is also a key component of his game, with his ability to play out on the flanks as well as through the middle being another factor that binds the two players together.
Arsenal are now developing into a cohesive and fearsome unit capable of wreaking havoc on any opposition, and Bandeira will continue to put in the hard work while waiting for the right moment to unleash his talents on the senior stage.
