Arsenal chief says Gunners have a ‘special’ 18-year-old coming through the ranks

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Arsenal Head of Emerging Talent Yousuf Sajjad has spoken highly of Gunners academy star Salah Oulad M’hand.

The 18-year-old has been making waves at Hale End since joining on a free transfer in 2020.

Arsenal snapped Salah up after he left Feyenoord’s academy.

The young midfielder reportedly had doubts regarding his progression to the Dutch club’s senior team.

As per the Gunners website, he is “renowned for his agility and creativity in the middle of the park”.

Salah sadly spent most of last term on the sidelines following a stress fracture he suffered near his ankle.

However, he’s back to fitness and performing superbly this season

Salah has registered five goals and three assists from 14 appearances.

The teenager has regularly trained with the Arsenal senior team and made the bench against Leeds in the Carabao Cup.

Speaking to football.london, Sajjad named Salah as someone who makes “the internal players want to raise their game”.

“Salah Oulad M’Hand is another example of this,” he said.

“Salah is a player I had watched from his time with the Dutch national team.

“We knew of his quality so once he had left Feyenoord and an opportunity arose to bring him in on trial, we moved quick.

“He trained with our U18s/U23s and first team whilst on trial and was not phased one bit by any environment he was put in.

“You could see straight away there was something special about him.

“He had an injury hit start last season but has shown his quality in almost every game he has played this season.

“I don’t even believe he has reached his best yet – there is still more to come.”