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Left-back Meade one of many youngsters to depart, whilst Anthony Jeffrey signs first professional contract

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Today has been quite a day for the Arsenal Academy, and can be regarded as something of a changing of the guard, with many members of the club’s U21 squad announcing their departures from the club as part of an unprecedented cull which has raised many questions regarding what the set-up for next season will be, especially as only seven new scholars have been announced thus far.

Firstly, let’s deal with the departures. Since Conor Henderson’s assertion back in March that he will leave the club we have been drip-fed information about other possible exits, to the extent that it now seems that the total number of departures will be 15, and possibly higher, after it was announced today that several more youngsters have left.

The stand-out name in the list of those let go is left-back Jernade Meade, who has been released despite making two appearances for the first-team this season, including a start away to Olympiacos in the Champions League. Initially a left-winger when he broke into the U18s, the diminutive youngster has demonstrated an excellent tactical awareness of the game since making the switch to defence and it is something of a surprise that he has been let go, especially with Martin Angha also departing.

Centre-backs Sead Hajrovic and Elton Monteiro, who both initially played youth football for Switzerland before switching their allegiance to Bosnia and Portugal respectively, will also be let go, despite being called up to the senior squad for the aforementioned game with Olympiacos. The two defenders endured difficult starts to their Arsenal careers, but showed considerable signs of improvement, especially this season, but were ultimately not of the required quality to be considered for a first-team breakthrough.

It has also been confirmed that midfielder Jordan Wynter, a Hale End product, will be departing the club, with goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook joining the list of those who were already expected to depart. Winger Anthony Jeffrey, meanwhile, will be retained, having signed a professional contract with the club. Striker Philip Roberts, who spent this season in Scotland with Inverness Caledonian Thistle, is likely to head out on temporary transfer again next campaign.

There will be an official announcement from the club on this matter within the next few weeks, but here are the players confirmed to be departing thus far:

*Martin Angha

*Samir Bihmoutine

*Reice Charles-Cook

*Kyle Ebecilio

*Sead Hajrovic

*Conor Henderson

*Jernade Meade

*Elton Monteiro

*Nigel Neita

*Josh Rees

*James Shea

*Zach Fagan

*Craig Eastmond

*Sanchez Watt

*Jordan Wynter

Whilst many of these departures were expected, it is still particularly chastening that a lot of internally-produced players are being let go, and certainly does not reflect well on the intakes of 2010 and 2011, from which only Isaac Hayden appears to possess a genuine chance of making a breakthrough at the club from all of the homegrown players.

It is clear that Arsene Wenger, particularly as the club’s trophy drought has continued, has been increasingly reluctant to deploy youngsters in the Premier League especially (only Serge Gnabry featured in the league from outside the first-team squad this season), but also in the latter rounds of Cup competitions, rendering it increasingly difficult for youngsters to break through.

In a way it is somewhat refreshing that the club are taking a more ruthless approach with regards to letting youngsters go, although it does give the impression that many of those listed above were only retained last year in order to keep up the numbers.

What will the impact of these departures be for the U21 and U18 sides next season? Firstly, many of the current first-year scholars will seemingly step up to the U21s on a regular basis. The likes of Austin Lipman, Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill, Jack Jebb and Alfred Mugabo should be well established in the second-string set-up by December, whilst it also seems that fewer players will be sent out on loan by the club than in previous years. Striker Yaya Sanogo also appears set to join from Auxerre and, should the move go through, could make some appearances for the U21s next season.

As far as the U18s are concerned, seven new scholars, including Gedion Zelalem, will officially start in July, but other recruits are expected to join them, with deals for Dan Crowley and Julio Pleguezuelo Selva at an advanced stage. There are also a whole raft of schoolboys, many of whom have already played for the U18s, who are ready to step up if required.

Provisional U21 squad for next season (Not taking into account probable loan departures and first-team promotions):

Damian Martinez, Hector Bellerin, Nico Yennaris, Kristoffer Olsson, Thomas Eisfeld, Gedion Zelalem, Serge Gnabry, Chuba Akpom, Ignasi Miquel, Benik Afobe, Chuks Aneke, Zak Ansah, Jon Toral, Anthony Jeffrey, Deyan Iliev, Isaac Hayden, Daniel Boateng, Philip Roberts, Wellington, Samuel Galindo.

U18s:

Josh Vickers, Arinse Uade, Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill, Glen Kamara, Jack Jebb, Alex Iwobi, Tarum Dawkins, Austin Lipman, Alfred Mugabo, Leander Siemann, Tom Dallison, Tafari Moore, Stefan O’Connor, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Renny Smith, Ryan Huddart, Elliot Wright. + Schoolboys: Olufela Olomola, Stephy Mavididi, Harry Donovan, George Dobson, Kaylen Hinds, Ovie Ejaria, Aaron Eyoma, Tyrell Robinson, Marc Bola, Chris Toonga, Chris Willock, Jayden Thorbourne.