It was confirmed today that two of Arsenal’s most promising players have officially been promoted to the first-team squad, with young Germans Gedion Zelalem and Serge Gnabry taking their places in Arsene Wenger’s side for this season.

The promotion of the pair is not exactly a surprise, with both players having trained with the first-team on a regular basis for over eight months, but it is still somewhat remarkable that Zelalem, at the age of just 16, has been drafted into the group.

Both players will certainly learn much from training and, perhaps on some occasions, playing with the club’s record signing and their compatriot Mesut Ozil, but it remains to be seen just how often the two players will be involved as the campaign progresses.

The likelihood is that they will both feature heavily in the club’s Capital One Cup campaign, which begins away to West Bromwich Albion later this month, whilst they could both also make late substitute appearances in the Premier League. The duo have both made the first-team bench on numerous occasions already this season, and, despite their limited experience, could have a part to play between now and May.

Whilst Zelalem and Gnabry have been promoted, several other youngsters will have to bide their time. Damian Martinez, for instance, seemed to be on the verge of making the squad following the departure of Vito Mannone, but the loan capture of Emiliano Viviano has pushed the Argentinian back down the pecking order. With Lukasz Fabianski out of contract next summer, however, Martinez will get his chance eventually and may experience a loan spell this season to aid his development.

Another player who can count himself rather unlucky not to be promoted is Chuba Akpom, with the England U19 striker having largely impressed during the pre-season tour of Asia. The signing of Yaya Sanogo and the suggestion that Nicklas Bendtner may well feature for the club again have meant that Akpom has started the season in the U21 side, but the 17 year old could still feature in the aforementioned fixture against West Brom.

Thomas Eisfeld, meanwhile, has started the campaign strongly at second-string level but needs a loan spell to really prove his talent, Kristoffer Olsson finds himself faced with a difficult task given the plethora of attacking midfielders ahead of him, whilst Hector Bellerin will have to wait another year at least to earn a promotion after Bacary Sagna’s remained with the club.

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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird