IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Gedion Zelalem, the young Arsenal midfielder who 'dribbles like Iniesta and passes like Xavi'



Sportsmail gives you the lowdown on the best talent at football clubs throughout Europe. Here, SAM CUNNINGHAM runs the rule over Gedion Zelalem, the young midfielder who is expected to pass his way to greatness at Arsenal.



..........................................................................................................................................................



Name: Gedion Zelalem

Club: Arsenal

Age: 17

Position: Midfield



I'm going to need more than that...



Zelalem is only 17 but has already played at clubs in Germany, America and now England.



His youth career started at Hertha Berlin, in the city where he was born, but he followed his family to the US in 2006 and played for MSC United and Bethesda Soccer Club, before joining Olney Rangers.



The latter is where Arsenal picked him up from just eight months ago aged 16.



In January he made his first-team debut in an FA Cup match against Coventry, making him the first player born after Arsene Wenger joined Arsenal to play for the club.

VIDEO Scroll down to watch Gedion Zelalem talk about Arsenal before moving to the club



Talent: Arsenal youngster Gedion Zelalem in action against Barcelona U19s in the UEFA Youth League

So why the fuss?



Because everyone is going weak at the knees for this young lad.



Matt Pilkington, youth coach at his former side Olney Rangers over in America, said that 'he dribbles like Iniesta and he passes like Xavi.'



He was spotted by Arsenal scout and former player Danny Karbassiyoon playing in the Dallas Cup for Rangers last summer.



He was flown straight over to train with Arsenal's academy.



As football folklore has it, within minutes of Zelalem playing in a trial Wenger pulled his dad to one side and said: 'Your son will play for Arsenal.'



Jurgen Klinsmann made a personal call to the teenager at the beginning of the season in an attempt to get him to commit to the American national side, but he faces competition from Germany and Ethiopia.



Ability: A former coach of the 17 year-old said Zelalem (right) can 'dribble like Iniesta and pass like Xavi'

What's his style?



He is a puppet master in the centre of the park.



Excellent on the ball, with a mesmeric weight of pass and close control allowing him to dribble past players with ease.



He can unlock an entire team with one brush stroke of his foot, as this superhuman through ball with the outside of his right boot proves





Who better to give their assessment than team-mate and one of England's most technically gifted midfielders Jack Wilshere.



'He sees passes that not a lot of players can and he's so comfortable on the ball,' Wilshere said during Arsenal's preseason tour of east Asia.



'Even in training, he's a nightmare to play against. He keeps the ball away from you and shields it.



'He's not very big but he's strong. He drifts in and out of players.



'Technically, he's right up there. He can use his left and right and he sees so many passes.'



During that tour he was a second-half substitute in all four of Arsenal's matches and many critics argued that he was their best player.

Passmaster: Jack Wilshere says Zelalem has a talent for passing which is unusual for someone so young

How much is he worth?



At present, that question is futile.



Having just signed a new five-year contract on Tuesday and aged only 17, no club would offer anywhere near a suitable figure for a player with so little first-team experience.



However, the sky's the limit in the future.



Arsenal insiders consider him to be ahead of Cesc Fabregas in his development at that age. Fabregas moved to Barcelona in 2011 for £30million.

Immediate: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger took one look at Zelalem before saying he'd play for the first team

How will he fit in?



He is everything Wenger wants in a player. Quick, technically proficient, a passer, a ball-player, intricate with a touch of the sublime.



The Arsenal manger loves to pack his side with these kinds of players.



There should be every opportunity for Zelalem to get his chance in the coming seasons.



Lightweight: If there's one area the youngster needs to work on it's bulking up and getting stronger

Everyone has a weakness...



The one weakness you could pin on Zelalem at the moment is, well, his weakness.



To be fair to the player he has only just turned 17 and has a lot of physical development ahead of him.



But right now he is slight of frame and lacks muscle and clout.



He stands at 5ft 11ins so has the potential to become a juggernaut in the middle if he bulks up. Then again, sprightly midfielders who can dance in out of space run amok in the modern game.



In demand: Both Germany and America are already jostling for the services of Arsenal talent Zelalem

Plea: American boss Jurgen Klinsmann made a personal call to Zelalem to convince him to play for the U.S.

What happens next?



He needs more first-team action which, injury-permitting, will surely come. And he needs to pick a nationality.



The Americans are desperate for him, he qualifies for Ethiopia from his heritage but the player himself says he feels German.



He talks with an American accent and has the quiet assuredness that those from the US often carry with them.

