Ex-Arsenal chief warns young stars to avoid joining Arsenal as they waste young talents

Arsenal academy director Andries Jonker, who spent almost three years at the Emirates, believes world’s young stars should avoid joining Arsenal. According to Jonker Arsenal waste young stars like they did in case of Jadon Sancho and Reiss Nelson. "When I was at Arsenal, manager Arsene Wenger sometimes called up a few youth players for a couple of games in the League Cup," he said. "But when Arsenal had a league game a couple of days later, those boys were never in the squad. And in the next 50 games, Wenger would not pick them, either. "So I have serious doubts if young talent are making the right step if they go to England at this moment. I would advise them not to go, but to play 100 games in first-team football on the continent first. Take Donyell Malen. At Arsenal, he was a big talent. But he left the club just in time. "He realised he was going to end up in what I call no-man’s land. Young players in England, who have huge talent, will only go and play in an Under-18 team. "And, when they are improving, they then only go the Under-23 team. So Jadon Sancho went from Man City to Borussia Dortmund – and he is a sensation there. Reiss Nelson, of Arsenal, is choosing the same route. He is getting plenty of chances and minutes at Hoffenheim."

Willian reveal what he told Gonzalo Higuain in Chelsea win