Arsenal confirmed on Friday morning that Jack Henry-Francis has signed his first professional contract with the club.
The 18-year-old is a product of the Hale End Academy and made his debut for the club’s U-18 last season. Since then, he has made 18 appearances for them, scoring one goal and securing three assists in the process. His impressive displays at the youth level also earned him a call-up to the U-23 side this campaign.
The defensive midfielder caught the eye of many during the Gunners’ pre-season preparations. He was one of the several youth players that traveled to Scotland with the first-team squad to face Hibernian.
He eventually made his debut in that game and impressed Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard lauded the teenager for his courage and intelligence. Back then, he said:
“He has a lot of courage, wants the ball in tight areas, and is technically very gifted. You can see physically he’s not fully developed, but his intelligence. His brain works quicker than his physique, and he did really well when he came on”
Henry-Francis was also involved in training with the senior squad on several occasions. Now that he has a long-term contract, he could feature more prominently in the first-team setup.
Arsenal Fever View:
The Ireland youth international is a defensive midfielder by trade. He is a player with excellent passing range and works tirelessly for the team. However, there are certain aspects of his game that needs improvement.
The youngster tends to dwell on the ball for too long, slowing down the pace of an attack. He will need to improve a little defensively, especially if he wishes to break into the senior-team squad.
The Hale End Academy has been a hub for young and talented players for a long time now. Many of its graduates have gone on to make significant contributions to the club at the highest level. Henry-Francis will be hopeful of progressing through the ranks and replicate the success of his predecessors.
Arsenal have been taking great strides to build for their future and it is important for them to secure the services of bright talents like Jack Henry-Francis. This move seems to be a step in the right direction and has the potential to pay dividends in the future.
Read More: Arsenal fans react to an impressive display from loanee Dan Ballard
