​Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images for Premier League
Gabriel Arteta Bernal, Mikel Arteta’s son, was photographed training with the Arsenal under-21s this week as the under-21 squad returned to pre-season work following their summer break. The Premier League confirmed in June that Gabriel had signed scholarship terms with Arsenal and had been included on the club’s retained list for players contracted beyond June 30. At 17, he is technically eligible for a professional deal, but for now he remains on a scholarship with Arsenal in north London.
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Last season, Arteta Jr. made a couple of appearances for the Arsenal under-17s, featuring in a 1-1 friendly draw with Shrewsbury Town and a 3-3 Premier League Cup contest against Watford in October. The teenager then stepped up to the under-18s in April and May, making four appearances in the under-18 Premier League matches for the side.
Arteta Jr. has previously joined Arsenal’s pre-season training camps, although his involvement in the 2023 camps was more about assisting the coaching staff than actively taking part in drills as a player.
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Arsenal often field rotated squads in Premier League Cup games and friendlies, so it isn’t surprising that Gabriel was given early opportunities to play in those contexts. Yet his progression—moving up to competitive matches with the under-18s, securing a scholarship agreement, and training with the under-21s—points to a more tangible development path. This sequence of steps suggests that the 17-year-old could receive further opportunities with the under-18s during the upcoming season.