Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta has paid tribute to Daniel Crowley, saying he has all the attributes to become "a very important player".
The 17-year-old attacking midfielder scored a trademark free-kick as the under-18s started their FA Youth Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over Reading last month, and Arteta has been pleased with what he has seen from the former Aston Villa man.
"He has impressed me for two reasons," Arteta says in his captain's notes for the Stoke City match.
"He's at the right club with the right people around him to guide him and to become a very important player"
"The first is of course his talent, but also he is gaining maturity too, and if he keeps doing that then he can be a very good player.
"I'm glad they have given him the armband in the Youth Cup because that will give him more responsibility and he will need to be a real example to the other players. He's at the right club with the right people around him to guide him and to become a very important player."
Crowley has scored 10 times in 19 games for Arsenal's various youth sides this season, and will look to add to that tally when the under-18s meet Rosyton Town in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup on January 21. But it's his development off the pitch that has also caught Arteta's eye.
"He's definitely got the talent, and if you put that together with mental strength and the willingness to work hard, then you've got a great chance," he said. "That's what he needs to do.
"If you had asked me a few months ago if he was heading in the right direction, I wouldn't have been able to give you a certain answer. But now I can say I really like the way he has matured and grown up lately."
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