Although Arsenal are close to tying up a £34m deal for Italy defender Riccardo Califiori, the Gunners are putting a renewed focus on youth development as they look to close the gap on Manchester City after successive second-place Premier League finishes.

It means they will try to improve the standard of player going into their academy and, more importantly, the regularity with which they make impacts at the highest level.

Four of the current crop started against Bournemouth and enjoyed varying degrees of success.

Ethan Nwaneri only turned 17 in March but the England youth international had the confidence to burst past Marcos Senesi on an eye-catching run from inside his own half, eventually playing in Eddie Nketiah, who failed to take advantage.

Ayden Heaven is also 17 and looked composed at the heart of Arsenal’s defence. But Heaven was given a lesson in the standards required at the highest level as Solanke nipped past him, requiring Hein to made a brilliant reaction save to deny the Bournemouth striker, who scored 19 Premier League goals last term.

Salah-Eddine Oulad M’hand is a relative old hand at 20. He also has a season of first-team experience behind him from his native Netherlands after a loan spell with Den Bosch.

He was a threat down the left, although Nelson was more incisive, which Leicester City may well have noted given the Foxes are keen on signing the 24-year-old.