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Football London
Football London
Sport
Greg Johnson

The four Arsenal wonderkids nominated for the 2019 Golden Boy award

Arsenal have four youngsters in the running to win the prestigious 2019 Golden Boy award.

Since its creation in 2003, it has tipped some of the biggest names in world football for future stardam.

Last year, Ajax defender Matthijs De Ligt claimed the honour. In 2017, Kylian Mbappe took the title.

Rafael van der Vaart was the first winner in 2003. He was soon followed by a who's who of talented youngsters including Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi, Cesc Fabregas, Sergio Aguero, Isco, Paul Pogba, Raheem Sterling and Anthony Martial.

Cesc Fabregas was named Golden Boy as an Arsenal player. (Clive Rose/Getty Images)

There have been other winners who didn't realise their potential. Anderson, Alexandre Pato, Mario Balotelli and Mario Gotze did no go on to become as great as expected for various reason, even if they still enjoyed success.

Fabregas remains the only player to bring the Golden Boy award back to Arsenal.

Awarded by Italy's Tuttosport , the shortlist for 2019 has been released with three youngsters from the Emirates included in the range of candidates to pick up the honour from De Ligt.

Midfielders Joe Willock and Matteo Guendouzi, winger Reiss Nelson and forward Eddie Nketiah are all named in the list of nominees.

Voting is now open for members of the public - including fans of the Gunners - to have their say on who should win the award for 2019.

Given the record of Arsenal supporters when it comes to topping online polls, Emery's trio cannot be counted out regardless of the other names involved.

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