Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been impressed by the maturity and focus shown by Northern Ireland international Ceadach O'Neill. The 18-year-old, who made his international debut in June, has been involved in the Gunners' pre-season preparations, featuring in friendlies against Girona and Real Betis this month. Arteta told BBC Sport NI's Thomas Kane after Wednesday's 3-1 defeat by Betis in Dublin, "I've been really impressed with him. For his age, he's really mature, really focused, and he has tremendous quality. He's a player that we have big hopes with and we just need to develop him in the right way."
What happened?
Why it matters for Arsenal
What comes next?
Arsenal have been enjoying a strong start to the 2025-26 season, sitting 7 points clear of Manchester City in the Premier League table. The team's recent form has been impressive, with a 5-game winning run and 71 goals scored so far this season. The Gunners' next fixture is against Coventry at home on August 21st.
Ben White remains sidelined due to injury, but the team is expected to be back to full strength soon. Arteta's focus on developing young players like O'Neill is a key part of the team's strategy, and the manager believes that the 18-year-old has a bright future ahead of him.
O'Neill, who remains eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland, said he will "hopefully" be involved again with Northern Ireland during their Nations League campaign starting away to Georgia next month. However, he is keen to focus on his club career in the interim, saying, "At the minute I'm just going to take it day by day, keep coming in and giving it my best. That's all I can do."
Image Prompt
See a photograph of Ceadach O'Neill, the 18-year-old Northern Ireland international, in action during a pre-season friendly match for Arsenal. He is shown running down the wing, his Arsenal jersey and shorts on display, with the team's logo emblazoned on his chest. The image is taken from a tight action shot, with O'Neill's face visible and his eyes focused on the ball. The background is blurred, with the stadium's floodlights casting a warm glow over the scene. The image is shot in a shallow depth of field, with O'Neill's face and jersey in sharp focus and the rest of the image slightly out of focus. The camera is positioned at a 85mm focal length, with a shallow aperture of f/1.4 to create a sense of intimacy and drama. The lighting is natural, with the floodlights casting a warm glow over the scene.
