Forget Omari Hutchinson’s goals, his trivela pass lit up Arsenal’s future

Bukayo Saka. Emile Smith Rowe. Ainsley Maitland-Niles. Charlie Patino. Arsenal’s Hale End academy has been churning out the talent, and Omari Hutchinson looks set to be the next youngster to make a name for himself at senior level.

The 18-year-old attacking midfielder has been in sensational form in the Premier League 2 this season, scoring four goals and assisting five times in just eight starts.

Impressive numbers, but these only tell part of the story when it comes to Hutchinson.

It is rare for a player to develop their own signature trait before they’ve even made their first-team debut, but when you watch Hutchinson, you notice it almost instantly.

There is a buzz every time he picks up the ball, a buzz which not even the other insanely talented Arsenal youngsters produce to the same level.

Hutchinson’s quick feet and stunning technique are reminiscent of some of the great entertainers we’ve seen over the years: Nani, Hatem Ben Arfa, Franck Ribery.

This isn’t just skill for the sake of skill though. Hutchinson may produce a move which Neymar would be lauded for, but he does it for the benefit of the team.

More often than not, his outrageous dribbles and stepovers will help him beat a man, or his outside-of-the-boot passes will find a teammate in space.

His ridiculous technical ability was on full display from the moment he made his Premier League 2 debut in August 2021, away at West Ham.

Picking up the ball in his own box, he went on what looked to be one of his signature dribbles, before playing a pinpoint pass… with the outside of his boot, just like one of Ricardo Quaresma’s signature trivelas.

The ball found his teammate Mika Biereth upfront despite Biereth being closely marked by two defenders and is a great