Arturo Lupoli

Parma

Originally from Frattamaggiore, Lupoli began his footballing career with Italian side Parma. During his Allievi (Under-17) season he scored 45 goals in 22 games, one of the best tallies ever recorded in Italian youth history. However, by mid-2004 his contract had expired. Lupoli signed an Arsenal contract by way of a scholarship, the Gunners paid Parma £200,000 training compensation.

Arsenal

Lupoli's debut in the Arsenal first-team was in a match against Manchester City in the League Cup on 27 October 2004. His next match, against Everton in the same competition, brought him his first goals for the club, two of Arsenal's three goals in the 3–1 victory on 9 November. He also played in the match against Manchester United which saw Arsenal's exit from the competition. He was Arsenal's top scorer at youth/reserve level in 2004–05, with 27 goals in 32 appearances. That season he started Arsenal's FA Cup fifth round replay against Sheffield United due to Robin van Persie, Dennis Bergkamp and Jose Antonio Reyes all being suspended, and Thierry Henry being injured. Arsenal went on to win the cup that year but Lupoli was left out of their final squad. Lupoli scored prolifically at youth/reserve team level during the 2005–06 season, alongside Nicklas Bendtner. He also figured in the Gunners' 2005–06 League Cup campaign, winning the League Cup New Talent Award. He scored his third and final Arsenal goal in the 3–0 win over Reading in this campaign. It was during…