Hatters chief to run the rule over ex-Arsenal starlet

Luton boss Jack Wilshere will run the rule over former Arsenal youngster Harrison Dudziak after he turned out for the Hatters during their 5-0 friendly victory at Southern League Premier Central side Hitchin Town this afternoon. The 20-year-old, who was born in Westminster, came through the ranks at the Emirates having joined in June 2016 as a 10-year-old, following time with Brentford’s academy previously. Dudziak was part of the U18s when Wilshere was in charge of the Gunners’ youth side, as he made 18 appearances in the U18 Premier League during the 2023-24 season, scoring twice and adding seven assists. He also started all six matches for the U19s in the UEFA Youth League, impressing in victories over Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco, having made his debut for the U21s in their 5-0 EFL Trophy victory at Exeter City in October 2023, playing 69 minutes of the contest. Dudziak featured three more times in the competition the following season, playing three games last year, scoring his first goal in the 4-3 defeat at Exeter, making it seven outings in total. The midfielder then went out on loan in December 2025, heading to National League side Braintree, starting five times for the Iron and earning some real praise for his performances, before injury meant he returned to the Gunners a month later, named on the bench for Mikel Arteta’s side in their Champions League quarter-final clash against Sporting CP in April, before being released in the summer. He came on for the second 45 minutes against the Canaries this afternoon, seeing his free kick headed home by Christian Chigozie for the fifth and final goal, as speaking about the midfielder, boss Wilshere said: “He’s someone that I worked with. We probably played him a little bit out of position today, but he was released, he’s someone I know and we wanted to see how he fits into what we’re trying to do, how he adapts to this level. We’ll probably have him for a few more weeks and then make a decision.” On where he sees his best role, and how he can go about earning himself a contract at Kenilworth Road, Wilshere continued: “He’s more of a midfielder which, as you can see at the moment, we’ve got a lot of quality in there so it’s difficult for him to get in there, but that’s the challenge that’s in front of him. That’s what he’s got to accept, and he’s got to try and find his way in there. “He’s a player whose got a lot of quality and you’re not at Arsenal from the age of eight or nine, all the way through to the 20s if you don’t have something about you. So he’s got something. When you’re a good player in the academy, you fall between that gap as you can’t quite go on loan because the first team want you around it, but you’re not quite in the first team plans, so you then become that player who floats between and doesn’t play men’s football. So he needs to play men's football, he needs to get more experience and let's see how he does. “He was in the first group that I had, someone who I really enjoyed working with. First of all attitude-wise and his commitment towards his development, and he’s always someone who I kept a close eye on when I left because technically he’s really, really good, and we want to just see how he adapts physically to this level.” Meanwhile, talking to the BBC about his time with Braintree, and seeing him on the bench for the Gunners, Iron boss Steve Pitt said: "It's unbelievable. He did extremely well for six games and only went back to Arsenal off the back of an inherent injury. I just think it's an extraordinary story. It gives me immense pride that we've been part of that journey. He's a great lad with lots of ability, doesn't shy away from the physical side of the game. He came in and immediate impact. He started every game and justifiably so.”