Arsenal scout names the best player he's seen who didn't 'make it' and admits it still 'baffles' him

Arsenal academy scout Joe Black has opened up on the best player he has seen that didn't make it – and it still "baffles" him to this day.

Black, from Islington in London, gained fame in the early 2010s and went on to become a pioneer of the UK rap scene, achieving millions of views on YouTube.

He featured on tracks with Rick Ross and Tion Wayne, to name just a few, but after a stint in prison, Joe’s ambitions changed and he decided to pursue a career in football.

The former youth worked eventually broke into the football industry and began scouting for Chelsea, where he was responsible for identifying a number of top academy products.

After spending more than five years with the Chelsea recruitment team, Black was asked to join Arsenal and the rest is history.

Having built a reputation in North London for his efforts at youth level, Black recently opened to YouTube channel Rising Ballers about his life.

Throughout the brilliant interview, he touched on a number of subjects, including the best player he'd seen at Arsenal that never quite made it to the top – Kaylen Hinds.

"The main one for me, and it still baffles my head, is Kaylen Hinds," Black said. "He's probably, in my opinion, the best player I've seen that hasn't, quote on quote, made it."

Hinds joined the Gunners from Leyton Orient at under-14 level and three years later, he signed a professional contract in February 2015.

Then, in the summer of 2017, the talented striker surprised many when he left Arsenal to join Bundesliga side Wolfsburg on a three-year deal.

Image credit: Getty

Unfortunately, it never worked out for Hinds, who was abruptly released from his contract in 2018 following an unauthorised week-long absence.

Wolfsburg's club managing director Jorg Schmadtke said Hinds had not fulfilled his contractual obligations, despite repeated requests. "We do not tolerate such behaviour," he added.

Hinds, 26, now plays for National League South side Hemel Hempstead Town after spells at Watford, Aldershot Town, Welling United and Haringey Borough.

In the interview, Black was also full of praise for highly-rated forward Ethan Nwaneri, who became the Premier League's youngest ever player at 15 years and 181 days.

“The thing that impresses me most about him is his temperament,” he told Rising Ballers.

“He’s very, very grounded. For me, that’s key to learning and getting better – not believing the hype.

“I don’t think it (the hype) affects him negatively, he’s just so calm and composed. He’s got that determination in his eyes. He seems like he’s destined to go all the way."