Ayden Heaven, More Than Just A Catchy Name
Manchester United have a gem in their hands in the shape of Ayden Heaven, and his true ability was on show yesterday in the 1-1 draw against Arsenal. Heaven came on for Leny Yoro at halftime after the Frenchman limped off with a foot injury and put in a dominant display down the left-hand side of defence, contributing to the continuation of Manchester United’s record of not losing a game while leading at halftime, which stretches back to 1984.
Heaven was cool and composed on the ball, which pays homage to his years playing in midfield for Arsenal at the Hale End Academy and before that at West Ham United, where he played as a schoolboy. After leaving West Ham, Heaven spent time on trial at Chelsea, who decided against signing him permanently, which led to him joining the Arsenal academy. Heaven was handed a scholarship last season by the London club and was named on the bench in the Champions League against Porto by Mikel Arteta.
Cool & Calm Heaven:
At six foot two, Heaven possesses the physical dominance you would expect from a United defender, as well as the pace and mobility of a Ruben Amorim defender in a back three system. Amorim suggested that United had found themselves a really talented player when speaking after the game, and with the reported fee set at just £1m, it’s a credit to the recruitment team, made up of Jason Wilcox, Omar Berrada and most recently made into a permanent role at the club, Christopher Vivell. With his experience in academy football and knowledge and resources, it’s thought that Wilcox would have had a massive say in the signing of Heaven, having previously spent time in the academy circuit during his time at Manchester City.
“I believe we have found a REAL player”. – Ruben Amorim On Ayden Heaven.
Eyebrows were raised when United announced Heaven as a first team signing, but their brows have slowly begun to drop, and so has the penny. The 18-year-old belongs at this level, and his experience at the U21 level last season with Arsenal, where he played 17 games, has strengthened him to be able to make the step up to the physically imposing world of first-team football in the Premier League. It’s a step up that not everyone is capable of making, but Heaven held his own yesterday physically and technically, with United anticipated to call upon the young defender in the coming months to play a big part in the business end of the season.
Heaven was highly rated internally at Arsenal, and there were offers made to try and keep him at the club, but he felt his development was better served by joining United, who had given him the guarantee of first-team football. Academy Scoop has recently reported that both Barcelona and Eintracht Frankfurt wanted to bring Heaven in before he chose to sign the contract at Old Trafford, but United was the destination he wanted, and the project he was sold, while not very clear at this moment in time, may have played a big part in that.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe was adamant today when speaking to Gary Neville that Manchester United will be challenging for the biggest trophies over the next five years, and if that comes true, Heaven will be just 23 years old at that time, likely meaning he will be a major part of that success.
The 18-year-old could be called upon to make his European debut this Thursday if Leny Yoro is not able to make the squad, as United come up against Real Sociedad in the Europa League last 16 second leg. With Harry Maguire still injured and Yoro remaining a doubt, it’s expected Heaven will start on the left-hand side of the back three alongside Matthijs De Ligt and Victor Lindelof.
As reported previously, one of Heaven’s role models is Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni, which will be music to the ears of Ruben Amorim. Bastoni’s model at left centre back in Simeone Inzaghi’s system at Inter Milan will be something Amorim will be hoping his right and left centre-backs are able to emulate, and if Heaven matures into the player many have tipped him to become, he could reach close to the level of the Italian defender.
A positive beginning for Ayden Heaven in Manchester United red, proving he’s not just here to make up the numbers, and he’s more than just a catchy name.
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