Sports

Arsenal’s Gedion Zelalem is next US prodigy — if he commits

After the US got knocked out of the World Cup, it was clear the team was desperate for a midfielder who was comfortable on the ball and had the vision to split a defense. They’re hoping someday, 17-year-old prodigy Gedion Zelalem — who will play Saturday for Arsenal in an exhibition match against the Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena — can become that player.

But first, he’d have to choose to play for the US.

Born in Germany to Ethiopian parents, he’s eligible to play for both of those countries. He emigrated to the US at age 9 with his father following his mother’s death, and lived in the Washington area until he was 15. His father is in the process of obtaining US citizenship according to the Washington Post, which — due to the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 — would make Zelalem a citizen as well.

US coach Jurgen Klinsmann — who successfully recruited several European-based German-Americans — has made landing Zelalem a priority. Saturday against the Red Bulls, Zelalem will get to show why.

“Gedion, I believe is a very young talent, a promising young talent,’’ Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said Thursday. “He’s one of those players who’s been educated here. I honestly think he has the talent to become a great player. But that will be decided in the next two or three years, because history shows it’s the mental level that’s required to be a top competitor.

“Today is too early for him to play for us, but I’d say in one year we’ll know more about him; maybe if all goes well, six months. Now he’s not completely ready to start in the Premier League. But he’s with us, he practices with us and we have high expectations for him.

“He’ll play on Saturday. Gedion has qualities I believe are very important for the States on the national team. He’s a creative player, and he creates a spark, an opening with the pass, and he has vision. If he can manage to develop his physique and keep his qualities, he can be a very important player. Let’s hope he’ll do it.’’

Despite being seven years removed from his Arsenal days, even Red Bulls captain Thierry Henry was aware of Zelalem, who made his first-team debut in January’s 4-0 rout of Coventry City.

“Everybody knows him: Quality, good on the ball, great vision. Everybody’s talking about him,’’ Henry said. “It’s not an easy place to break into the first squad, Arsenal, but he showed he has the quality and the right boss to make sure he can do it, can develop. Hopefully for us, as an Arsenal fan he can perform and be a great player for us.’’

But will he be a player for the US?

“I don’t know. If you speak to Gedion, it sounds like you’re speaking to an American. And, certainly, when we found him, he was living in D.C. and thinking of himself as a young US kid,’’ Arsenal chief executive and former MLS deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis told Sports Illustrated. “But I don’t know, that’s a decision he has to make.’’