According to reports, Arsenal are tracking Sheffield Wednesday starlet George Hirst.

George Hirst is a teenage talent who is making big strides in Sheffield Wednesday's youth sides and has attracted interest from a number of top flight clubs.

The young striker has been watched on a number of occasions by Arsenal and other clubs, such as Everton.

The 17-year-old is highly rated by the Owls and there are high hopes that the youngster can become a top future first team star if they can keep him amid interest from the top clubs.

The benefit that Sheffield Wednesday have is that his father, David Hirst, is a former Wednesday player and he currently works for the Yorkshire based club.

Sheffield Wednesday must try their utmost to hold onto youthful striker George Hirst rather than caving in to the power of the big bully boys like Arsenal.

Here are 2 reasons why.

First team in the near future

Young George Hirst has already played twice for Sheffield Wednesday's first team despite being just 17.

He made his debut as a late substitute against Cambridge in the EFL Cup and then came on for a brief cameo against Reading in the Championship.

Wednesday have a lot of top strikers at the club but you get the feeling that Hirst isn't miles away from breaking into the first team fold.

Important to keep young players

Sheffield Wednesday are an ambitious club who are aiming to get back to the top flight soon.

In order to achieve their goal of becoming an established Premier League side, they need to be able to resist any approaches from the big boys for their prize youngsters.

It's just a drop in the ocean for the Premier League bully boys to spend a few quid on a promising lower league youngster and take a gamble on them becoming first team quality but Sheffield Wednesday is the best environment for Hirst.