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Arsenal and Tottenham have been told that Evan Mooney and James Wilson have taken ‘steps back’ with their deadline day moves. The Scottish wonderkids completed late moves to North London in the January transfer window.

Mooney, 18, has signed for Arsenal from St Mirrenand is expected to go into the club’s development squad. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Wilson has joined Spurs on loan until the end of the season from Hearts, with an option to buy.

But their respective switches have been slammed, with ex-Hearts star Ryan Stevenson claiming that they will find opportunities hard to come by with their new clubs.

Speaking to BBC Sportsound, he said: “They are amazing clubs and facilities. But I struggle to understand why they are leaving good first-team environments to go to a 21 team where there might be only be 50 people watching their games.

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“I think it’s kind of a step back in my eyes because, ultimately, if you’re a footballer, you want to play first-team games.

“He’s waking up on a Saturday, he’s preparing for a game at 3 o’clock and going into a changing room where it’s about three points regardless of what side of the league you are at.”

He added: “You’re actually playing for something and that’s the be all an end all for us as footballers. The two of them might go down there and end up in Arsenal and Spurs’ first teams, but I doubt very much whether that will happen.

“So then I do see it as a step back, if he’s played 50 to 100 games then there is a bit more substance behind it.

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“But the flip side of that is they have both got amazing opportunities and they can go in there and have a go at me in six months to a year down the line if they go on and do really, really well.

“These are top-end Premier League clubs with millions and millions of pounds worth of players so to break into their first team squad will be by near impossible.”

Mooney was not the only young player to complete a deadline day switch to North London. Arsenal also completed a deal for teenage defender Jaden Dixon, who joined the club from Championship side Stoke City. He too is expected to continue his development within the Gunners’ youth ranks.

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