In my preview for the Portsmouth vs Arsenal preview I mentioned how I thought Arsenal had a really bright future. This is in terms of the players coming through the ranks and young players they have bought in recent transfer windows. In this series of posts I’m going to explain why I think this and go into a bit more detail on certain players. All of the players I am going to mention are twenty-four years old or younger.
I must admit what is even more promising is some of the guys we would call ‘experienced’ still fall under this bracket. Players like Bellerin (24), Pepe (24), Torreira (24), Holding (24) and Tierney (22) still have a lot of time to gain experience and improve, are an example of this. These are the players I see, in five years time, as being the guys that the young ones will look to, providing they are still at the club of course.
Now lets get into some of the younger players that I think will be the core of the Arsenal team in the future.
Bukayo Saka (18)
What a break-through season this lad has had. Only eighteen years old, Bukayo has played most of the season at left-back. Which was an unfamiliar position to him at the start of the campaign and has already notched an impressive ten assists. He has now made this position his own and now provides real competition to the likes of Tierney and Kolasinac. His attitude to playing in his unfavored role has been immense. He’ll learn what playing at left-back is like. So when he is deployed on the wing in the future, Saka will know what the defender wants and doesn’t want him to do, through this experience. As you can see, I think Saka will move to his favoured spot, left wing, in the future. His movement, ability to beat players, final ball and pace will prove very difficult for defenders.
Gabriel Martinelli (18)
When Martinelli was signed from Ituano, Brazil in the summer no-one thought he would have such an impact. He has ten goals and four assists so far this season, six of this coming equally from both the PL and Europa League. In terms of where Martinelli is likely to play in the future, it’s difficult to say. Gabriel has played most of his games centre forward and left wing and has occasionally played on the right. He has done well in all positions however when played CF and LW he definitely seems to have more of an impact. Martinelli has shown a real predatory instinct in front of goal, something that can’t be taught. For this reason as well as him being able to beat a man, having electrifying pace, clinical finishing, I like to see him as a CF.
Reiss Nelson (20)
Last season Reiss was on loan to German side Hoffenheim. The loan spell started well, before an injury hampered his progress. This season, injuries and lack of playing time has been the biggest factor impacting his work. Having said that, I think we will begin to see large strides forward in Nelsons’ development. The reason for saying this is that, although he’s had a lack of playing time, when he has played, Nelson has looked sharp and looks to have grown. This was evident in the recent FA cup away tie against Portsmouth where he had, in my opinion, one of his best games in an Arsenal shirt.
Under Arteta’s leadership I’m sure we will see more of this. I say this as reports and players at Man City have said Arteta has had a huge influence on their career and he has helped get them where they are now. De Bruyne, Sane and Sterling are some of these players. These are all players that play in roles that Reiss will. I think Nelson will play predominately on the right wing or, potentially as an attacking midfielder, in the 10 role. Being under Arteta I’m sure there will be tips and tricks to help Nelson reach the heights of some of those at Man City.
So that is it for this part of why Arsenal have a bright future. Stay tuned for Part 2.