So disappointed with the belief seemingly held by Dick, some here on our blog, and so called “knowledgeable commentators” on other sites, that pressure to produce results in the Premier League prevents the Manager from blooding youth regularly.
Instead Suarez, Lichtsteiner, Mustafi, Micky, Elneny, Jenkinson, Chambers to name a few of the non controversial ones, labour to make a mark, to make a difference, and rarely achieve. Saka and Amaechi may yet have seats on Arsenal’s extended bench for the Europa Final – but is it enough?
Mavididi playing for Juve
Stephy Mavididi signed for Juve u23s in 2018 and is now on the verge of the first team. Ismael Bennacer’s performances at Empoli have caught the eye of Napoli. Chuba Akpom has won the title in the Greek league. Donyell Malen is a regular in a PSV Eindhoven side that pushed Ajax close for the Dutch title.
Arsenal have one of the most talented set of youngsters in their Academy and U18s that we have ever had. They are the legacy of Liam Brady and now the future under Freddie. But only if they are given a proper window of opportunity. Scouts from all over Europe are ready to snap them up, are visiting each and every game they are involved in. They understand the Arsenal system, the Arsenal family, and they want to succeed big time.
Well, I’m sorry, the Club is doing them a disservice.
Nelson, Smith-Rowe, Nketiah, Willock, Amaechi, John Jules, Pleguezuelo, Medley, Thompson, Saka, Mavrapanos are all worthy of significant game time. This is a serious watershed moment.
We are close to losing potentially top class talent, but at the very least, better quality than many who have gone through the motions this season. Give ’em a (proper) go, Dick, and save the money on bigger gambles you are considering.
LBG
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Thanks, LBG.
I’d love it for Emery to give the kids a go.
Totally agree, LGB.. I really like Saka – he’s a beast! Definitely can’t wait to see him get a run in the PL… ESR looked really good in the EL, so was amazed when he was shipped out on loan to RB Leipzig! Having said that, the Bundesliga finished yesterday, so surely he’ll be heading back, along with Nelson? Good!
Occasionally, when I watch the U23’s, you can see how talented these youngsters are – so get them in the team! They’re the future! And I’m so done with the likes of Lichtsteiner and the few others, that if I’m honest, bring very little to the team!
Thanks Chas for making my dull, but heartfelt piece, a rounded, and colourful effort.Saka was the name I forgot, what a travesty!!
Dennis Bergkamp is ready to resume his love affair with English football then 🙂 interesting!!
LBG.. I got your initials muddled up on my previous post – apologies 😁
Good job my post has stimulated discussion!!
Claude-Maurice from L’Orient for £9m!!!. Give us a break, Dick. Second division, France. Use the talent you’ve got!!!
I couldn’t agree more LBG.
The Arsenal elders need to tale a leaf out of Pink Floyd’s book –
” Hey teachers leave those kids alone”
More agreement here. The only problem being that we still have to have the ‘adult’ squad there to support them. They will not be strong enough to play as often, also inconsistency which comes with much of youth. Mavropanos seemed to be always injured when needed but yes, surely we could have done better to squeeze in 2-3 here and there?
Maybe next season is where it will happen now the coach is up to speed and has a full understanding of the tools, haha, he has to work with! At least he know where to buy in if he is permitted.
Pat7
Trouble is he doesn’t KNOW how the “tools” feel in the hand, how they will perform when required to work under the pressure of creating a “masterpiece”. In fact, some of the tools may become “favourites” because they offer that different feel to the old worn down ones. We need a new Ark, Dick!
Cannot argue with any of that, LBG, except I cannot figure out who on here does not want to see more of the talented youth players we have being given a chance in the first team.
Part of the problem when kids are very occasionally given a run in the team, like Iwobi for example, is that they get pasted for not being fast enough, not having an end product etc, that can do no good for the player, and the management might think twice about giving NKetiah a ‘proper’ run in the team.
It may well be true of Iwobi, tho I do not accept the criticism of him myself, but he just needs to develop and gain experience, like all youngsters do.
The stakes are high, especially when 1-2 points cost us 10s of millions. Emery had his job to consider (keeping) and new man in a new league etc…..forewarned now let’s hope. If Baku doesn’t get the right result we will have to do something different as £40M won’t cut it unless Ozil is persuaded to leave.
That’s the point I’m trying to make. £40m doesn’t need to cut it!
An experienced CB perhaps, as we get rid of the dross in defence AND a solid, strong tall quick leader in midfield to oust Xhaka, is all I think we need to gamble buying.
Pat,
Are you still enjoying life in Cyprus?
And the truth is much as the Guardian questions, “Is football broken?” Who will break the Shitty Oilers stranglehold. For the first time in history, all five major Leagues in Europe were retained by last years winners.
All I want from Arsenal is some sense of solidity, competitiveness against the best, to add to the exciting attacking football we have come to expect and love. And I believe treating youthful talent with some regard may well bring that.
Of course RA :-), 34C here last week, pool up to 26 already, mountains and sea <5’ away, fresh food, very low cost of living with no tax….what’s not to like?
I trust you’re behaving!
Why does the comment box not hold your info?
Pat,
You lucky bugger!! 🥺
You have the best of all worlds — I love Cyprus, and maybe one day I will retire there too.
The Word Press blog has been slightly odd in recent months – and Chas tells me it works better if I open an avatar/gravatar but I don’t like the software requiring me to conform to its rules!! 🤪
It’s really good to see you commenting on here again – especially as you have the temptation of beautiful Cyprus to capture your attention.
Don’t worry RA, I still read my Arsenal blogs, watch NewsNow when necessary and the matches I can get hold of or listen to them! I don’t often comment though itch to at times……
Yes, it’s a no-brainer to be here. I paid 18% tax on pension in the UK, 9 in France, zero here with a far better life outlook. In the South I’d pay 5%. Here is friendlier, healthier and cheaper.
Bellerin, Holding, AMN, Iwobi and now RN have demonstrated they can hold their own as part of the first XI or the main squad.
What about the others? I feel like the others still need to develop before being considered more than squad players and maybe playing abroad or in lower EPL teams would fast track their development – especially for players like Peliziguo (whatever his name is), Mavropanos, WIllock, Smithe-Rowe and Nketiah. The talent is there to see but now they need to rough it up against teams week-in week-out. We dont really have world class talents at the moment in our youth, we have very good players and that is the truth. We dont have Trent-Arnold, Robertson, Foden type of players in our team at the moment. At one point, we had a very promising young team with Cesc, Wilshere, Ramsey, Nasri but they didn’t really win much or did much together…What happened to Gedion by the way or Bielik? They were highly touted at one point.
I would of course encourage the club to nurture our youth but we have to fastrack the development of the best of our young players. If it is through a loan, let us do it.
This transfer window is going to be huge for my other team too….
– Cavani may be allowed to leave
– Neymar and Mbappe are monitored by Real Madrid among others
– Di Maria is not against going to Italy while Draxler would also be allowed to leave
– Meunier and Kurzawa’s situation is unclear while Rabiot is leaving on a free
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