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Gedion Zelalem Could Be Ready to Join Arsenal Next Year
By Josh Sippie
Arsene Wenger may be putting off making any big time signings because of the faith that he has in this youth system to churn out some sustainable talent. While they are not all products of the Arsenal academy, Arsene Wenger has a knack for acquiring 16-18 year olds that turn out to be credible Premier League players. Cesc Fabregas is a name that stands out, but the Ox, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere are also similar.
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Gedion Zelalem could be the next in that string of talent. Zelalem recently changed his National Team to the United States and it may have been the greatest decision he has ever made. He is a regular with their U21 side and figures to be a key figure in their future World Cup success.
What we have seen out of Gedion Zelalem since his nationality switch is tremendous progression. He is looking like a young midfield maestro of the same ilk as Mesut Ozil and Andrea Pirlo. However, as we have seen in the past and the present, Arsenal can use a bit more and they could always use a more well-rounded player. Zelalem is a master passer and a fantastic dribbler. But the criticism of the young American has always been a lack of physicality brought on by his skinny frame. Arsenal have an excessive lack of physicality at the moment so the concept of welcoming another of the same type may be unappealing.
However, that is what makes this year so important. Gedion Zelalem is serving a year long loan away from Arsenal at Scottish side Rangers. This is such an important step in Zelalem’s career, The Scottish League is a very physical league and he is having to learn to deal with that physicality. “I haven’t really found it that difficult because my game is all about one touch, two touch, so I don’t even try to get into physical battles because that’s not part of my game,” he said via HITC.
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This is promising news, not because he is learning to be more physical, but because he is learning to deal with the physical aspects of the game in his own way. Jack Wilshere’s injury problems come from holding onto the ball and absorbing tackles. Zelalem will not face similar problems if he continues his game plan of receiving and distributing the ball.
He may only be 18 years old but Arsenal have welcomed other way-ahead-of-their-time talents to their first team. Again, look at Fabregas, Wilshere, Ramsey and the Ox. All of them joined the first team before they were 20.
I would be surprised to see Zelalem loaned out next year. With the state that Arsenal is in this year, they could clearly have benefited from the depth that Zelalem, Hayden or Gnabry would have brought.
Next: Hayden has a spot waiting for him