Arsenal Youth Movement Will Play A Huge Part In Title Push
Arsenal is currently enjoying a good run of form, with a huge contribution coming from their young players. These young guns are going to play a huge part in this year’s push for silverware .
It has been a very good week for Arsenal. With three emphatic wins against West Ham, Basel and Stoke, the Gunners have claimed nine points in the span of seven days.
Related: Arsenal’s 30 Greatest Players Ever
While Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, the team’s biggest names, have dazzled in their recent appearances, the squad’s success has largely been built on the production of the club’s youngest first team members. In Arsenal’s last three matches the team’s young guns have stepped up in a major way.
Against West Ham, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had his best game of the season by far. Chipping in with a lovely strike outside the box and an assist for Alexis Sanchez, the Ox showed great improvement from his early season misadventures.
Throughout the entire game, the Ox gave West Ham nightmares with his robust and penetrating runs from midfield. He followed up that fine performance with another productive outing against Stoke where he slotted in well on the left hand said again.
His delightfully lofted ball for Mesut Ozil’s headed goal was a fantastic display of his improvement. The Ox has it all in his locker, but he needs to show development when it comes to his decision making. His latest assist showed that the 23-year-old is evolving. This is already his most productive season and he will be called upon often throughout this season to make a difference.
Arsenal’s defense is also full of youthful success stories. Shkodran Mustafi has slotted in seamlessly with Laurent Koscielny. The duo has combined splendidly to create a stable and potent center back pairing.
Considering Mustafi’s impressive adaptation to Arsenal’s system, it would be very easy to forget that the German international is only 24 years old. Arsenal has acquired an incredibly valuable player for the present and future. The German’s injury comes at a very inopportune time for the club. However, his absence coincides with the return of perhaps Arsenal’s best young prospect, Hector Bellerin.
Returning to action against Stoke, Hector Bellerin absolutely transformed this Arsenal side. Once you add Hector to the equation Arsenal becomes so much more fluid and expansive. Bellerin’s impact as a right-back is immense, to say the least. He is obviously one of the best full-backs in England and perhaps in all of Europe.
Related: Arsenal’s Top 10 Prospects
After signing a long-term contract with the club just a few weeks ago, Hector has shown his loyalty and love for the club. He is not only a player who will be important now but in the years to come. I would personally love to see him wear the captain armband one day.
More from Pain in the Arsenal
- 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
- 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
- 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
- Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
- 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
Rob Holding had a great Champions League debut in Switzerland. Proving to be one of the best transfers of the season, Holding showed incredible potential alongside Koscielny. Yes, there was that sloppy giveaway which led to Basel’s pretty insignificant consolation goal.
However, Holding proved throughout that 90 minutes that he is a composed and poised young defender. Per WhoScored.com, Holding completed 70 passes with an accuracy of 91%. The former Bolton player of the year also won all of his attempted tackles(3) and aerial duels(2). With Shkodran Mustafi picking up a hamstring injury, Holding will probably need to contribute over the hectic winter period.
From an attacking point of view, Alex Iwboi is by far one of Arsenal’s best products in recent years. The Nigerian international has developed into a fine attacking component of this squad. After starting the season very brightly, Iwobi struggled with form culminating in an ugly nadir against PSG.
His confidence was clearly shaken but thanks to the squad depth, the manager was able to take the youngster out of the firing line for a spell. Now Iwobi has bounced back from his dip in form to make a serious impact on the pitch. In his last two outings, Iwobi has netted two goals. Against Basel in the Champions League, Mesut Ozil exemplified his on the pitch leadership. The German played in Iwobi perfectly to score his first goal of the season.
This was the spark that Iwobi needed to really kick on. Coming on as a sub for the Ox against Stoke, Iwobi added to his goal scoring run. He showed sharpness to pounce on the loose ball following a foul on Alexis Sanchez. Then the 20-year-old displayed his growing confidence by coolly slotting past the keeper. Alongside the Ox, Theo Walcott, and Lucas Perez, Iwobi is a key member of a productive contingent of wide players.
There is no doubt that Arsenal’s star players will need to perform at a consistently high level for this club to claim glory. Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez will need to be in fine form for the Gunners to challenge to the end.
Next: Wenger's 15 Most Ridiculous Transfer Rumor Sagas
However, Arsenal’s battalion of young guns may even be more important for the club’s title hopes. With the departures of Tomas Rosicky, Mathieu Flamini, and Mikel Arteta, along with Per Mertesacker’s absence, Arsenal is now a club relying on young talent to take them to the top.