Arsenal: Joel Lopez just more ‘playing the game’

Arsenal have signed Joel Lopez to a professional contract when he turns 17 in March. The young left-back is just another example of ‘playing the game’.

As football becomes a more widely-known and well-researched sport, the youthful gems that used to be unearthed from the nether regions of South America, Africa and continental Europe dry up. There are only so many prospects to be found, and when everyone knows who they are anyway, there is not much finding to be done.

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Currently, the general public has never been so knowledgeable about the sport, not just in regards the pure number of players that it is aware of but also in regards to the technical and tactical elements of the game.

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And so, when it comes to the big European clubs, like Arsenal, looking for young potential signings, it is often the case that many of the other big clubs are also looking for those players. Scouts are sent throughout the world and the competition for the best talent is fierce. And so, it makes sense that whenever a chance arises to sign one of the brighter prospects, such is the low risk because of the small wages and transfer fees involved, it makes sense to take it.

That is what the Gunners are doing with young Barcelona left-back Joel Lopez. Lopez confirmed on his social media channels that he will be leaving Barcelona when he turns 17 having accepted a professional contract with Arsenal, which will come into action on his birthday next March. The La Masia graduate was reportedly the apple of Liverpool’s eye, as well as several other top clubs, paying dividends to the difficulty in finding kids that no one knows of, but was swayed by the presence of former Barcelona Sporting Director Raul Sanllehi, who is now the Head of Relations at the Emirates.

I know nothing that a quick google search could not tell you about Lopez. I have never seen him play, I have only read the same media reports and perused the same stats as any other mere pundit or analyst. There is no real value that I can add to the discussion.

Other than the fact that Arsenal have done this before with Barcelona youngsters. Cesc Fabregas is perhaps the most famous of them all, who they then sold back to Barcelona for a £35 million profit. In selling Fabregas, Arsene Wenger acquired Hector Bellerin, who is now the starting right-back. Fran Merida was also another young player signed from La Masia.

It is all about playing the game. Some of these risks will pay off. Most won’t. But that doesn’t matter. Because they are so cheap, even if only one in ten is just remotely successful, then all of the deals will be vindicated, either by value recouped on the pitch or in the transfer market. Either way, they have been investments worth making. Lopez is very much the same.

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I will be keen to watch the defender rise through the ranks in north London. Hopefully he can make an impression. But even if he doesn’t, Arsenal haven’t really lost anything. That is the beauty of these type of deals. It’s just a part of playing the game.