Arsenal: Inconsistent youth performances show need for summer transfers

Another matchday, another lacklustre performance. Sluggishness and low energy permeated through the team. While the defense was surprisingly solid, the midfield was overrun and the attack was almost nonexistent. The ruthlessness shown just a few days ago as Arsenal sliced through Slavia Prague’s defense again and again was gone.

Arsenal have not had many positives this campaign. The youth players rising to the occasion and stepping into the limelight have been one of the few bright spots. Recently, however, these bright spots seem to be fading.

Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe started together once again. They have exciting fans the world over with their quality on the pitch as well as their focused and humble attitudes off it. Like all youth players, however, they have been inconsistent as of late.

It is unreasonable to expect teenagers still in the early stages of development to score goal after goal and provide assist after assist. Their talent must be nurtured accordingly.

Inconsistent youth performances at Arsenal show need for summer transfer window reinforcements

While they impressed against Slavia Prague, with the English pair as well as Nicolas Pepe and Alexandre Lacazette combining for the well-taken goals, they tapered off in the Premier League. Saka and Smith Rowe’s ineffective performances against Fulham and Everton illustrate the need for experienced players to reinforce the attack and provide more consistent output.

The fact that Mikel Arteta is still manager of Arsenal and wasn’t sacked in the winter can be chalked up to the young players radiating pure class against Chelsea. They combine tremendous work rate with brilliant technical qualities. Smith Rowe drifts effortlessly across the pitch and finds pockets of space between the lines; Gabriel Martinelli, another young player in the process of maturing, has excellent dribbling, quick to shoot and direct; Saka slaloms between defenders and, crucially, can supply the end product.

Against Fulham, Smith Rowe struggled to find room to operate against a deep block, Martinelli came off the bench against Everton and was unable to get assert himself into the game, while Saka was marshalled by the dogged Lucas Digne. Asking 19 and 20 year old players to save Arsenal time and again is a recipe for excessive fatigue and pressure.

This is not to say that the youngsters should be banished to the bench. Of course not. But having solid options across the frontline would allow them to grow and develop without being forced to shoulder the burden of the entire attack.

These players are undoubtedly a crucial piece of Arteta’s rebuild puzzle. But they aren’t the only pieces that are needed to complete it.