Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

Arsenal: 3 youngsters to introduce against Brighton

By Krish Ajmani

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta speaks to the media after the Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on March 14, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta speaks to the media after the Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on March 14, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
Arsenal, Mikel Arteta
Arsenal: 3 youngsters for Mikel Arteta to introduce against Brighton in final Premier League match of the season. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images) /

The youth at Arsenal has been the one saving grace for this season. A breakout season from Emile Smith Rowe along with the meteoric rise of Bukayo Saka has illustrated how the integration of youth is crucial to the rebuild.

Academy products are useful not only in saving transfer funds if they become starters but can also be sold to raise money. Players such as Miguel Azeez and Folarin Balogun will be confident in their abilities and the pathway into the first team.

The London outfit’s Premier League season has been dead for a while. The game against Crystal Palace could have been while Sunday’s fixture with Brighton should be seen as good way to blood these youngsters in low-pressure games.

They may impress, putting up a fight for a place instead of going on loan next season, which may be out of their control. Furthermore, most fans would rather see a few kids get a run out instead of Dani Ceballos and Willian jogging around halfheartedly.

Arsenal: 3 youngsters for Mikel Arteta to introduce against Brighton in final Premier League match of the season

Here are three youngsters who deserve some minutes before the end of an otherwise disappointing season.

Folarin Balogun, Arsenal
Arsenal’s English striker Folarin Balogun (R) pulls away from Manchester City’s Ukrainian midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko during the English League Cup quarter final football match between Arsenal and Manchester City. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

3. Folarin Balogun

Folarin Balogun is perhaps the most highly rated academy player in the Gunners’ rank. He has impressed fans and coaches alike with his well-rounded skill set, is a true center-forward in every way and built in the mold that Mikel Arteta seems to desire.

Balogun plays well with his back to goal – something only Alexandre Lacazette is strong at – possessing strength and the required fitness to hold off challenges and lay the ball off before sprinting back into the box to finish off chances – something Lacazette doesn’t do enough of.

Fans have clamored for his Premier League debut but Arteta has preferred experience in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and youth in Gabriel Martinelli before the young academy product.

Given Arteta’s insistence on fighting until it is mathematically impossible, the reasoning behind his wait has been understandable. The stage of the season, however, demands that Balogun be given a chance on the big stage. Do Arsenal really want to be in the UEFA Europa Conference League?

Home/Arsenal News