Arsenal: 8 young talents to look out for vs AFC Wimbledon

Last season was a development year for Arsenal Football Club. We saw emerging stars like Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe grow into integral parts of Mikel Arteta’s side, ending up as the undoubted positive aspect from a forgettable campaign.

This time around the focus is entirely on finishing as high up the Premier League table as possible. Europa League football is the minimum, but also the most this club can realistically be aiming for.

Boasting historic success in the FA Cup, the EFL Cup (Carabao Cup, League Cup, whatever) hasn’t been the happiest hunting ground domestically. Lifting the trophy twice, most recently in 1993, this time around there still remains less emphasis on how Arsenal will fare in the competition.

It isn’t a priority.

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8 exciting young Arsenal stars from the academy and the first team to look out for in the EFL Cup third round clash against AFC Wimbledon

What it is, though, is another chance to see development within the youth ranks take place. The Smith Rowe’s and Saka’s of last season are now first team regulars and who could rise up from the academy next to follow in their incredible footsteps makes for exciting viewing.

Having a third round clash with AFC Wimbledon on home soil, there will likely be no better opportunity to get a look at the next crop of rising talent in the first team than Wednesday’s meeting.

The EFL Cup still presents a chance of silverware this season, perhaps the best opportunity of all, but nonetheless supporters would love to see some of the Hale End youngsters given their chance impress. Them, and some other young talent at the club who find themselves on the periphery of the first team.

While in the Arsene Wenger days fans may have seen all eight of the following youngsters given a go in some capacity, it’s not likely that Arteta will follow suit this time. Nonetheless, there are eight players vying for a run out against The Dons to look out for, and all have a shout of earning some minutes.

1. Omar Rekik

Age: 19
Position: Central defender

Seeing Rob Holding take up a place on the bench for the Burnley could well have an immediate impact on Omar Rekik’s chances of earning a spot in the squad for Wednesday, but next down the line in the defensive ranks it’s he who could be in with some minutes.

Gabriel and Ben White are likely to be rested ahead of the derby meaning Calum Chambers, Holding and Mari are vying for spots (please don’t get Sead Kolasinac anywhere near this team), with Rekik behind them.

For the Under-23 side this season he’d been in fine form after Kevin Betsy’s men suffered an opening day hammering, with strong performances up to an including the recent 6-1 demolition of Chelsea where he was (very harshly) sent off in the 36th minute.

Even still, the Tunisian has taken huge strides already and was even brought up to Scotland where he played against Hibernian in pre-season.

2. Omari Hutchinson

Age: 17
Position: Winger

A highly skillful forward who can play across the front line but usually operates from wide berths, Omari Hutchinson is someone who has attracted admiring glances from across the Arsenal fanbase after bursting onto the scene last season.

Notching seven goals and eight assists with the Under-18’s, he’s been fast-tracked to the Under-23 side where he made his debut at the tail end of last season. Boasting an incredibly high technical level despite his young age, fans were treated to some of his ability in pre-season against Hibernian.

More likely to be with the Under-23 side this term but also set for occasional Under-18 outings, Hutchinson has already grabbed two goals and two assists in his three outings under Betsy, including a brace of assists in the 2-1 win over Tottenham.

If he is to get a run out on Wednesday it would only likely be late on in proceedings, but he’s a talent that has gripped Hale End and will get his chance soon enough.

3. Nuno Tavares

Age: 21
Position: Left-back

He may have been signed as a first team player with European experience, but Nuno Tavares is still a young player in this squad who we’re excited to see develop over the course of the coming years.

Due to Kieran Tierney’s excellence, chances will be limited for Tavares so being handed a full run out on home soil on Wednesday will be the perfect setting to see him in bulldozing action.

Is he rough around the edges? Undoubtedly.

What he is, however, is a physical monster whose powerful strides are a lethal weapon when combined with his pace. Strong in challenges and aggressive with and without the ball, AFC Wimbledon presents a fine opportunity for him to get fans in the ground excited at his potential.

He’ll be one of those secretly eyeing a goal, you’d imagine.

4. Kido Taylor-Hart

Age: 18
Position: Winger

One of the players tipped to be on the cusp of being involved in matches like these, Arsenal getting Kido Taylor-Hart tied down to a new contract over the summer was one of the successes of the window.

Supremely technical, his high level of trickery and ball manipulation saw him garner interest from across Europe so securing his signature was hugely pleasing.

Like Hutchinson, Taylor-Hart impressed with the youth ranks enough to be promoted to Under-23 action where’s he picked up where he left off from last season. Two goals and an assist in his last two matches include both strikes in a 2-1 North London Derby win over Tottenham, and fortunately for him, he’s come back from injury at the right time.

Taylor-Hart missed the 3-1 victory over Manchester United but was back on the bench as the Gunners tore Chelsea to shreds, opening the possibility for him to get a spot in the squad on Wednesday.

He certainly has a chance.

5. Folarin Balogun

Age: 20
Position: Striker

Everyone wants to see him play. There was scope (heavily discussed already scope) for him to go out on loan and play senior football all season long which didn’t transpire, and as a result he’s gone back into the Under-23 side where he’s been doing what he does best.

Two goals against Man Utd were followed with another brace against Chelsea – not to mention the assists – as Balogun has offered a timely reminder of what it is he can do in front of goal.

Starting up top against Brentford where he was starved of support did him no favours and as a senior member of this squad there will be no better opportunities for him to gain minutes than EFL Cup third round ties against AFC Wimbledon.

Will Arteta play him, though?

Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are also starved of minutes and while absolute focus should be put on the striker who it’s certain actually has a future at the club, you can never put anything past Arteta.

Fingers crossed it’s Flo who gets the not against the Dons.

6. Tim Akinola

Age: 20
Position: Defensive midfielder

Tim Akinola was someone who looked destined for a loan move away in the summer transfer window as it was felt this was the time for him to prove himself in senior football.

A combative defensive midfielder with all the right physical attributes, the one area of his game you’d say was lacking would be in what he does on the ball.

This season he’s already looked like improving on that. Against Chelsea he was superb in the heart of midfield and withstood any Blues pressure superbly, despite the Gunners playing with ten men for around an hour.

Interestingly, too, is that he has been training for an extended period of time with the first team. Central midfield is an area of the squad where Arsenal are light and heading into this one the only realistic starters are going to be Sambi Lokonga and Ainsley Maitland-Niles: Elneny is injured, Xhaka is banned and Partey will surely be rested.

If further injury crises strike and Akinola continues to impress then the FA Cup games to come also open up possible minutes, not least with Partey and Elneny off to AFCON.

7. Gabriel Martinelli

Age: 20
Position: Winger/striker

How does Gabriel Martinelli fit in this season? The answer is, sadly, fleetingly.

The Premier League starting lineup is cemented in, at least in regards to the forwards, with the next in line to take up one of the wide berths after Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe being Nicolas Pepe.

At striker it’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reinforced by Alexandre Lacazette, leaving Martinelli to make do with substitute appearances and he hasn’t even managed those barring 14 minutes in the previous EFL Cup outing.

As a player who is extremely valuable to have on the bench in league outings, and who will get his chances across a long season, these are fixtures where he has to get meaningful minutes in order to keep up his competitive level when the Premier League comes calling.

Given the amount of strikers at the club battling it out for time on the pitch, his involvement will come from wide areas where, in this writer’s opinion, is his best position.

No less than 70-75 minutes. Martinelli has to be playing football. He’s too good not to be.

8. Charlie Patino

Age: 17
Position: Central midfielder

Even Arteta, who shies away from social media for obvious reasons, must have caught word of the clamour across the fanbase to see Charlie Patino get a run out against AFC Wimbledon.

A quite unique player who is already being tipped as the best the Arsenal academy might have ever produced (cheers Luton Town, as well), that is how highly thought of Patino is.

One of a dying breed of deep-lying playmakers, Patino has the Jack Wilshere-esque elegance to drift beyond opposition players as if they’re not there. His vision on the ball, first time passes and exceptional close control are unseen in talents this young. The ability to dominate football matches at his age is something that can’t be taught.

Speculation is that Patino will be included in the squad on Wednesday and all that remains to be see is how long, or if at all, Arteta opts to use him.

Much will likely depend on how the game pans out. If Arsenal are cruising to a 3/4/5 goal canter then Patino has as good of a chance as any to be given a run out.

Equally, given Arsenal are light in midfield, could he even be handed a start? It’s unlikely, but not out of the question.