Arsenal: 4 exciting academy stars who could feature vs Nottingham Forest

Starved of midweek action with the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Liverpool being postponed, Arsenal attentions are turned to what is set to be an exciting FA Cup weekend.

As far as glamour ties go, it’s not quite that. Facing a Nottingham Forest side away isn’t the most exhilarating draw, especially for the travelling faithful on a Sunday evening.

It is exciting for other reasons, though, with Mikel Arteta’s thinning squad in need of rotating as they prepare to face Liverpool twice in a week with the small matter of a North London Derby providing the filler for this Merseyside sandwich.

In response, the manager revealed both exciting and worrying updates in his pre-match press conference, confirming that the club would seek to bolster their midfield in the January transfer window with new signings.

Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal: 4 exciting academy stars who could feature for Mikel Arteta in FA Cup third round clash

However, the reasons for that are down to being ‘very short’ in the centre of the park, along with ‘issues’ across the rest of the squad as a result of Covid and injuries.

Remaining tight-lipped, one player who looks set to miss out on Sunday is Granit Xhaka, who was not pictured in training for unknown reasons.

One man’s loss is another man’s gain, however; especially in the world of football where competition is rife. Arsenal have three colossal matches against Liverpool (x2) and Tottenham coming up, meaning there is real scope for some exciting young talent to be involved against Nottingham Forest. So long as they aren’t the absent ones, that is.

So who could be in line for some minutes in the FA Cup? For some, it could be their first ever senior outings.

1. Omari Hutchinson

Omari Hutchinson is someone many supporters got their first look of back in the summer when he was included in the squad that took part in a mini pre-season tour of Scotland.

Starting out as a left-back, Hutchinson’s attacking prowess and superb technical quality quickly saw him moved up into advanced positions, and at the tender age of 18 years old already boasts ability beyond his years.

Operating either operating out wide or as a No.10, he is most suited to playing as a winger where he’s registered five goals and six assists for the Arsenal Under-23 side in 14 outings.

With Bukayo Saka not having Nicolas Pepe to share the minutes with over this busy spell of matches, Hutchinson is in with a real shout of earning some playing time against Nottingham Forest out on the right. He can fit in across the forward line, but with the star boy needing all the rest he can get ahead of three crunch matches over one week, it’s his position Hutchinson could be involved in.

Already promoted to a higher age group, Hutchinson is often invited up to train with the first team and has been doing so regularly this season, including in the days leading up to Sunday’s fixture. However, with him starting in Friday night’s Under-23 clash against Brighton, there is a strong possibility he will now miss out.

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2. Tim Akinola

Tipped to go out on loan in the summer with some minor concerns over his ability on the ball, Tim Akinola has come on leaps and bounds since.

Another one of the academy stars who has been called up to train with the senior squad on a number of occasions, the all-action midfielder will have few better opportunities to be involved with the team this season than now.

Kevin Betsy’s excellent coaching is no better demonstrated than with Akinola. It proves how progress is non-linear, with the technical side of his game improved immensely in short period of time.

Boasting excellent physical traits and a determined attitude, his composure on the ball in transition is the standout feature. Already impressing off the ball, his game is far more well rounded now. Normally a defensive midfielder, he’s been more akin to a No. 8 this season.

Akinola is someone who looks physically ready for senior football. Arsenal will most probably trigger the option on his deal and then send him out in search of first team minutes, but with Arteta so thin in that area for Sunday, there is every chance he could feature on the bench.

Less likely to get a start – he wasn’t seen in senior training this week – there is still an opportunity for him to travel with the squad to the City Ground. Furthermore, while it could be injury related, he was not involved against Brighton on Friday, which could hint towards his involvement on Sunday.

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3. Salah Oulad M’Hand

Supporters thought they might get their first glimpse of Salah Oulad M’Hand earlier in the season when he was a surprise inclusion on the bench in the Carabao Cup last-16 victory over Leeds.

An unused substitute on that occasion, it nonetheless demonstrated the high regard the 18-year-old is held within the club.

Another player who has been involved win first team training – including this week – Salah has five goals and three assists across 14 appearances for the Under-23 side this season, impressive numbers considering he operates as a No. 8 style box-to-box player.

Scorer of some exceptional goals this term, it’s his lively and technical quality in tight areas that makes him stand out from the crowd. His press resistance in that area feels so natural, and when he weaves his way into those spaces he possesses the close control and vision to pick out passes.

Even when he doesn’t have space his quality shines.

Given Arsenal are light of midfielders, as well as creative ones, Salah is certainly in with a chance of minutes against Nottingham Forest – especially since the volume of absentees in Arteta’s squad isn’t known yet, and because his place in the squad was effectively confirmed after he was left out of the Under-23 squad on Friday night.

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4. Charlie Patino

The main man. The name on everyone’s lips. And the man whose name was being sung around the Emirates before he’d even kicked a ball. He even got some chants against Norwich.

Not only the most likely of all the academy stars to feature, Charlie Patino is also in line to start on Sunday.

There is obviously tremendous belief in Patino’s talent. He made his debut against Sunderland in December and marked the occasion with a well taken goal, and then was included in his first ever Premier League squad in the hammering of the Canaries at Carrow Road.

Jack Wilshere is the player most used to describe Patino’s style. He uses his body excellently to evade his marker and beat the press, while his close control is reminiscent of those footballs you used to get as a kid that were attached by string; Patino does not lose possession often.

Such an aesthetically pleasing deep-lying central playmaker, there is no doubting whatsoever that Patino won’t be a regular fixture in the first team at some point in the not too distant future. Labelled the finest talent to ever emerge from Hale End, the buzz around Patino is unlike any other.

A start against Nottingham Forest? Don’t bet against it.