Pain in the Arsenal
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3 academy stars that need to get game time next season

By Krish Ajmani

Arsenal fans applaud Arsenal's English midfielder Bukayo Saka during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in London on April 23, 2022. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal fans applaud Arsenal's English midfielder Bukayo Saka during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in London on April 23, 2022. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Part of the excitement around the Arsenal rebuild has been the prominent role of the youngsters. Seeing a kid become a man as he goes from academy to first-team football is a joy like no other. Arsenal have been fortunate to experience this joy multiple times.

Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah were all starters or first names off the bench. Other academy products were often among the substitutes. The likes of Omari Hutchinson and Marcelo Flores had been edging closer to debuts but have been affected by the team’s early exits from cup competitions and the lack of European football.

However, with Arsenal securing their place in the Europa League next season, hungry youngsters will undoubtedly be blooded. While Mikel Arteta will look to add experienced players to his first team to elevate them to a Champions League side, he must continue to bring in young players to push the senior members of the squad.

3 academy youngsters that need senior minutes next season

Here are three academy youngsters that absolutely need to get game time next season.

3. Miguel Azeez/Charlie Patino

Arsenal, Pats
Teenager Charlie Patino made his first-team debut last season. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /

The pathway to the first team for academy midfielders is clear. Xhaka, while somehow only 29 years old, possesses a solid if unspectacular and somewhat limited game. Mohamed Elneny has signed a new contract but is still an average player unlikely to start regularly. That leaves Partey as the only recognised central midfielder who is almost guaranteed to stay next season. Yet even he has been struck by injury after injury.

The battle of young midfielders pits Miguel Azeez against Patino. Both are exciting talents and both deserve more first-team football next season. The slight edge Azeez has is his physicality. His frame appears to be more solid and suited to playing against full professionals. He has also been around the first team for longer, with the hype around Patino only recently making waves.

Luckily for both youngsters, their competition should be an interesting but calm one. Both possess distinct skillsets that ensure they each bring something valuable to the squad without hindering the development of the other. Azeez has received praise for his all-around game and abundant athleticism whereas Patino thrives in a deep-lying playmaker role. Keep an eye out for these two in the Europa League group stages and cup competitions.

Continued on the next slide…

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