Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal remain the Premier League’s youngest outfit

By James Cormack

Arsenal's Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Martinelli (L) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal in the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park in south London on August 5, 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 JUSTIN TALLIS / 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 JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Martinelli (L) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal in the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park in south London on August 5, 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 JUSTIN TALLIS / 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 JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Arsenal fielded the youngest starting XI (by average age) of all the Premier League sides on the opening weekend of the 2022/23 season.

The Gunners overcame Palace 2-0 on Friday night as a Gabriel Martinelli strike and Marc Guehi’s own goal handed Mikel Arteta’s young Gunners all three points. It was the perfect start to the new season; one that paled in comparison to the opening of 2021/22 at the Brentford Community Stadium.

The club’s emphasis on promoting youth and signing Under-25s since Arteta took the reins in December 2019 saw Arsenal emerge as the Premier League’s youngest squad in 2021/22. The likes of Emile Smith Rowe (22), Bukayo Saka (20), and Martinelli (21) were all protagonists last season as the Gunners registered the lowest average of any starting XI in the Premier League (23.8 years in the 0-0 draw with Burnley).

That youthful theme has continued into 2022/23.

Arsenal remain the Premier League’s youngest outfit

At Selhurst Park on Friday night, Arteta named a starting XI that boasted an average age of 24.6 – closely rivalled by Southampton’s 24.7. The Saints, however, were thrashed 4-1 at Spurs in their season opener.

New signings Gabriel Jesus (25) and Oleksandr Zinchenko (25) both made their first starts for the club, while the returning William Saliba (19) also made his maiden Arsenal start three years after joining the club from St. Etienne.

Saka, Martinelli and Martin Odegaard (23) made up an incredibly young and dynamic forward line, while Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey (29) constituted a pretty ancient midfield in comparison. In defence, teenager Saliba partnered Gabriel (24), covered for Ben White (24) on several occasions and was tasked with protecting Aaron Ramsdale’s (24) goal.

Some will argue that the starting XI deployed by Arteta on Friday is currently Arsenal’s strongest. Although, the Spaniard could still call upon Takehiro Tomiyasu (23), Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira (22). Eddie Nketiah (23) was also brought off the bench and had an impact.

The youthful ebullience in the Arsenal squad is ubiquitous, and they’re poised to boast the youngest squad in the Premier League for the second consecutive season.

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