Morning all.
Today we face Molde in the Europa League.
Victory would see The Arsenal move to 12 points and guarantee qualification into the knock-out stages. If Rapid Wien fail to beat Dundalk, we will also secure top spot with 2 games to go.
The Europa League has not seen Mikel Arteta put out a vast number of youngsters that we have seen in previous years.
This is a nod to how much stronger our squad is that our 2nd XI now is, filled with senior internationals, and highlights how many of our top youngsters are no longer really considered youngsters.
We could put out a side containing Kieran Tierney, Gabriel, Bukayo Saka, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Joe Willock, Emile Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Martinelli and it would not feel like we have fielded a side of kids, even though every single one is still eligible to play for the U23 side.
It is important to get the balance of progression right. We want to see the likes of Folarin Balogun, Miguel Azeez and Ben Cottrell get a run out, but we also need to ensure the 2nd string are match sharp.
A couple of the youngsters expected to play are now playing for their future at Arsenal.
Reiss Nelson has not really done it since breaking into the Arsenal first team squad in 2017.
He had a decent loan spell at 1899 Hoffenheim but has failed to kick on.
Some will say “he has not had the game time” but with Nicolas Pepe’s form since his arrival, he would have got his chance if he was showing enough on the training ground.
“But he has spent a lot of time injured” is another defence of the youngster, but that should fall on deaf ears.
There is no point have the talent of Lionel Messi if you have the injury record of Darren Anderton.
Your top players are not only talented but also fairly physically robust. How many small, niggling injuries he has had at such a young age is a worry.
He reminds me a lot of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. That he might be talented but he will never remain fit enough to put together a run of half a dozen games to kick on.
Compare him to the kid a couple of years junior on the other side of the pitch.
Bukayo Saka has forced his way into the team due to his performances, and has stayed fit. He is now a regular for Arsenal and England, and is now levels ahead of Nelson.
Saka shows that if you are good enough, you get your chance. It might just be that Nelson is not good enough, and in the summer we should look to cash in, reinvest, and focus on the next rising star in the academy.
Likewise Eddie Nketiah is at a bit of a crossroads.
Nketiah is a goal poacher, but his problem is a modern striker needs to be able to do more – whether that be creating, holding the ball up or running the channels.
Eddie is 22 at the end of this year. With Gabriel Martinelli returning from injury and Balogun and Nikolaj Moller performing well at U23 level, time might be running out if he does not kick on to the next level.
Arsenal could sell Nketiah and Nelson in the summer, raising close to £40million as sides buy them based on their potential. This could be key funds to be reinvest in senior players, with the likes of Martinelli and Balogun stepping up to replace them.
Joe Willock is another one who might have peaked.
He has performed will in the Europa League in recent years but not taken that form into the Premier League. He is another the club might cash in on next summer, and start focusing on the likes of Azeez and Charlie Patino.
It would be a tough decision to let all 3 youngsters go, but if their developments has levelled out, then they should be moved on. Raising £50m+ in the sales of 3 academy products should be seen as a positive.
Arsenal would have additional funds to spend on superior players, and it frees the path for the next crop of youngsters to get their chance.
Hopefully all 3 put in top performances tonight, we win 6-0, Nketiah hat trick, 2 for Willock and one for Nelson.
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 