Like several Arsenal youngsters, Julio Pleguezuelo has endured an injury hit campaign, with the Spaniard, who was previously on Barcelona’s books, having made just five appearances at all levels this season.
Pleguezuelo’s injury problems have been ill-timed, with the youngster having been denied an opportunity to build upon what was a hugely successful first season at the club. Predominantly a centre-back (although he can also play at right-back if required), Pleguezuelo quickly established himself as a key player for the U21s before earning first-team recognition in pre-season.
However, whilst he has been out, Pleguezuelo has seen the landscape change considerably with regards to Arsenal’s U21 team. Fellow centre-back Stefan O’Connor has impressed Arsene Wenger and has already represented the first-team competitively, whilst January acquisition Krystian Bielik has looked at home at the heart of the defence recently for the second-string.
The presence of both O’Connor and Bielik meant that Pleguezuelo was forced to start at right-back, a position he hasn’t played in regularly for some time, when the U21s took on Reading at Emirates Stadium this week.
The 18-year-old struggled and was frequently caught out of position during the 1-0 defeat, but some perspective must be taken when analysing his performance, especially considering he was making his first U21 start of the season.
When the likes of Jack Wilshere and Abou Diaby stop playing for the U21s, Bielik is likely to be moved into midfield, which would allow Pleguezuelo to return to his favoured position of centre-back. Having missed the vast majority of the season, the Spaniard will simply be delighted to be back in action and, at present, will not be worrying too much about his long-term prospects of making the grade at the club.
His chances of doing just that will come into sharper focus next campaign, when he could feature in the Capital One Cup. Despite not being the tallest, Pleguezuelo is very quick and is an excellent reader of the game.
Having witnessed his compatriot, and fellow La Masia graduate, Hector Bellerin succeed in the first-team recently, Pleguezuelo will be looking to follow suit over the next few years. His progress has been halted somewhat this season by his frustrating injury problems, but the youngster is now back in action and is ready to show Wenger and his coaching staff that he has a very bright future ahead of him.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
Good prospect. I also wonder about Tafari Moore who has been plagued with injuries this season, another top talent.
“Plegued”, one might even say
So its not just our senior squad with injury problems, even the juniors have picked up the same Arsenal way?
Hope there is a junior Shad!
COME ON YOU RIP ROARING REDDDDDS
Plegued with Injury
??
maybe
hmmmm
hmmmmmm?
I always wear my coat
he,ll need a big shirt wiv a name like that
Ignasi MK II
For some reason when I see people on the site use the letters MK like that, I think they are making a reference to MK Dons. I have no idea why, it’s silly of me.
You cannot have a name like that if you haven’t got talent. Great prospect.
The science checks out
Oh that’s good.
What about tomorrow’s game!!!
Can’t wait COYG!
G’luck to the boy. I’m just posting so as this not get the lowest amount of comments ever.
Goodluck to the lad. If Bellerin can hit it why wont he if only he is focus in doing the right thing.
in other news, how I wish its possible for chrskh and manure could both lose it will be so interesting, so since that can’t happen I Will prefer a draw between them or the cunts under the bridge should win because I didn’t want us to even move to third position for a minute. COYG
Good luck to him