Last night’s victory over Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup evoked memories of when many youngsters used to get opportunities in the first-team under Arsene Wenger.
In recent years there haven’t been quite as many chances for prospects, but a lot of those who were involved against Bolton certainly made an impact, with Ethan Nwaneri continuing his hugely impressive development with two goals.
Josh Nichols (who was making his senior debut) and Myles Lewis-Skelly impressed in the full-back positions, while 16-year-old Jack Porter made an unexpectedly early debut in goal and will have benefited hugely from the experience.
Defender Maldini Kacurri and winger Ismeal Kabia also made their debuts in the second half and it is hoped that there will be more chances for youngsters to impress away to Preston North End in the fourth round.
Games such as last night are hugely important for the academy as a whole as it gives other prospects belief that they too could feature eventually.
Kacurri, for instance, has only really established himself in the U21 side this season, while Kabia broke in at that level in the second half of last season after previously enduring much misfortune with injuries.
There are plenty of other prospects waiting in the wings for their opportunities and they may well now feel more hopeful that chances will come their way.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
This is exactly what you want. In retrospect a lot of the blame thrown on Arteta for not playing academy players in recent years was unfair, we simply got very unlucky cup draws in early rounds and there’s not much you can do about that, if you want a chance of winning ties against Premier League teams you just can’t do it with the sort of lineup like we had yesterday. Plus many of these players weren’t as ready as they are now. A lot of the plaudits have gone to Nwaneri deservedly but I’m personally as excited about MLS,… Read more »
Well said, Arteta doesn’t just give away senior appearances, you have to be at a certain level and we currently have an exceptional group of 17 year olds.
That doesn’t happen annually unfortunately, most don’t make it at a club like Arsenal but still have decent careers elsewhere. That isn’t a failure of the club or manager it’s football.
Plus Chido Obi Martin and Duberry, how Cozier could have been?
Apparently Martin is stll in negotiations with plans to be put in the U-18s at MU, and Cozier-Duberry was loaned to Blackburn where he has played 13 mins.
Should have put my MLS comment here.Totally agree and maybe my eyes are lying, but he looks so much more comfortable tracking back to me that Zinky and kind of Califori (but that may be low sample size). Can see MLS / Cali left side becoming our go to options for the next while. Granted this was not Man City – but the variations on the left in this game looks like a revelation over last season.
Yeah, MLS looks like a massive talent and there would be more hype around him if Ethan wasn’t here. So much upper body strength at his age, composure in spades, top mentality too. I honestly didn’t notice that he was an academy player. His movements were in sync and his decision making was sound. Influenced the game when it was on, kept it simple when it wasn’t. Top performance.
Tough for them to progress up to the first team given our standards but love it when they do.
The more the merrier!
Indeed. A lot of people don’t realize that the primary purpose of a top academy is to identify and develop good players for the market, with the added benefit that a few of those players will prove good enough and a good fit for our 1st team, without having to pay a transfer fee. The occurrence of those players who are good enough for the 1st team is never guaranteed year on year so when you are under pressure to deliver trophies and competing with the likes of 115 (130 now?) and manage minutes for senior squad players it’s ridiculous… Read more »
@JeorgeBird nights like last night are the ultimate palette cleanser for all the bullshit we deal with in the EPL with narratives and refs and VAR etc.
For you I imagine it is even more enjoyable. Keep up the great work with the academy reporting.
tough to cleanse shit from the palette, but last night might just have done it. These youngsters are like fine pickled ginger, to be sampled between servings of stinky faeces (like the ref at City) and the luscious sashimi we’re hopefully about to be served at Leicester and throughout October.
Last night’s game was the most enjoyable for me so far this season. It reminded me of games of a decade or more ago when the standards of the opposition weren’t as high and we would regularly have all the possession and dictate the tempo of the game. It was nice to get a taste of it again and hopefully we’ll see more of the same against Preston.
I did feel a sorry for Ayden Heaven – 6 youngsters got their shot and he missed out. I suspect that when Gabriel came on, the score was 3-1 and Arteta might have felt the game state was still too risky for a new defender. Pity though.
Yeah, interesting to see Kacurri come on ahead of him. From the start though I totally get not playing a backline full of academy kids with Nichols making his debut at RB and Porter in goal too. Even Arsene would always play more experienced guys at CB and spread the youth out elsewhere.
MLS potentially our long term starting LB – maybe next season is too soon? But he looks the real deal. Tried that killer pass early on and then got it right on the next try to Stirling. Bit naive forcing one into Kiwi of all people that started the breakaway. Love his confidence and technique on the ball and passing vision – think he’ll be massive for us even tho LB is comically loaded with players right now.
Because we are short of LBs? Feels tough for him to get into that position for a while.
Maybe not so tough. My feeling is that that Arteta wants him to compete with Calafiori as the first choice players out there. If you look at the profile, what doesn’t he have? Top physicality. Top mentality. Makes great decisions. Already showing he can blend in to the first team and have an impact in defense AND attack. That already makes him a better option than Zinchenko or Tomiyasu. He just has to show it over a larger sample and against better opposition.
I agree, I was hugely impressed with him. If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.
I don’t have much to base this on but I have in mind that MLS will be back in midfield within a few years. I see him as a defensive or box to box midfielder. Or a 6 or 8, in the parlance of our time.
Last night reminded me of how we used to approach this competition under Wenger, but has been years since we’ve given anywhere near this many youngsters a chance. Of course we’ve drawn some PL opponents early in this Cup (and the FA Cup) lately so has made it tough to field a young lineup. Was nice to see them surrounded by so many players with international experience (Jesus, Saka, Sterling, Rice, Kiwior and Calafiori).
So fun watching the young guns, they are so hungry but also uninhibited in a way that adds something different. Their enthusiasm really makes us spark and can’t wait to see more of them. I think Miles would be a killer in midfield. And Ethan more than showing he’s ready to cover for the captain.
I understand why a lot of people are earmarking MLS for a future left back role, but I actually think the breakthrough opportunity might come in midfield. It’s unlikely either Jorginho or Partey will be with us next season and it’ll be tough to replace both in the same window. Could be a big opportunity for MLS if he continues to impress.
I don’t know about playing at the 6. He has the tools no doubt about it, but it’s a position that requires a lot of responsibility and usually comes with age. Not a lot of teenage single pivots out there. The closest I can think of is Lavia, who is 24. I think he could play the Rice role in midfield as well, and that’s an area to watch.