Hector Bellerin is firmly established as Arsenal’s first-choice right-back, but, beyond that, there is a considerable amount of uncertainty about the club’s options in that position.
Mathieu Debuchy, back from his loan spell at Bordeaux, has been involved in first-team training recently, but it remains to be seen whether the 30-year-old will accept being a back-up player.
Carl Jenkinson, meanwhile, is still recovering from a serious injury he suffered while on loan at West Ham United last season and is set to miss the commencement of the campaign.
Calum Chambers is another option at right-back but the prospect seems more suited to playing at the heart of the defence, and, in any case, there have been suggestions that he could be sent out on loan to further his development.
All of the above suggests that there could well be an opening for a young right-back to break into the Arsenal squad this season, especially if further injuries strike.
Tafari Moore is the club’s most experienced youngster in that position, but the England youth international is currently in Holland ahead of a possible loan move to Utrecht.
That could well open the door for Chiori Johnson. The 18-year-old perhaps isn’t as renowned as some of the club’s other youth prospects, but he could soon become a very familiar face.
The youngster spent much of last season on the sidelines, but he returned to perform impressively in the closing stages of the campaign, particularly in the FA Youth Cup.
A player who is very good technically and frequently provides an attacking threat, Johnson has also improved defensively in recent years and is capable of making vital interceptions.
He isn’t the strongest, and it is questionable whether he would be able to cope with the physicality of the Premier League at this stage in his development, but Johnson is highly regarded by Arsene Wenger, as demonstrated by the fact that he has been selected to train with the first-team squad on several occasions during pre-season.
If Johnson features and impresses in the club’s upcoming friendlies then he will do his chances of edging closer to the first-team squad no harm at all.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
Saw him play a few times for the youth games which were shown on Arsenal Player. Looks really composed, can read the game and is pacy. Good luck to the luck but with Bellerin and Jenkinson available would be helpful to see him go out on loan to a championship team same as Hector did at Watford.
I have a chant all prepared and ready to go.
We got a Big fucking Johnson, We got a big fucking Johnson. Biiiig fucking Joooooohnson, We got a big fucking Jooohnson.
Yes
Wow our academy
I’ve seen a few of the u18 highlights online, what’s the opinion on savvas mourgos and him pushing into the first team squad? He looks good in highlights but a lot of players do at that level
Let’s get our Johnson out on the pitch. Sorry. Not sorry.
I’ll take a Metro transfer story right now…
Another position Wenger needs to buy for but won’t.
Ok so here’s the story:
Some bloke said that Napoli’s radio station said we are “certainly going to sign Higuaín”…
I thought that we have changed our transfer strategy when we signed Xhaka…. but it seems we ve gone back to our usual self. Clubs are busy building their squad and we are been linked with almost all the players in the world. Arsene please wake up.