Injuries may have meant that Yassin Fortune has, so far at least, been unable to be prominently involved with the Arsenal first-team squad but that could be about to change next season.
Fortune is no longer eligible for the U18s and will instead be playing for the U23s, with the French attacker looking to make a major impact at that level and prove to Arsene Wenger that he deserves to be considered for involvement in first-team training sessions at the very least.
Most comfortable as a striker but often used out wide, Fortune is excellent technically and is a fine finisher. That much was in evidence this week as the 18-year-old scored the only goal of the game in the U23s’ friendly victory over Bayern Munich.
The prospect has struggled for consistency during his two years at Arsenal but injuries certainly haven’t helped his cause and, having enjoyed an impressive end to last season, it appears that Fortune is now ready to push on and demonstrate why he is one of the club’s most exciting starlets.
The likes of Eddie Nketiah and Donyell Malen are ahead of Fortune in the pecking order at present, with that pair having been involved with the first-team in pre-season this summer.
However, should Fortune perform to the level he is capable of, the former Lens player will surely be rewarded with a first-team call-up in due course.
Perhaps at some point next season Fortune will head out on loan and it would be intriguing to see how he would fare in either the Championship or League One.
Firstly, however, the main aim for Fortune will be to put a run of games and consistent performances together for the U23s. Achieving that objective should be rather easier now that Chris Willock and Kaylen Hinds have left the club, with Fortune looking to prove why there was so much hype surrounding his arrival at Arsenal.
—
Jeorge Bird is the author of http://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/, follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
“Most comfortable as a striker but often used out wide” – Wenger’s at it again. The ‘Reverse-Thierry’ as it’s become affectionately known…
Interesting fact about young Yassin: apparently he’s a big baseball fan and has been spotted at the SunTrust Park on a number of occasions, supporting Atlanta.
Thanks for that Jeorge (nb. I assume there’s a ‘not’ missing in your first sentence). I’d been wondering what had happened to Yassin, what with all the hype around Reine-Adelaide, who joined at the same time.
Hope he may get a chance to show what he can do in whatever that MM Cup competition is called this season.
Where is the Jeff though?
Retiling Wenger’s bathroom. He’s got an issue with damp proofing and needs it all replacing. Nelson’s plumming it, Bielik on detail.
Ornstein, that you?
Too bad didn’t have Fortune with injuries. Hope he does with first team football at one point.
While Jeff reminds me of Diaby in his movement on the ball and posture, hoping he does not have the same injury record. Fortune reminds me of Henry speed, flair and good technical skills, but too many injuries at such a young age are not good. I am hoping he does well in the under 23 that Wenger can take notice of what he could bring to arsenal or goes out on loan
In the Amazon rain forests there are over a million organisms yet to be discovered same as in football. When you look at Mbappe, Dele(lookslost) Alli and Harry(shitface) Kane you wonder when last we had such luck in unearthing such talents. Of course we had the likes of Vela, Bentley, Denilson e.t.c but then bellerin Coq and Iwobi who are not yet rated world class with less game time as the manager prefers the Ox in the current setup. And why is Walcott still an Arsenal Player
Why am I not seeing my comment.
Its with me
More importantly, why are we seeing your current one?
What’s your the deal with The Jeff?
Stories from France say he’s not in Wenger’s plans.
Any truth to that Jorge?
I’m sure I join all headline writers worldwide in wishing this kid good fortune.
I guess we’ll just have to see what fortune holds