With Arsenal suffering from a case of mistaken identity in recent performances, there has followed an ocean of speculation regarding a solution. As I recently touched upon in another blog, the formation of the team seems to be hindering the performance.
By including two superb strikers, Emery has altered the balance of the team and unless he starts with a 4-4-2 or a 3-1-4-2, these problems will be ongoing.
Unai Emery praises his young Arsenal players pic.twitter.com/LLfhHte0M3
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) September 20, 2019
Arsenal’s sparkling win in the Europa League game against Eintracht Frankfurt highlighted the quality of the academy players after a number of more established players failed at Watford.
Smith Rowe was steady but a little unsure. There were touches and glimpses of quality and the shape of things to come but Willock and particularly Saka, showed that they are at the level that Arsenal need.
Martin Kroenke thought that Saka’s performance was excellent put Pepe in the shade and on this occasion he would be right but a young player needs time in a new country, new league and with expectations running high.
Having said that, with Lacazette’s injury, Aubameyang can go back to the traditional striker role and his wide position could go to
Bukayo Saka.
Willock could go in the holding role in Arsenal midfield with Guendouzi or Torreira but it’s thought that Emery may push his diminutive Uruguayan power house further forward. The time may have arrived to experiment with the academy players because the team lacks shape and desire.
READ MORE: Is There Truly No End In Sight To This Sea Of Defensive Frailties At Arsenal?
Arsenal Youth brings with it a lack of fear and unlimited ambition and although some players choke on the big stage, Emery needs points on the board and it doesn’t really matter how he gets them.
The Spaniard could use the second half performance against Watford as an excuse to shake things up a bit at Arsenal and who could blame him. He himself, has come under the scrutiny of the British press in recent weeks and apparently a well known betting company has lowered its odds for his dismissal.
👋 @ArsenalAcademy reporting for #UEL duty
Next stop: Frankfurt ✈️ pic.twitter.com/V7tioRQr4x
— Arsenal Academy (@ArsenalAcademy) September 18, 2019
Quite what Emery makes of it all is a mystery. He probably doesn’t care or hasn’t even read it. The predicament on the pitch is more deserving of his attention and than dwelling on the negatives of a group of people with raised poison pens and insatiable appetites for obscure nonsense and tittle tattle.
Emery needs to stick to his principals but he also needs to show that Arsenal have the quality to climb into the top four to continue his rebuilding plan.
Arsenal have an academy at their disposal that is recognised, at this moment in time, as one of the best in the country. Arsenal need to provide genuine opportunities for these players to flourish and reach their full potential.
Some of the players that we thought had the talent, have been sold on without us really knowing if that was the correct decision for the club.
These players include Xavier Amaechi, Dominic Thompson, Isaac Hayden, Serge Gnarby, Charlie Gilmour, Cohen Bramall, Krystian Bielik, Kelechi Nwakali and Vlad Dragomir, were thought to have a bright future but they made way for more established stars, triggering memories of when Arsenal only had an academy to sell off the majority of its players to balance the books.
Doing us proud 🙌
☺️ @BukayoSaka87 pic.twitter.com/elYjeyldUu
— Arsenal Academy (@ArsenalAcademy) September 19, 2019
We’ve yet to see if Emery is sincere in promoting young players. So far it’s looking good but the further Arsenal are from success, will they buy ready made stars or create them ? It’s all going to be very interesting.
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