5 Arsenal youngsters who can become key players next season

Arsenal are in the midst of a significant transition period. The departure of Arsène Wenger has left the club in turmoil with the subsequent rebuilding process set to take years. The Frenchman was at the helm of the club for 22 years and in that time, he implemented his philosophy in every aspect of the club. Every way the club operated was the Arsène Wenger way, now they have no choice but to do things differently.

Unai Emery was appointed last summer with the promise of being the catalyst for change across the board. This would include extra competitiveness in the big games, a run for the top four and an increased defensive solidity.

In reality, some of those threatened to be true but, in the end, the Gunners are in the same position they were this time last season – no Champions League football. After being promised change, the fans are now demanding the club invest heavily in the summer by bringing in a minimum of four players.

However, the club’s failure to secure UCL football means they now have a measly transfer budget that could bring in two decent players or one good player at best. With not huge money much to spend, Arsenal may be forced to look inwards rather than outwards. First of all, they could start with the plethora of young talent in their ranks.

For any successful rebuild to take place, the club’s youth prospects must be at the forefront. Arsenal’s youth academy is one of the best in world football, regularly producing players seen across Europe’s top five leagues.

Currently, the club is frothing with exceptional young talent, that if given a chance, could become key players for the senior team. When I say key players, I don’t just mean become part of the squad, I mean building blocks for the future.

Here are 5 youngsters who can become important key players:

#5 Eddie Nketiah

Eddie Nketiah has made 8 senior appearances for Arsenal

“EDDIE, EDDIE, EDDIE” chants rang out around the Emirates on the day Eddie Nketiah announced himself to the Gunners faithful with a heroic brace in the League Cup against Norwich.

That was the night Arsenal fans fell in love with the 19-year-old, heaping all their unrealistic expectations on his young shoulders. It was amazing to see a boy that’s been at the club since the age of 15, score his first senior goal.

And what’s there not to love about Eddie Nketiah. The 19-year-old works hard challenges for every duel and displays exceptional movement in the final third. He’s always looking to make runs on the shoulder of the last defender. Some would even compare his movement to that of a certain Ian Wright.

Both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette are in the prime of their careers, at the ages of 28 and 29 respectively. That means Eddie Nketiah could become a key player for the Gunners much sooner than later.

#4 Lucas Torreira

Lucas Torreira made 34 PL appearances this season

Arsenal signed Lucas Torreira for a bargain £26 million last summer, after an impressive World Cup showing. His arrival in the team was an instant success, so much so that people seemed to forget his relatively young age. The 23-year-old eventually established himself in Emery’s first team set up and hasn’t looked back since.

Since the days of Gilberto Silva, Arsenal’s midfield has been crying out for a tough-tackling defensive midfielder. A player that will solely sit in front of the back four and look to intercept any oncoming attacks.

The Uruguayan fits that mould perfectly. His relentless pressing, unmatched work rate and intelligent positioning are all attributes that no one else in the squad possesses.

This season, the 23-year-old averaged 1.9 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game whilst maintaining an 87.4% passing accuracy. In the coming years, we’ll only continue to see the rise of Lucas Torreira’s influence on a team in transition.

#3 Mattéo Guendouzi

From Ligue 2 to the Europa League final, Mattéo Guendouzi has experienced a meteoric rise these past twelve months. A 19-year-old being purchased for £8 million suggests he’s either special or overpriced. However, there’s a reason why the price tag was so high for a player of little notoriety.

The 20-year-old has gone from obscurity to mainstream popularity and to his credit, he’s put in the performances to match. His ability to handle the bright lights swayed Emery’s hand to award him 23 starts in the Premier League.

The youngster’s exceptional passing range and bravery have allowed Arsenal to bolster their previously weak midfield. On the ball, the youngster has transformed how Arsenal transition through the middle third, this can be seen by the 1.9 times per game he’s been fouled.

The Gunners have always been accused of having no bottle or steel in the middle of the park, Guendouzi’s combative style of play negates that narrative.

#2 Ainsley Maitland-Niles

Ainsley Maitland-Niles has represented England at the U21 level

Arsenal fans describe Ainsley Maitland-Niles as ‘one of their own’ as the youngster has been at the club since the tender age of six. He’s a product of the Hale End Academy, signing his first professional contract in 2014.

Having almost lost his place at the club through the antics of Mum, Maitland-Niles has redeemed his image at the club through his undeniable talent. One loan spell at Ipswich was enough for Arsène Wenger to offer the youngster a new contract. Now Unai Emery has shown the same level of faith in his playing ability.

Naturally a central midfielder, Ainsley Maitland-Niles has rebranded himself by covering for the injured Héctor Bellerín at right-back. Throughout the season, the 22-year-old has grown and grown into the role, keeping an experienced Stephan Lichtsteiner on the bench. This season, Emery trusted the out of position youngster with 1790 minutes of first-team football.

With Aaron Ramsey starting a new life in Juventus, Arsenal is in desperate need for an energetic box-to-box midfielder. Maitland-Niles is the perfect candidate to replace the Welshman, as he’d be our explosive transitional player to help drive up the pitch.

#1 Rob Holding

Rob Holding only made 16 appearances last season

There’s an argument to be made that Rob Holding was one of Arsène Wenger’s best ever young signings. The Gunners snapped up the starlet for a minuscule £2 million back in 2016, something that could never happen in today’s ever-inflating market.

What’s amazing about Rob Holding is that even though he’s still only 23, he plays like a 32-year-old veteran. On the ball he’s calm and composed, rarely getting flustered when being hounded down by opposing attackers.

Off the ball, his positioning is calculated and astute, thus allowing him to make interceptions on a regular basis. It’s fair to say that the 22-year-old was a key fixture in Emery’s plans at the start of the season, due to his insistence on playing out from the back.

Next season, Rob Holding will compete for a starting XI spot as Emery looks for defensive replacements for the outgoing Shkodran Mustafi. And with a young Tony Adams at the back, Emery can finally deploy the possession football he wants.

Edited by Debjyoti Samanta