Arsenal wonderkid Trae Coyle is back at it again. The Arsenal youth product, who previously came to light after scoring a goal from the halfway line against the Barcelona U-15 team, invited comparisons with Lionel Messi after taking a penalty just like the Argentine wizard’s effort against Celta Vigo.
In an academy match, Trae Coyle stepped up to take a penalty for the Arsenal youth side and calmly rolled the ball to an onrushing teammate, who crashes the ball home, in a move reminiscent of Barcelona’s controversial penalty against Celta Vigo that stirred much debate after Lionel Messi set up Luis Suarez, with many claiming the move was disrespectful.
Whether there is much disrespect aimed by Trae Coyle with his effort is perhaps not up for much debate, as this is probably teenage exuberance, as Coyle attempts to emulate Messi, who is probably his footballing idol. Despite his tender years, Coyle might have already gone down in Gunners history as the first Arsenal player to correctly execute the tandem penalty.
Gunners legends Thierry Henry and Robert Pires famously botched up an attempt at the tandem penalty against Manchester City in a Premier League fixture in 2005, as Pires miskicked the ball, thus allowing Manchester City to clear, which left the Arsenal duo red-faced with embarrassment.
Coyle seems to have no such hangups as Pires, as the Arsenal youngster is a picture of confidence on the pitch in his fledgling Arsenal career. The prodigy previously came to light with a wonderful goal from the halfway line last season, as he scored straight from kickoff against a Barcelona U-15 side.
Perhaps it won’t be long before we see Coyle passing it to an onrushing Walcott for the Arsenal first team.