Arsenal are a club that hasn’t had a lot going right for them in recent years. Sure there has been some success like a few FA cup triumphs, a big win over a rival here and there, but for the most part, the general feeling amongst a lot of the fan base is a pessimistic one. This feeling has come about because of a steady decline of the club in the last few years on and off of the pitch.
From the continuous slide down the table each year in the Premier League, to going from Champions League regulars to Europa League regulars to not being in Europe at all this season, and not to mention the countless number of transfer windows where the club haven’t made the best out of, it is clear why fans have become so pessimistic about the club.
However, there is one big silver lining in the dark cloud and that is the young crop of players that are establishing themselves at the club. Bukayo Saka, who is the star man of the group, just won Man of the Match with his fearless display in England’s last game against the Czech Republic in their matchup at the Euros. He has displayed that same fearlessness all last season for the north London club.
Many fans felt like he even established himself as the Gunners best player and the club also shared the same sentiment as he was awarded Arsenal’s Player of the Year honor. His directness, pace, and trickery are some of his best attributes while his finishing could be a bit better but that will surely improve with more experience as he is still just 19 years old.
Perhaps his best attribute is that he loves the club and plays for the badge, being a Hale End graduate and Arsenal through and through. He has committed his future to the Emirates club by signing a new contract earlier this year and the club are lucky to have him for the foreseeable future.
Emile Smith-Rowe is another player that is a part of the foundation for the future. He was fighting injury in the early part of the season, but his introduction into the attack turned the Gunners fortune around in the second half of the season. They were lacking creativity in attack and Smith-Rowe provided that along with making the attack more flexible and fluid as he was able to interchange positions all across the front line.
Not only did he add creativity but his work rate off of the ball was also an attribute that helped him solidify his place in the side. Smith-Rowe, who is also a Hale End graduate, also gives everything for the badge which is always important when a player is part of the future of the club. He is said to be close to signing a new deal with the club and the Emirates club would do well to tie his future down with them.
Kieran Tierney is a very important piece to Arsenal’s youth movement. The former Celtic star has become one of their most important players, helping solidify a once leaky defence and has also added a different dimension to the attack by frequently joining in from the back and putting in menacing crosses into the box. His leadership qualities have a large fanbase tipping him to be the club’s future captain.
His presence in the side was missed dearly when he was not available for the crunch tie against Villarreal in the Europa League semi-final because of injury. That is the only concern with Tierney as he does carry the injury-prone label but with no Europe this year coupled with the fact that the Emirates club should have a backup left-back to take the pressure off of him in some games, that should help him stay fit and keep him at his best for the upcoming season. He is also close to signing a new deal to commit his future to the gunners.
Those are the main pieces to the foundation of Arsenal’s future but there are a few others players who can play a big part in the north Londoners youth movement. Gabriel Martinelli is a young exciting talent who brings pace, power, and relentlessness to the side and will surely be looking to break into Mikel Arteta’s side this upcoming season.
He had an injury setback last season but he will be fully fit and raring to go for this upcoming season. Gabriel Magalhaes is a young defender who had a good start to his Arsenal career and will be looking to build on that in this upcoming season. He had some ups and downs but he is a promising defender who will get better with more experience.
Joe Willock, who scored seven goals in his last seven games on loan at Newcastle should return to the club brimming with confidence and should also be ready to take the next step in his career. There is a bit of transfer speculation surrounding him at the moment but if the youngster stays, he can definitely be a contributor to the club next season. With these young players forming a new foundation, Arsenal’s future looks to be in good hands and they will be at the forefront of the club turning the corner and getting back to the top.
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