Brighton vs Arsenal: Arteta’s new way forward must be based on developing young talent

Arteta's best bet may be opting for youth.
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Alan Smith19 June 2020

And there was me wondering if an empty stadium would somehow close the gap. Well, it didn’t take long at the Etihad on Wednesday to disprove that theory. Three months on, Manchester City are still a fantastic side and Arsenal still lag way behind.

Forget about David Luiz and his latest blunders. That’s just a distraction in the big picture. Mikel Arteta must somehow find a way to turn this side into a serious outfit capable of winning trophies. To do that, though, a manager normally needs money — and plenty of it.

But Arsenal, as we know, don’t have tons of the stuff. They’ve got to be clever and creative in the transfer market to turn over a squad short on quality.

So, here’s an idea. If there’s no quick fix available, why not turn this into a long-term project by investing in youth and potential? Go out and source the most promising talent and bring it back to the Emirates to place straight in the first team.

In Pictures | Man City vs Arsenal | 17/06/2020

1/67

That would be the carrot for any emerging stars — you don’t have to wait patiently on the fringes for two or three years before getting a chance like you would at one of Europe’s more successful clubs. No, you’re thrown straight into the mix to learn on your feet. That’s got to be an attractive selling point for aspiring young souls, to join a famous club like Arsenal and play right away.

Because, let’s not forget, the Gunners still have some pull. The magnificent stadium, the superb training ground, the history and, perhaps crucially, we’re talking London, which appeals to many players.

Of course, mistakes will be made during this learning process, mistakes that end up costing points. But Arteta is a good enough coach to make sure these players also get better in time, both individually and as a unit.

The Spaniard already has two talented young full-backs in Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney. And William Saliba will be joining for the start of next season. By all accounts, the 19-year-old has blown everyone away with his performances for Saint-Etienne. The word is, scouts from big clubs cannot believe Saliba escaped their net.

So, you’re very nearly there in terms of a back four. It shouldn’t be beyond Arsenal’s recruitment team to find one or two more, rather than spending fortunes on thirtysomethings like Luiz.

But a key part of this project is being up front with the fans, admitting the club can’t afford big transfers, so are heading down this road. I think fans would buy into that. Yes, there will be bumps along the way, but how exciting to see a talented young group mature to become something substantial.

To me, that seems the best way forward. Perhaps the only way to keep Arteta inspired. Because if an ambitious manager can’t see progress, why would they hang around?

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in