Arsenal have had a rocky start to the season ahead of the North London derby, but looking ahead their young gunners offer hope but only if their experienced players finally step up
Arsenal have stuttered into back-to-back wins after their worst start to a Premier League campaign.
After being outclassed by newly-promoted Brentford, the Gunners were blown away by the Premier League’s best.
Since then, two 1-0 wins were scraped together to resurrect the beginning of their campaign.
There have been few moments of hope for the Gunners so far this season, but when they have come they have been from some of their brilliant youngsters.
And going into games now, it appears that if Arsenal are going to get anything from them, then it will inevitably come from their young guns.
The likes of Emile Smith Rowe, Martin Ødegaard, Bukayo Saka, Aaron Ramsdale, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Kieran Tierney have the potential to form the spine of a very impressive squad in years to come.
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Reuters)
If they reach their potential, they could become a part of a team that can again challenge for titles, eventually.
However, for those youngsters to thrive now, they need the club’s experienced statesman to step up. And Arsenal’s experienced players have been failing on all accounts.
Granit Xhaka showed flashes of class at the Euro 2020, but has brought none of that back to the Premier League. Instead, the Swiss international has already been sent off
Alexandre Lacazette contract situation makes it appear that he has one eye on a move away from the Emirates, than leaving his Arsenal career to head towards its end with a whimper rather than a bang.
Between the posts, Bernd Leno’s sub-par performances have seen him dropped.
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AFP via Getty Images)
With others, there is hope.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has sometimes struggled – notably last season – but at his best remains a masterful poacher.
Thomas Partey, despite injuries, has impressed when on the pitch. In Partey they might have another experienced figurehead they could build a young squad around over the next few years.
A team like Aubameyang’s former side, Borussia Dortmund, are an example of how a young squad can be allowed to flourish, alongside veteran stars like 32-year-old pair Marco Reus and Mats Hummels.
Without them, youngsters like Erling Haaland, Gio Reyna and Jude Bellingham would perhaps not thrive as they have.
Arsenal have potential in their youngsters, but their youngsters alone are not the answer. The Gunners need their experienced players to step up.
