Arsenal have let several youth academy prospects leave the club in the last few days, and Mikel Arteta has been criticised for an apparent lack of faith in them.
Fans were frustrated earlier this season when the likes of Ethan Nwaneri and Reuell Walters failed to appear in a Champions League dead-rubber tie against PSV Eindhoven, and Lino Sousa today completed a permanent move to Aston Villa.
It has been claimed by some that Arteta has not given chances to the best players in the academy, and deadline day has seen the likes of Miguel Azeez depart.
However, Charles Sagoe Jr, who completed a loan move to Swansea City, has now praised Arteta for how he has treated him and his agemates from the academy.
Charles Sagoe Jr praises Mikel Arteta
Speaking to Swansea club media following his loan move, which will see him link up with Charlie Patino, Sagoe Jr thanked Arteta for the opportunities handed to him.
“When the manager trusts in the youth, that gives a confidence boost to all of us really,” he stated.
“When we go over for training we could have that opportunity of being on the bench or even coming on, so I just try to take training by day and perform.”
Mikel Arteta has given youth players opportunities
Although young teenagers such as Nwaneri have not seen the pitch this season, they have been part of matchday squads, and with Arsenal aiming to compete in the Premier League title race and the Champions League, opportunities were never going to be easy.
Sagoe Jr was given a surprise start in the Carabao Cup, whilst Nwaneri was made the youngest Premier League player in history when he came off the bench away at Brentford last season.
The likes of Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah are first-team regulars under Arteta, but when they broke through, they were coming into an underperforming side, with no title pressure, and could compete in the Europa League.
It is unrealistic to expect inexperienced players to feature much between now and the end of the season, but simply training with the first-team and appearing on the bench will clearly aid their development before they eventually receive their chance.
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