Arsenal start their latest FA Cup journey at home to Liverpool in January, so here are four players who can make their first start of the 2023/24 season under Mikel Arteta.
The FA drew Arsenal to meet Liverpool in the third round of the 143rd edition of the world’s oldest national football competition in December. It pits two of the most successful teams in the tournament’s history against each other. No side has won the FA Cup more than Arsenal.
Liverpool sit joint-third with eight FA Cup titles to their name but a record 14 are in Arsenal’s trophy cabinet. Coach Arteta led the Gunners to their last title in the competition in 2019/20 after replacing Unai Emery in charge. While Arsene Wenger took a managerial record seven.
Arsenal have won the FA Cup a record 14 times
Arsenal have struggled in the FA Cup since Arteta won the trophy in his first term in charge at Emirates Stadium. The north London club crashed out in the fourth round in 2020/21 and 2022/23. Arsenal even bowed out in the third round in 2021/22 away to Nottingham Forest.
But the visit of Liverpool to Emirates Stadium on Sunday, January 7 offers Arteta a chance to award some of Arsenal’s fringe players and future stars their first starts of the 23/24 season. So, with that in mind, here are four options for Arteta to unleash against Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Amario Cozier-Duberry
Arteta will know Arsenal cannot take Liverpool lightly if they want to progress in the FA Cup. The Gunners drew 1-1 at Anfield on December 23 and meet their Premier League title rivals again on February 4. But he has kept a clutch of Arsenal’s academy talents around the team.
The Spaniard also started Charles Sagoe Jr at Brentford in the Carabao Cup for the 19-year-old’s senior Arsenal debut. He may even include the winger against Liverpool in the FA Cup, as well. But Amario Cozier-Duberry should rival Sagoe Jr to possibly make his senior debut.
Cozier-Duberry has enjoyed a regular presence around Arteta’s team at London Colney over the last two seasons. He also made the Gunners’ bench for the first time in September 2022 for a Europa League tie with FC Zurich. But the winger is still yet to register his senior debut.
Arteta has again considered Cozier-Duberry for first-team squads this season, including for a Champions League tie against Sevilla. The 18-year-old has also offered Arsenal’s U21s a regular goal threat. He has five goals and two assists across eight Premier League 2 games.
Myles Lewis-Skelly
Another gem from Arsenal’s academy who could make their first start of 23/24 in the FA Cup against Liverpool is Myles Lewis-Skelly. The 17-year-old is already seizing Arteta’s attention with his U21 displays to take a seat on their bench against RC Lens and Brighton this season.
Arteta had not named Lewis-Skelly in a first-team squad before their Champions League tie with Lens at Emirates Stadium. It also followed the defensive midfielder earning his England U18 debut in September. The Hale Ender is also already a fixture of their Under-21 PL2 side.
Lewis-Skelly has enjoyed six PL2 appearances so far this season, in which he has also taken a goal and two assists. Manager Mehmet Ali has relished his technical talents in the core of their junior engine room. Jack Wilshere also adored what he offered in their U18s last term.
“Him and Ethan [Nwaneri], what they do at 16 – let’s remember, Ethan and Myles are a little bit younger – how they’re able to dominate and manage moments in a game and drive a team is impressive,” Arsenal U18 manager Wilshere said, via The Arsenal Way, in April 2023.
Ethan Nwaneri
Nwaneri is another Arsenal academy talent who could enjoy their first senior start of 23/24 against Liverpool in the FA Cup. The 16-year-old already made Premier League history away to Brentford in September 2022 when he became the Gunners’ youngster-ever player at 15.
He took the record off Cesc Fabregas (16 years and 177 days) at only 15 years and 181 days old. But Arteta is yet to afford the midfielder a second senior appearance to date. Instead, Nwaneri has had to settle for a seat on their bench four times across all competitions since.
Arteta has offered Nwaneri a backup spot several times this term, including against RC Lens and PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League. He also got a spot on the bench against West Ham United in the Premier League. So, it is surely just a matter of time before he gets a start.
Reuell Walters
Arteta has named Reuell Walters among Arsenal’s substitutes more than a dozen times since his maiden inclusion in March 2023. Yet the 19-year-old is still waiting for his senior debut at the Emirates. Despite his regular appearances on the bench, he has not made it onto a field.
Walters was even a substitute for eight of Arsenal’s final 11 Premier League games of 22/23. He has since returned to Arteta’s bench for top-flight games, their Carabao Cup win away to Brentford and their draw at PSV Eindhoven to round out the Champions League group stage.
Arteta could now finally offer Walters his first senior start when Arsenal host Liverpool in the FA Cup. The Gunners’ U21 enforcer has already featured 48 times at the junior level. He also offers versatility with appearances as a centre-half, right-back and even as a right midfielder.
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