Mikel Arteta is incredibly popular amongst Arsenal fans, but he has still been criticised over the lack of opportunities for academy talents.
Arsenal are now competing at the top of the Premier League, but this has made it harder for the best talents from the Hale End Academy to break into the team.
In recent season, even Arteta’s pre-season squads have failed to include young talents, with Ethan Nwaneri a notable exclusion from last year’s tour, but the teenager is now staking his claim to be selected this time.
A lack of youngsters being included in friendlies does show that there is now increased squad depth within the first-team, but this was a scenario which was unimaginable under Arsene Wenger, and Arteta should now remember one consistent thing the Frenchman did ahead of the upcoming tour.
Arsene Wenger would always include youth prospects in Arsenal pre-season tours
Wenger was criticised for perceived stubbornness over transfers and tactics in his final few years at Arsenal, but one thing he remained consistent in was his use of academy starlets in pre-season.
Arteta so far has mainly used first-team squads, with the likes of Cedric Soares used in pre-season last year, and this may have led to the departure of Reuell Walters amid a lack of opportunities.
This was never the case under Wenger, who would use a mixture of first-team stars and academy youngsters to beef up his squads in pre-season. For example, a victory over Indonesia in 2013 saw eight young players included, with Serge Gnabry, Thomas Eisfield and Gedion Zelalem making particularly strong impressions.
Pre-season is perfect chance for Mikel Arteta to assess Arsenal starlets
Whilst it is fair that Arteta is reluctant to throw youngsters into the first-team with the increased pressure of a Premier League title race, pre-season comes with no such worry.
Youngsters such as Nwaneri can be given risk-free opportunities against top-level opposition in pre-season, which can help prepare them for eventual first-team football.
Even if they make mistakes, or cost Arsenal friendly victories, the experience they could gain is invaluable, and Wenger became a master at developing young talents as he was willing to take these risks.
Arteta could silence the few critics within the fanbase by handing opportunities to Arsenal’s best youngsters on the USA tour, and if they perform well, he may be tempted to try them in competitive action.
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