Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta continues to reap the rewards of the membership’s spectacular manufacturing of younger expertise, with Hale Finish graduate Bukayo Saka having been a number one determine within the Gunners’ title cost.
The England worldwide – who netted for the Three Lions in opposition to Ukraine at Wembley on Sunday – already boasts a standout haul of 12 objectives and ten assists within the Premier League this season, making certain that the 21-year-old is the one participant within the division to achieve double figures for each metrics.
The teen’s rise from promising teen to first-team star has rubberstamped the advantages of selling from inside, with fellow ahead Emile Smith Rowe one other who appears to be like set to have a giant half to play on the Emirates transferring ahead, regardless of being hampered by harm this time period.
For all of the plaudits which are flooding the way in which of the “sensational” Saka, particularly – as hailed by pundit Alex McCleish – the main target for Arteta and co shall be to make sure that the academy ranks proceed to churn out thrilling younger expertise over the approaching years.
It will seem at current that there are a selection of eye-catching gems who’re simply ready to be unleashed within the senior set-up, with teenage centre-back Zach Awe one such asset who may very well be given an opportunity to shine sooner quite than later.
Who’s Arsenal’s Zach Awe?
The “promising” defender – as lauded by Layth Yousif – has been a standout presence at youth stage in current occasions, having notably featured 22 occasions in all competitions to this point this time period, scoring twice from his centre-back berth.
The highly-regarded 19-year-old – who signed a skilled contract with the membership again in February 2021 – has been on the cusp of the primary crew of late, having been coaching with Arteta’s squad forward of the Europa League conflict with Bodo/Glimt again in October.
The London-born starlet could be hoping to push for a daily function underneath the Spaniard within the close to future, with the Gunners at present missing high quality, centre-back depth exterior the first-choice pairing of William Saliba and Gabriel.
January arrival Jakub Kiwior was notably dubbed “embarrassing” by talkSPORT pundit Dean Ashton after making an error on debut in opposition to Sporting CP earlier this month, whereas long-serving dud Rob Holding has additionally regarded unconvincing when he has been concerned, with the Englishman having “made errors” over time, as per pundit Darren Bent.
It stays to be seen what long-term future Holding can have on the Emirates, with the £40k-per-week earner having simply over a 12 months left on his contract and with The Solar solely just lately reporting that the previous Bolton Wanderers man may very well be a part of a mass, summer season exodus.
If the peripheral determine is to depart any time quickly, then selling younger Awe ought to seemingly be on the minds of Arteta and co, with the latter man having been hailed as a ‘commanding centre-back’ who has an ‘spectacular passing vary and management qualities’, as per the membership’s official web site.
Such high quality was evident through the former England youth worldwide’s 4 outings within the EFL Trophy earlier this season as he scored as soon as and averaged 0.8 key passes per sport as an example his prowess on the ball, whereas additionally proving a rock-solid asset on the again after averaging 4.8 clearances, 2.8 interceptions and 1.5 tackles per sport.
Holding, against this, has regarded far much less spectacular throughout his eight Premier League appearances this time period, having failed to attain or common a single key move, whereas additionally averaging simply 0.6 clearances, 0.4 interceptions and nil tackles per 90.
Whereas Awe’s shows had been from only a small pattern measurement, that spectacular statistical file ought to point out that has the instruments wanted to go on to flourish at senior stage, with that transfer into the first-team ranks probably to assist assist Holding’s departure from the membership.
