Arsenal youngster addresses concerning Mikel Arteta theory after loan switch

02 February 2024 , 10:12

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been accused of not playing academy talents enough

Mikel Arteta is highly revered by Arsenal fans but some feel his management style has one clear fault.

The Gunners boss has been accused of not placing enough faith in the club's youngest talents. At first, that accusation may be particularly confusing given Arsenal nearly won the title last term with one of the youngest sides in the Premier League, but fans have argued there could be an even clearer pathway from academy to first-team.

Hopes were very high for Ethan Nwaneri, who became the youngest player in history to appear in a Premier League match during Arsenal's 3-0 win away at Brentford last season. Nwaneri came off the bench at just 15 years of age to make history, but has not made a senior appearance since.

Players like Myles Lewis-Skelly, Amario Cozier-Duberry and Reuell Walters have all been catching the eye of those who watch Arsenal's academy sides on a regular basis, yet none of them have earned any first-team minutes as of yet.

Those who hold the belief that Arteta doesn't trust his academy enough are unlikely to have had their mind changed on deadline day. The final day of the transfer window saw no new faces come in, but plenty of young ones leave either on loan or permanent exits.

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Teenage duo Bradley Ibrahim and Lino Sousa have both ended their Arsenal stays for good, joining Hertha Berlin and Aston Villa respectively. Miguel Azeez, 21, has also bid farewell and put pen to paper on a deal with Atletico Baleares.

Khayon Edwards has joined Leyton Orient on loan, Under-21s captain Zane Monlouis will spend the rest of the season with Reading. Charles Sagoe Jr, who has made a first-team appearance this term against Brentford in the Carabao Cup, has upped sticks to Swansea on loan.

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Charles Sagoe Jr made his Arsenal first-team debut earlier this season and has since joined Swansea City on loan

Sagoe Jr will link up with another Arsenal talent already at the Liberty Stadium on loan in Charlie Patino, but has actually spoken out in defence of Arteta when it comes to placing his faith in academy talents. Discussing the Arsenal boss, the 19-year-old claimed: "When the manager trusts in the youth, that gives a confidence boost to all of us really.

"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."

The fact that Arsenal have been eliminated from both domestic cups suggest the teenage talent waiting in the wings may not get much game-time this term, but Arteta has proven he's more than willing to play youngsters - just ask Sagoe Jr.

Josh O'Brien