Sport
Arsenal completed the signing of Riccardo Calafiori on Monday, marking their most significant transfer of the summer transfer window so far. The Italian defender will strengthen the Gunners’ defensive ranks with Spain midfielder Mikel Merino also believed to be on their radar. It’s possible Mikel Arteta could also push for the signing of a new centre forward.
As new players arrive, though, a number of academy graduates are believed to be on their way out. Emile Smith Rowe is close to joining Fulham in a transfer worth a reported £34m with Eddie Nketiah a target for Marseille and Reiss Nelson the subject of a £15m offer from West Ham. All three are expected to depart the Emirates Stadium imminently.
Under Arteta, Arsenal have undoubtedly improved, but he has failed the club’s young players. With the exception of Bukayo Saka, no young player has walked the pathway between the Gunners’ youth academy and the first team in recent years. This is an area where Arteta has to do better.
Smith Rowe in particular has been let down by Arteta. The attacking midfielder played a key role in the early stages of the Spaniard’s tenure as Arsenal manager, but has been marginalised in recent times. Of course, Smith Rowe has suffered injury troubles, but there should still be a role for him at the Emirates Stadium.
Nketiah proved himself as a useful option for Arsenal after Gabriel Jesus suffered an injury in the second half of the 2022/23 season. Thrust into the first team, the striker contributed four goals in nine starts in the Premier League and helped keep the Gunners’ title challenge on track with Jesus on the sidelines.
The following season, though, Nketiah started just 10 league games over the full campaign. The attackers’ last start of the season came before the turn of the year with Nketiah afforded very little game time after that. At times, it felt like the 25-year-old had been written off by Arteta no matter what he did on the pitch.
Nelson is another Arsenal youngster who has been denied the chance to build any sort of consistency in his development. The wide player enjoyed relatively successful loan periods at Hoffenheim and Feyenoord, but was never able to establish himself as a first team figure for his parent club.
In the days of Arsene Wenger, Arsenal earned a reputation for being one of the most prolific producers of young talent in the Premier League. It became a key element of the North London club’s identity. More recently, though, Arsenal’s academy has been cut off. The conveyer belt has slowed down.
Ethan Nwaneri has made a strong impression for Arsenal in pre-season this summer. “It’s always in the hands of the players, so show what you can do,” Arteta said about the 17-year-old when asked about his chances in the first team this season. “Show that ambition, that determination, that quality and things will happen naturally.”
It’s difficult to integrate young talent when a team is chasing a title. Arteta has put a lot of effort into bulking up the depth of his squad to allow Arsenal to take on the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City and that doesn’t leave much scope for academy graduates to get their start in the first team.
Pep Guardiola, however, has managed it to a certain degree with Rico Lewis and Oscar Bobb both given an opportunity by the City manager last season. Jason McAtee is another youngster who could make an impression this term. Arteta must prove that he can give a platform to his own academy in the same way.
