With the costs of the pandemic still rising, belt tightening will be a thing for most football clubs when everything gets back going. Already likely to miss out on Champions League football, our transfer budget wasn't expected to huge anyway.
This season has seen a number of youngsters get a lot of minutes, and there is a good chance they will continue to do so next season.
So who are our best hopes?
1 - Gabriel Martinelli
Will be turning only 19 in June, but has already shown huge potential in his first season at Arsenal. Signed from the lower leagues in Brazil, this season was meant to be one of acclimatising. However, 10 goals and 4 assists in 26 appearances (15 starts, 11 sub apps) across 4 competitions is a very good return.
With the futures of Aubameyang and Lacazette in doubt, Arsenal hopes may lay in the lap of Martinelli a lot earlier than many thought.
2 - William Saliba
There is so much expectation on the central defender currently on loan at St Etienne. Signed from the French club last summer, the 19 year old only has 36 first team appearances to his name. However, his reputation is already growing and there is already unfair pressure on him to solve our long term issues. With David Luiz, Sokratis and Mustafi all coming to their last years of their contracts, Chambers long term injured, and Holding yet to find form after his own injury woe, Saliba and expected permanent addition Pablo Mari are beginning to be hyped up as our near future CB partnership.
3 - Bukayo Saka
Starting the season as a 17 year old winger, Saka has made 29 first team appearances this season mainly as a left back. He has impressed most, and the big question now is whether to concentrate on developing him at left back or let him revert to a winger. He has 3 goals and numerous assists to his name this season. There are definitely opportunities in the team in the more advanced role, with Aubameyang and Martinelli among those used there, whereas their is still hope Tierney will come good at LB.
4 - Emile Smith-Rowe
The heir to the #10 throne. Ljungberg gave him a PL start against Everton, to add to Europa and League Cup starts, before he was loaned to Championship side Huddersfield. He has impressed for them, starting 8 of the 10 games he has been available for. Turning 20 in the summer, next season could be his chance to make a case. Ozil's contract is coming to an end, and there will surely be chances for Smith-Rowe to make a claim for the role.
5 - Eddie Nketiah
After starting just 2 league games while on loan at Leeds, Eddie was surprisingly chosen to start ahead of Lacazette in our last 3 games. He scored an important equaliser in a 3-2 win over Everton and his inclusion coincided with a run of 3 wins in our last 3 league games before the suspension of the league. Nketiah is 21 in a month, and will be watching the Auba and Laca situations with interest.
6 - Reiss Nelson
Went into this season in the strongest position of the kids. Starts against Newcastle and Burnley gave him a chance to shine as new signing Pepe was given time to settle. However, Nelson hasn't really taken his chances. Has shown glimpses of his quality - most notably in the FA Cup and Europa - but hasn't secured a role. Will be fighting against the younger Martinelli and Saka for game time, never mind the more experienced players. Only 20, but you feel he really needs to take any further chance he gets or he could fall down the pecking order.
7 - Joe Willock
Another 20 year old who started the season in the starting XI but fell down the pecking order as the season went on. Has started 6 times in the PL, with the first 3 games of the season being half of them. Joe scored 4 goals, 2 in the Europa and 2 in the EFL Cup including a screamer against Liverpool in a mad 5-5 draw, but his lack of a PL goal highlights his struggle to step up to the very top level. There remains a bit of uncertainty of his best role in the XI, and faces a challenge from Smith-Rowe in his favoured role behind the striker.
8 - Folarin Balogun
Yet to make the pitch for the first team, despite being on the bench for the Forest league cup game, Balogun is prolific for the U-23s. Looks to be more acclompished than Nketiah in build up play, while still having the quality to find the net, Balogun will surely see Nketiah in the first XI as a sign he too can make it. Will surely get chances in the League Cup and Europa (if we are in it) next season, if he doesn't go out on loan. Soon to turn 19, will be eager to show he can translate his reserve team form to senior football.
Some to look out for in the future:
Miguel Azeez - stylish CM with a good passing range.
Joel Lopez - the latest steal from Barca, left back.
Catalin Cirjan - Romanian creative midfielder.
Sam Greenwood - The next striker on the production line.
Ben Cottrell - Attacking midfielder who has started to impress at U23 level.
Matt Smith - Defensive midfielder, good on the ball, good passer.
With one of the youngest managers about, are we about to see Project Youth 2? Will we see an English Core that becomes an important part of the team? Or will they all be playing for the likes of Brentford, AFC Wimbledon and Leyton Orient in the next couple of years (Hi Pete) ?
Our bright hopes.
posted on 28/4/20
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 43 minutes ago
Tierney has a lot to prove as well. Firstly that he can stay fit for more than a couple of games.
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Churlishness to one side, he is still considered one of the world's best talents in his position. He does sometimes play at centre back for Scotland, but he doesn't look like on to me.
Personally, I feel that Martinelli is a striker, not a winger. Would be much happier with Saka in front of Tierney.
posted on 28/4/20
But if he cannot stay fit he won’t amount to much. Arsenal should know that better than most, they’ve had quite a few young talents that have been hampered by injury.
posted on 28/4/20
comment by Joe The King Exotic (U10026)
posted 3 minutes ago
But if he cannot stay fit he won’t amount to much. Arsenal should know that better than most, they’ve had quite a few young talents that have been hampered by injury.
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It's really rather early to be writing him off, though. Sounds a bit like wishful thinking from you, tbh.
posted on 28/4/20
Is it? I’m indifferent to the player as I’ve not seen him play much. But his injury record is obviously something to consider when looking at his future prospects. Especially at a club that have a history regarding injuries.
posted on 28/4/20
Tierney is the Scottish Debuchy.
posted on 28/4/20
Williams, he's impressed me.
posted on 28/4/20
Williams doesn’t play for Arsenal.
posted on 29/4/20
Even if we do start relying more on our Academy players, I wouldn't consider it to be 'Project Youth 2', as the first was, in hindsight, more a manager (Wenger) running out of ideas having seen injuries, fluctuating form, and out of contract players wreck the squad he'd previously built.
If Arteta turns to younger players, for me it'll feel more like when George Graham arrived and promptly started ousting the 'big-time Charlies' from the team.
Luckily for him, he had an exceptional group coming through the ranks at that point. Hopefully for Mikel, he'll find himself similarly well placed.
posted on 1/5/20
At the AST meeting there was talk of "players sold for profit". I reckon it could include a few of these, the question is who will b able to make a big enough profit. Could be goodbye to the likes of Saka and Martinelli as well as Auba. And I wonder what interest rate Kronke will charge on the loan he gives us?
posted on 1/5/20
Doubt we'd contemplate selling Martinelli next window, as I think he'll be taking over from Laca or Auba next season.
Saka is a difficult one to call though. My gut tells me he'll be kept, but it wouldn't surprise me if we felt we had to sell him, if the money on offer was right.