Arteta must soon unleash “Hale End’s finest” talent who’s yet to make Arsenal debut – opinion
The Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta is currently dealing with an unfortunate situation where several players, including Leandro Trossard, Kieran Tierney, and Eddie Nketiah, were absent from training before the team’s Europa League game against Sporting due to injuries.
Due to the absence of Trossard, Tierney, and Nketiah, and Gabriel Jesus’ return being too soon for the Europa League match against Sporting, Arsenal’s coach Mikel Arteta is facing a shortage of attacking options. As a result, he may have to rely on Emile Smith Rowe or Gabriel Martinelli to play as an unconventional striker, but there is also a possibility that he may consider giving a chance to the academy talent Amario Cozier-Duberry. It is uncertain when Cozier-Duberry will make his debut for Arsenal, but with Arteta’s current dilemma, there is a chance that some academy players will get a chance to showcase their skills, and Cozier-Duberry may be one of them.
However, there is a possibility that Cozier-Duberry may have to overcome his own injury first, as he was substituted at half-time during the U21s’ recent loss to Liverpool. Arsenal will be hoping that the teenager’s injury does not sideline him for too long, as the second leg of the Europa League match next week could be the perfect opportunity to introduce him to the team.
Despite being named in the matchday squad multiple times this season, Cozier-Duberry has yet to make his debut for Arsenal. He is considered one of the top prospects in the academy, with talent scout Jacek Kulig describing him as “Hale End’s finest” in late 2022.
The 17-year-old winger has already scored ten goals and provided six assists in just 22 appearances for the U18 and U21 teams this season, an impressive record for a player who primarily operates on the flanks.
If Arsenal’s attacking injury crisis persists and they manage to secure a win next week, it is plausible that Arteta may consider using Cozier-Duberry in a more central role. The young winger has showcased his abilities in the Football League Trophy, scoring two goals and creating a big chance in two outings while earning an impressive rating of 7.95/10 on Sofascore. This demonstrates that he could potentially excel in a more central position if required.
Arteta’s main priority is achieving Premier League success, but the Europa League provides him with an opportunity to rotate his squad. However, even he would not have predicted having to deal with so many injuries to key players.
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