Mikel Arteta undoubtedly learned a lot from his old Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola to shape the early years of his coaching career. But the Arsenal manager must also take heed of how willing his compatriot is to give chances to younger players.
Arsenal and City both had dead-rubber matches in the Champions League this week. The Gunners took on PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday, while City travelled to Serbia to play Red Star Belgrade.
It was the dream scenario for Arteta upon the club’s return to the big European stage, having already secured top spot before the final group game. Many Arsenal fans called for the entirety of their first XI to be rested.
Following Saturday’s loss to Aston Villa, Arsenal want to be at their peak to get back to winning ways in the Premier League against Brighton this weekend and not risk unnecessary injuries. Supporters felt it was the perfect opportunity to give players a breather but also blood a few youngsters.
Arteta said all the right things in the pre-match press conference and it was widely expected he would give a few a chance on Tuesday. Ethan Nwaneri, Reuell Walters and Lino Sousa all made the trip to Eindhoven, with just one senior appearance between them.
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But there was frustration on social media amongst fans when none of the three were in the starting XI. Arteta instead chose to give the likes of Cedric Soares and Mohamed Elneny game time, players whose futures at the club look bleak, as well as keeping William Saliba and Gabriel in the starting XI despite heavy workloads of late.
The game finished 1-1 and Arteta did not find the “right moment” to bring any of the teenagers on. He said afterwards that it was “too much” for them. But if they don’t play in a game in those circumstances, there may never be a right moment.
Twenty-four hours later, City were in a similar position in Serbia knowing that the result was not the be-all and end-all. Guardiola made nine changes but, unlike Arteta, backed the youth.
Micah Hamilton has been at City since the age of nine and was handed his senior debut. The wide forward repaid his manager’s faith with a fine goal inside 19 minutes.
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You could see the confidence his place in the starting XI gave him. He later won a penalty as his trickery in the box caused the hosts trouble.
Oscar Bobb, the Norwegian youngster, also started in an unfamiliar position up front. But he was arguably one of City’s best players on the night and got a deserved goal on the hour mark.
Guardiola took a risk starting both Hamilton and Bobb in the front line but the best managers take gambles and this one certainly paid off. There was also a senior debut for Mahamadou Susoho, who came on for the final 15 minutes.
The midfielder looked assured in what he did and will certainly learn more from that experience than watching from the bench. City ran out 3-2 winners but the result was secondary in many ways.
Arsenal supporters will have wanted their team to win on Tuesday. But many would sacrifice the result if they got a glimpse of the future in a game they didn’t need to win.
Nwaneri remains the youngest-ever player to feature in the Premier League after Arteta handed him his debut last season at just 15. But he has only been in two match-day squads since, while Walters and Sousa are yet to make their senior bows.
It would be unrealistic to expect players of that age to play regularly for a club the size of Arsenal. But you have to start somewhere and Tuesday seems something of a missed opportunity for Arteta, and Guardiola’s selection on Wednesday shows he still has plenty to learn.
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