Arsene Wenger has named a young squad to travel to Belarus for tonight’s Europa League clash with BATE Borisov, and has told his Arsenal youngsters to take advantage of any opportunity they are given.
The French manager is quoted as revealing that only a maximum of two youngsters will start the 6PM kick-off tonight, but the bench will be littered with inexperienced hopefuls eyeing a chance to impress.
Arsenal have left nine first-team regulars in the United Kingdom with one eye on the weekend’s home clash with Brighton, but the starting line-up is still expected to retain a balance between raw ability and experience as we take on BATE.
Wenger has urged his future stars to take their chance should they be chosen to feature, whether it be for the entire match or even 20 minutes, as you will not get an unlimited occasions to prove your worth.
“This is the kind of job you do not get 10 opportunities to play for Arsenal. When you get it, even if they only get 20 minutes, you have to convince people you have the qualities to do it and you have the courage to play and show your qualities,” Wenger said..
“There is always an uncertainty. We know in training, you see in training that the player has the quality. Yes, he is here because he has the qualities. After, to show it during competition is something different. And in my experience, you only discover that during the competition,” the Frenchman added.
Reiss Nelson and Ashley Maitland-Niles are expected to be the two youngsters given the nod to start in Borisov, but the latter may well be considered a first-team squad member, and could well be joined with another inexperienced star.
Who are you most looking forward to seeing feature tonight? Will Nelson be given the chance to shine in his favoured attacking role?
Pat J