Within the next two to three years, possibly sooner, Arsenal is going to have to find long term replacements for their two talismans, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.
Neither has signed contract extensions and there remains a possibility that one or both will be sold next summer.
Even if they do sign extensions they are of an age that they are coming to the twilight of their careers, Aubameyang will be 31 next June and Lacazette will be 29 next May.
So, in the worst-case scenario replacements could be required within the next 12 months and best case, at least one replacement will probably be needed within the next three years.
There are three, maybe even more, players at Arsenal that should be ready to step into the shoes of either Aubameyang or Lacazette on a permanent basis in 12 months time, they are 19-year-old Reiss Nelson, 18-year-old Gabriel Martinelli and 20-year-old Eddie Nketiah.
Nelson and Martinelli are already in the first-team squad and Nketiah is scoring goals for fun on loan at Leeds United and even though Nelson is more a winger, so was Thierry Henry at one time.
All three will be gaining valuable experience this season, Nelson and Martinelli will no doubt be influenced by Auba and Laca and Nketiah is getting a proper education under Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa.
Of course, Arsenal will be tempted to dip into the transfer market to sign an experienced proven striker if the need arises but it would be such a waste if none of the three youngsters I have named does not make the breakthrough.
Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Tammy Abraham and even Raheem Sterling when he was at Liverpool are classic examples of kids given the huge responsibility to lead the line at their respective clubs and you have to think that Nelson, Nketiah and Martinelli are as talented at their ages as what Kane, Rashford etc were at the same age.
Hopefully they will but Only time will tell
Hopefully indeed. Would have been helpful to give a youngster the last 10 or 15 minutes of a match rather than wasted on Mkhi, again. As the year goes by, hopefully their opportunities will increase.
Then again, Emery blocked Eddie’s move in Jan last year and gave him virtually no game time. Glad to see Eddie and management opt for Leeds loan rather than withering in 1st team and no chances from Emery.
Messi will be available for free at the end of the season. Can we test how deep the waters are? Yes but unfortunately Emery would play him as a DM and Xhaka as a AM
I hope you’re right, but jumping the gun a lot.
Way too early to judge any of them, but Nelson has looked poor, and Martinelli we can barely judge, as we’ve hardly seen them. At least with Eddie we can definitely say there’s something there.
Nketiah: Talented striker with huge prospect
Nelson: Still unconvincing and looks awkward when playing on the left wing. Unfortunately he has very slim chance to dethrone Pepe
Martinelli: Hasn’t got a chance to play as a starter yet. I think he is more suited for the striker position than the LW
Saka: A traditional LW with good prospect. Similar to Martinelli, he needs more chances
Nelson is 19, Martinelli 18. They got years of time to develop. Lets not forget ESR!
they are teenagers. This is way jumping the gun
In an earlier post today I cautioned against narratives like “long term” in the discussion of football players and contracts. Such narratives are not particularly suitable frameworks for the understanding of modern football contracts and commitments.
We all read about how Arsenal’s attack was sorted for the “long term” when Lacazette and Aubameyang signed but only 2 years after, we are already here discussing about their possible departures.
Failing to heed this caution, it would definitely end in tears and frustration.
Bukayo saka reminds me of young sterling. I believe he has the brightest future amongst our youngsters