Delayed Zelalem will get his chance to shine!
Arsenal’s first pre season match against Lens in France last Friday, proved that Arsenal have a number of talented youngsters on the books, who are just waiting for their chance in the first team. One of those players is Gedion Zelalem and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has been very keen to sing the youngster’s praises in his latest press conference.
Speaking ahead of the Gunner’s pre-season match in the Arsenal USA tour, Wenger was keen to point out about how impressed he is with some of the club’s youngest stars, in particular 19 year old Gedion Zelalem who has played 9 games for the USA up to U23 level. Wenger was quoted as saying: “Last season he was on loan at Glasgow Rangers, where he did quite well. He is a player with top quality. He might take a bit longer to mature because he was physically a little bit behind on body structure but I’m sure he will be a great player. play [on Thursday]? Certainly [he’ll be] part of the game.”
Wenger makes a good point in recognising that Zelalem certainly does have talent and we have seen that on the pitch when he plays with the first team. His vision is fantastic and he is able to pick a pass with such accuracy. The one flaw he has found himself to have in particular is his build and Zelalem is notably a skinny figure and thus he would struggle in such physical matches that often occur in the Premier League.
Wenger hopes that the German born midfielder (who became a U.S. citizen in 2014) does work on his physical structure in the near future however, as he is keen to utilise the creative midfielders skill and ability. Zelalem certainly has plenty of potential and must surely be rated as one of the most promising young players at the club.
I feel he may struggle a little getting first team action at Arsenal, given the high number of midfielders we already have at the club, so therefore a loan away again this year may prove beneficial to his future career with the club.
By AH