After Arsene Wenger’s comments last week that the Arsenal fans should not be expecting many new arrivals during the summer, it has created conundrum about where he will be getting the replacements for Tomas Rosicky, Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini for starters, before we even think about the necessary striker and DM that have been needed for quite a while.
It appears to me that Le Prof is going to be looking for some new Iwobi’s in the reserve side that can slot smoothly into the first team, having been schooled in the ‘Arsenal Way’. Iwobi shot himself into the spotlight with a brilliant end to last season in the reserves, and it looks like Serge Gnabry is trying to emulate the Nigerian international this season, after having had a fruitless time out on loan at West Brom.
Gnabry played for the Gunners first team a couple of seasons ago but was interrupted by injury, but he feels like he had a wasted loan period but has now scored in his last two games for the Under 21s. “It feels good,” Gnabry said today. “I’m getting back to full fitness after the loan at West Brom where I didn’t get a chance. I’m finally getting to play and it feels good to be getting fitter and fitter.
“I have played in the last couple of weeks, improving my fitness and doing well in training. If you work hard in training and do things right, you get rewarded on the pitch.”
“That has been happening, and I’m happy to have scored twice in my past two games. When you come down a level from the first team, you have to use your experience to help the Under-21s and give them your advice.
“That is what all the first-team players do for the Under-21s. All of the youngsters are good players and look good in training. They have the best education here at Arsenal and there will be loads of them that reach the top level.”
If he carries on like this he is nailed on to be one of Wenger’s “like a new signing”s for next season. Jack Wilshere will certainly be another having missed the whole of this season. Chris Willock has also been hotly tipped to be the ‘next big thing’ from the Academy. Jeff Reine-Adelaide has also been a first team reserve many times this season and is expected to step up in the next campaign.
If Wenger brings all these through to the first team, then there won’t be much room for new signings, will there?