3 young stars who can step up for Arsenal next season

It hasn’t been the season Arsenal and their fans were hoping for, especially after the change in management and some exciting additions to the squad. A disappointing end to their Premier League campaign and a loss in the Europa League final means that they will miss out on Champions League for the third consecutive season, which will have a further implication on the funds available to Unai Emery.

The results this year have shown that the squad needs a major overhaul. While some players are past their prime, others are not perfectly suitable for Emery’s playing style. There a lot of positions that need to be taken care of in the upcoming transfer window but with a shoestring budget, solving all of these woes will be a tedious task.

In such a situation where the Gunners need fresh blood to work on their rebuilding process, not only do they need new arrivals, but they'll also require players within the team to step up and assume responsibility. Here we look at the three exciting young players that can make an impact next season if given a chance.

#1 Joe Willock

Chelsea v Arsenal - UEFA Europa League Final

There were only a few positives from Arsenal’s forgettable performance in Baku, and one of the major ones was youngster Joe Willock.

In a match where the big names like Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubamayeng went missing, this young lad managed to impress everyone. Even though Willock played for only 15 minutes, his pace and poise with the ball at his feet showed glimpses of his talent and the potential that he carries. Moreover, Willock displayed signs of maturity during his cameo, as he drew the Chelsea defenders in to create space for the forwards.

With Mesut Ozil past his prime and Aaron Ramsey moving to Juventus, a void has been created in the Arsenal midfield - a position that is crucial to Unai Emery’s 3-5-2 formation. Willock can play an important role to fill that void either filling in the starting 11 or from the bench.

#2 Eddie Nketiah

Burnley FC v Arsenal FC - Premier League

Scoring the winning goal in the dying minutes at your stadium is a dream home debut for any football player, but only a few get to live it. Eddie Nketiah is one of them.

The young forward came on in the 85th minute and scored a brace against Norwich City in the Carabao Cup which made him an instant hit amongst the Arsenal fans. Since then, the young English striker has made only a few first-team appearances but has managed to impress everyone with his good form with the U-23 side. During the 2018/19 Premier League 2 campaign, Nketiah scored 9 times while assisting on 4 occasions in just ten games.

He ended his season on a high after grabbing his first Premier League goal against Burnley.

With the Gunners’ attacking duo of Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubamayeng in fine form, Nketiah may not be a regular starter. Nevertheless, the departure of Danny Welbeck has opened up the possibility of him impacting games from the bench.

#3 Reiss Nelson

Arsenal v Liverpool: Premier League 2

Since the departure of Alexis Sanchez, the wing has been a matter of concern for Arsenal. Players like Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Alex Iwobi were expected to step up and perform and despite showing glimpses of promise, they haven’t been good enough overall.

That is one of the reasons why the North Londoners have been heavily linked with the likes of Wilfried Zaha and Nicolas Pepe. However, with the limited budget in Arsenal’s treasury, the pair seem like a far fetched dream. Nevertheless, the Gunners do have a low-cost and exciting alternative in the young Reiss Nelson.

The 19-year-old winger has slowly solidified his status as one of the most promising youngsters in the Bundesliga with TSG Hoffenheim. With 7 goals and 1 assist, he has shown glimpses of the class and potential he holds. With the club in a rebuilding phase, this can be the perfect time for Emery to give Nelson a run in the first team.