Bacary Sagna has told football.london that Mikel Arteta needs to keep faith in Arsenal’s younger players. But he must also rely on the experienced heads to overcome the pressure.
The former Gunners defender believes the likes of captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Alexandre Lacazette must be talking with the younger players in the squad. As they may not have the know-how to deal with the pressure of the north Londoners’ poor start.
Arsenal sit bottom of the Premier League table during the September international break after suffering three defeats from three games. They and Wolves are also the only sides to fail to score, while only Norwich (10) have conceded more (9).
Arteta has named the two youngest starting XIs in the Premier League so far this season, as well. Their line-up at Brentford had an average age of just 24.6, increasing to 25.1 at home to Chelsea. The figure rose again, this time to 26.3, at Manchester City, the 15th-youngest.
But Sagna does not feel turning his back on youth is how Arteta can turn Arsenal around.
“We have to trust the young players,” Sagna said. “We have to trust the older players, like Aubameyang and Lacazette, who can really bring something to the club. They have to be talking to the young players a lot because, regarding the experience, I’m not sure they have what they need to deal with the pressure, because now the team is under pressure.
“There is a lot to be done. I really think that the international break came at the right moment for them, to get some fresh air and start from zero. I believe Mikel can find some right words to bring back the positives.”
Should Arteta trust his process at Arsenal, like Sagna claims?
Arteta kept his faith in Arsenal’s younger players last season and has so far stuck to that ethos this term, like Sagna believes should be the case. But youth did not always return the rewards last season, either. Drawing with sides featuring average ages of 25 and 25.1 against Southampton and Fulham, but beating Chelsea with a 25.1.
Arteta desperately needed to beat the Blues last December when he started Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe. The former and latter of the trio also now playing key roles in the Gunners’ slow start to the season.
Saka – who is still building fitness – and Smith Rowe have also been two of their brightest stars this term. Showing Arteta and Sagna why youth can help bring the positives back at Arsenal, if the experienced heads chip in.
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