It doesn’t take a genius to work out that if Arsenal fail to qualify for the Europa League, it’s the younger players that could suffer.
The likes of Folarin Balogun and Miguel Azeez made their senior debuts for Arsenal in that competition a little earlier this season.
But with the Gunners sitting ninth in the Premier League table with three games left - starting with tomorrow night’s trip to Champions League finalists Chelsea – it doesn’t look probable that they’re going to have European football for the 2021-22 campaign.
Balogun signed a new long-term deal at Arsenal last month but without Europa League qualification, he could struggle next term.
But Mikel Arteta has hinted that some of the more promising younger players will be staying in North London, rather than going on loan.
Speaking to The Evening Standard when asked about young players like Balogun, Arteta said: “I think they will be in a different development phase next season with what they have achieved this season. To use the same criteria with other younger players that might be here, we will have to find a way in other competitions to accommodate this playing time that they need.”
The fact that Arteta is hoping to ‘find a way in other competitions’ is a fairly big indication that the likes of Balogun are going to be retained this summer and not loaned out.
Arsenal fans have been wanting to see the 19-year-old striker for a lot of the season, particularly with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Eddie Nketiah struggling for form.
But it does seem likely that the Emirates Stadium faithful will see much more of Balogun next term because Arteta clearly has designs to squeeze youngsters like that into his senior plans.
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