Mikel Arteta has admitted to Football London that he has been shocked by Arsenal’s young players this season.
For all of Arsenal’s problems this term, the club’s academy products have been the biggest positive to come out of this campaign.
Bukayo Saka has turned into a key player in Arsenal’s first-team, and there has also been plenty of other positive signs for the future.
The likes of Joe Willock, Emile Smith-Rowe and Reiss Nelson have all impressed in Europa League games, which suggests that they could have a bright future at the Emirates Stadium.
And Arteta admits that Arsenal’s prospects have surprised him through their temperament.
“You have to see how people react around them in difficult moments,” he said.
“They have to experience themselves to get through this difficult moments and how they are going to handle the pressure.
“If they’re able to do that they will have to handle good moments and how the handle bad, to continue performing at the level that is required
here.
“It’s another experience for them, they’ve been much more mature, responsible and efficient then I was expecting. In my opinion they’re doing really well.”
Arteta has so far been fairly reluctant to use Arsenal’s prospects in the Premier League, but with results failing to improve they surely cannot be far off from getting a start.
The likes of Smith-Rowe and Nelson look like genuine options, as Arsenal’s more experienced players continue to struggle.
Arsenal’s youngsters could well get another chance to impress later this evening, as Arteta’s side are due to take on Manchester City in the League Cup.
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