Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal are “a bit short” of having academy graduates capable of breaking into the club’s first team.
Arteta was asked whether he needs to take a bolder approach when giving youth players a chance. As an example, Sunday’s opposition and league leaders Liverpool have fielded academy products Jarell Quansah and Curtis Jones regularly this season, while Conor Bradley produced a breakthrough performance in their 4-1 midweek win against Chelsea. Arteta said:
💬 “We certainly want to do that. First of all we need to produce those talents and they have to earn it. Secondly, when we produce those talents they have to be in the positions we need filling.
“Everything has to come together and we are working on a few prospects which are not far (away) but the reality is that we want more.
“To give opportunities and to play in the first team at the level we require, we are a bit short.”
Arteta has used five academy players this season. Charles Sagoe Jnr started the EFL Cup win over Brentford in September but the others — Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah — all broke through several years ago.
His record on promoting youth came under scrutiny after he failed to play any academy players in the Champions League dead rubber against PSV in December.
The other title contenders have used far more young players this season.
Klopp has used 11 in all competitions, with Bradley the latest to breakthrough. He started the last two Premier Leagues games in place of fellow Melwood talent Trent Alexander-Arnold. Bradley and 18-year-old Bobby Clarke both came on as substitutes at 0-0 in their eventual 2-0 FA cup win over Arsenal.
Pep Guardiola has used eight academy players at Manchester City this season, including a debut for Oscar Bobb who has now scored in the Premier League and Champions League.
Arteta also said the “club believed it was the best decision” for Lino Sousa to depart. Sousa, an under-21s left back, agreed a deal to join Aston Villa on a four-year contract on Wednesday.
Sousa had been in and around the first team throughout his time at Arsenal, travelling on pre-season tours and making the bench three times, but did not make his senior debut.
