Arsenal legend, Ray Parlour says Mikel Arteta’s youth policy is gradually taking shape but fears the likes of Bukayo Saka might join City soon
By Kehinde Okeowo
Arsenal last won the Premier League 18 years ago during the reign of their most successful manager Arsene Wenger, whose final days at the club began the decline of the London giant.
After he left, the club brought in the current Villarreal Manager, Unai Emery who was subsequently sacked after just a year in charge despite getting to the final of the Europa League.
The clubs’ former captain, Mikel Arteta replaced him despite never managing a club, he was trusted with rebuilding Arsenal, he won the FA Cup and Community Shield in his first season but has been inconsistent since then.
The owners backed him financially in the summer and he recruited young talents in positions that needed reinforcements, having nurtured young talents such as Bukayo Saka, Emile Rowe Smith, and Gabriel Martinelli to become the core of the team.
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Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has applauded the move saying it is beginning to yield desired results, given the fact that the young Arsenal team are currently 4th on the Premier league, table, and they have improved in various departments.
He however, has his doubts about the success of the youth project, given the way football is run these days. The 48-year-old believes Arsenal may be unable to hold on to the array of young talents that are currently the core of the team.
Ray Parlour, who won three Premier League titles during his time with the Gunners, particularly expressed concern in the ability of Arterta to hold on to price assets such as Bukayo Saka, given the predatory nature of the likes of Man City.
“I look at the young team [at Arsenal], they can develop and keep improving,” Parlour told talkSPORT.
“You know what the hardest thing is going to be? It’s keeping the players.
“You know [what’s happened] over the years. Saka must be on people’s radar all day long, a big side like Manchester City must be looking at him going, ‘he’ll improve our side’.