
<p>Gareth Southgate released his England squad for Euro 2024 qualifying in March with some controversial choices. The runner-up from Euro 2020 has a pair of games next weekend. First off is a trip to the team it lost to in that Euro 2020 Final, Italy. Then, the Three Lions host Ukraine at Wembley on Sunday, March 26.</p>



<p>Eighteen of the <a href="https://twitter.com/England/status/1636366719886172161" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">25-man squad</a> featured in that Euro 2020 squad that lost to Italy. The additions of Ivan Toney and Marc Guéhi are the only two that did not feature on the World Cup 2022 squad. However, this does lead to some major exclusions.</p>



<p>Based on injury, Raheem Sterling is out. Gareth Southgate said Sterling would have made the squad. However, an injury ruled him out, meaning he is also likely going to miss Chelsea’s last game before the international break at Everton.</p>



<p>Based on form, Ben White and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/gareth-southgate-publicly-disrespects-trent-alexander-arnold-20221122-WST-409422.html">Trent Alexander-Arnold</a> are not part of Southgate’s squad. The head coach said the right backs he did select, namely Reece James, Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker, are just ahead of those two.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"We&apos;ve got them just ahead of those two." 👀<br><br>Gareth Southgate explains why Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ben White didn&apos;t get called up to England&apos;s latest squad 🗣<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BBCFootball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BBCFootball</a> <a href="https://t.co/dn5RvR2ari">pic.twitter.com/dn5RvR2ari</a></p>— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/1636391096312897539?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h2>Toney makes England squad in March, Balogun does not</h2>



<p>If right back was one position of depth England is blessed with, striker could be another. In Southgate’s squad, Ivan Toney looks to make his first international appearance. The Brentford striker has been on fine form again this season with 16 goals, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/premier-league/top-scorers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">third-best</a> in the Premier League.</p>



<p>However, his inclusion meant Reims striker Folarin Balogun did not make the squad. Balogun is a 21-year-old that currently has 16 goals. That is <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/french-ligue-one/top-scorers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tied for third</a> in Ligue Un. However, Balogun has never earned a call up to the England squad, only representing the Three Lions at youth level.</p>



<p>Balogun was born in New York City, moving back to England at the age of 2. Still, his birthplace in the States allows him to be a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/us-soccer-needs-to-make-folarin-balogun-a-top-target-for-usmnt-20230203-WST-418137.html">potential USMNT candidate</a>. In fact, he played for the U-18 USMNT squad during one of its camps. </p>



<p>Upon learning he did not earn a callup to Southgate’s England squad for the March camp, Balogun posted on his <a href="https://www.instagram.com/balogun/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a> story “In life, go where you’re appreciated.” An ominous message. But, perhaps one that shows he is annoyed by having to wait so long with England.</p>



<p>For what it is worth, the United States did not call Balogun up to its squad in the March 2023 camp, either. </p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / PA Images</em></p>


Folarin Balogun, who is yet to appear for any senior national side, is not part of the England squad for March games.

England squad for March 2023 omits potential USMNT talent

<div id="attachment_368654" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div><p id="caption-attachment-368654" class="wp-caption-text">Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images</p></div>
<p>In the summer of 2021, Arsenal took a gamble in the transfer market by bringing in a <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2021/09/05/mikel-arteta-and-arsenals-summer-transfer-gamble/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wildly young crop of players</a>.</p>
<p>Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Aaron Ramsdale and Martin Ødegaard looked like a project for years down the road. However, that Arsenal gamble in the summer transfer window is paying off. The four aforementioned players are mainstays in an Arsenal side fighting for the Champions League.</p>
<p>In January, Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu rolled the dice again. The North London side did not bring in any new players in the winter transfer window. Despite not signing new reinforcements during the winter transfer window, the duo shifted five senior players off of the books in the last few weeks.</p>
<p>Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Calum Chambers, Sead Kolasinac, Pablo Mari, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles all departed the club. Maitland-Niles moved to Roma on a loan until the end of the season, while the others are permanent deals.</p>
<p>These moves did not surprise most fans and pundits following the Gunners in recent months. After all, none of the quintet played a single Premier League minute since December 7. Clearly, Arteta and Edu prioritized moving these weekly wages off the books.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, the Gunners could be shorthanded if injuries/COVID cases start to pile up. Arsenal already dealt with COVID-19 issues, leading to some games being postponed.</p>
<p>The young players will continue to garner invaluable experience in the Premier League. Yet, there are now question marks over depth.</p>
<h3>Arsenal transfer market gamble leaves gaps</h3>
<p>On one hand, the Gunners have just 17 total matches left between now and the end of May. The reason comes from the fact that Liverpool and Nottingham Forest knocked Arsenal out of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, respectively. Arteta and company likely felt a little more comfortable moving players with the lightened load of games. Similarly, it made Arsenal less desperate to bring in more options.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2021/12/20/arsenals-youth-project-continues-to-produce-results/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">READ MORE:</a>&nbsp;</strong></em><em>Arsenal’s youth project continues to produce results.</em></p>
<p>Even then, 17 games with the uncertainty of COVID and injuries is no slight task. Essentially, there are two positions There are essentially two positions in which Arsenal could potentially be light at over the next few months.</p>
<h5>Center back</h5>
<p>As things stand, Arsenal has just three center backs on the current senior roster.</p>
<p>Gabriel and Ben White dominate the playing time at the back of Mikel Arteta’s side. The third is Rob Holding, who has 75 appearances for the club since arriving in 2016. Holding fills in the gaps if there is any injury or suspension from White and Gabriel.</p>
<p>After that, Takehiro Tomiyasu can play in central defense. However, that leaves Cedric Soares starting important matches at right back for the club. Kieran Tierney and Granit Xhaka could also make emergency appearances at center back if needed.</p>
<p>Speaking of Xhaka, central midfield is an area in which fans have expressed the need for reinforcements in January. This is not so much about depth, more so talent in an integral part of the pitch. Xhaka and Thomas Partey are practically guaranteed starters in midfield. Moreover, Arsenal have solid backup options in Sambi Lokonga, Mohamed Elneny and Martin Odegaard. The aforementioned White can also take up a role in the middle if required.</p>
<h5>Striker</h5>
<p>The center forward position, however, is a much more delicate situation right now for Arsenal. Since Aubameyang’s dropping from the team, Alexandre Lacazette mans the number nine slot for the Gunners. The Frenchman is obviously a good player in the team’s build up play. Still, he lacks the scoring touch, at least in recent games. In fact, Lacazette has just two goals in his last <a href="https:\/\/www.transfermarkt.us/alexandre-lacazette/leistungsdaten/spieler/93720" target="_blank" rel="noopener">13 Premier League matches</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2022/01/06/how-arsenal-actually-improve-without-aubameyang/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">READ MORE:</a>&nbsp;</strong></em><em>How Arsenal actually improve without Aubameyang.</em></p>
<p>Arteta likely plans to utilize Eddie Nketiah as a backup to Lacazette at the position until the end of the current campaign. Nketiah shows talent for a 22-year-old, bagging five goals in 42 Premier League fixtures.</p>
<p>Arsenal missed out on the Dusan Vlahovic sweepstakes. The Serbian international opted to stay in Italy, joining Juventus for almost <a href="https:\/\/www.transfermarkt.us/dusan-vlahovic/transfers/spieler/357498" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$90 million</a>. Several reports claimed Arsenal offered around $80 million for the Fiorentina striker. Essentially, the North London club had the money to spend. Rather, Arsenal opted for the gamble in the January transfer window. A striker likely tops the list of needs for the club in the summer.</p>
<h3>Moving forward in the current campaign</h3>
<p>With Aubameyang off to Barcelona and Lacazette and Nketiah likely departing this summer, the Gunners will have to make at least one major signing at the center forward position. Much like how Arsenal gambled during the 2021 summer transfer market, they have also taken a chance on the rest of the current campaign. Not only are Arteta and company gambling on the fitness of the team, but they also are hoping to finally get their center forward target in the summer.</p>
<p>If the Gunners can hold it together and finish strong this season, the club’s brass will have plenty of money and available roster spots to make moves this summer. The gamble during the last summer transfer window seems to be paying off and Gooners will be hoping that Arteta still has aces up his sleeves for 2022.</p>
<div class="ckeditor-em"><iframe loading="lazy" width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com/tracks/229182541&amp;color=%23ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true&amp;visual=true"></iframe></div>
<div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https:\/\/soundcloud.com/worldsoccertalk" title="World Soccer Talk Podcast" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener">World Soccer Talk Podcast</a> · <a href="https:\/\/soundcloud.com/worldsoccertalk/interview-with-arseblogs-andrew-mangan-about-arsenal" title="Interview with ArseBlog&apos;s Andrew Mangan about Arsenal" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener">Interview with ArseBlog&apos;s Andrew Mangan about Arsenal</a></div>


In the summer, the Gunners took a risk on a handful of young players. Arsenal made another transfer market gamble in January, but differently.

Arsenal gamble again in the transfer market - World Soccer Talk

Arsenal gamble again in the transfer market

<div id="attachment_359661" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div><p id="caption-attachment-359661" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)</p></div>
<p>Arsenal’s European hopes looked bleak at the beginning of the season. Three-consecutive shutout losses in the opening-three games sank the Gunners to the bottom of the table.</p>
<p>Of course, Mikel Arteta’s squad then pulled off an 10-game unbeaten run in all competitions, ballooning the north London side to fifth in the Premier League. That run stopped on matchday 12 at Anfield, where <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2021/11/20/watford-inflict-more-misery-on-man-utd-as-chelsea-liverpool-cruise/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Liverpool dismantled Arsenal</a>, 4-0.</p>
<p>Fans never want to watch their team suffer a heavy defeat. Big losses tend to cause division amongst supporters and. Also, lopsided results potentially change the entire mood around the team. However, Arsenal’s 4-0 thorough defeat at the hands of Liverpool last weekend shouldn’t really change much for the young Gunners.</p>
<h3>Putting the Liverpool loss in perspective of Arsenal’s European hopes</h3>
<p>Anfield is a very tough place to play for visiting teams. In fact, it’s undoubtedly one of the hardest places to pick up three points in the entire English top flight. Despite Liverpool’s subpar <a href="https:\/\/www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/liverpool-fc-six-premier-league-home-defeats-at-anfield-b922670.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">home record last season</a>, the Merseyside club haven’t lost a home match with a full stadium of fans since April of 2017. Like most other teams, Liverpool’s home record wasn’t the same without fans in the stadium due to the pandemic. This is what Arsenal dealt with against Liverpool.</p>
<p>Prior to the Liverpool loss, Arsenal rode a 10-match unbeaten streak in all competitions. The winning run helped guide the Gunners from bottom of the table at the end of August, up to fifth heading to Anfield. Moreover, the loss did not damage Arsenal’s immediate position on the table. The north London outfit still remain fifth in the Premier League standings.</p>
<p>After the loss, it was paramount to move on quickly. Anfield and an earlier game at the Etihad against Manchester City represented Arsenal’s two-toughest games this season. Furthermore, Arsenal played its home contests against Chelsea and Tottenham in the opening weeks of the season.</p>
<p>Apparently, the club’s most recent game against Newcastle signaled the return of games propelling Arsenal’s European hopes.</p>
<h5>Developing the young core</h5>
<div id="attachment_351380" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><div><figure class="image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-351380" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-351380" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20211201_WST_359607_Getty-Mikel-Arteta-300x200.webp&amp;width=300&amp;height=200" alt="Arsenal&apos;s rebuild" width="300" height="200" srcset="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/10/Getty-Mikel-Arteta-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/10/Getty-Mikel-Arteta-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/10/Getty-Mikel-Arteta-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/10/Getty-Mikel-Arteta-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/10/Getty-Mikel-Arteta.jpg 1430w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px"></figure></div><p id="caption-attachment-351380" class="wp-caption-text">Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images</p></div>
<p>Any time a team uses increasingly young players, there is a threat to consistency. One week, Arsenal <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2021/09/26/arsenals-fast-start-secures-derby-delight-against-tottenham/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rips apart Tottenham</a>, not long after, Liverpool delivers a similar fate to the Gunners.</p>
<p>Most EPL fans know just how young this current crop of Arsenal players are this season. Young players tend to make mistakes, which occurred during the Liverpool loss. However, Arsenal clearly focus on the future of the club.</p>
<p>Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger previously explained how young players will make mistakes, but need to play to learn and progress.</p>
<blockquote><p><em>“You pay for the education of young players with points,”</em> Wenger claimed during a Q&amp;A session in 2017.</p>
<p><em>“I play a young central defender of 20-years-old and I know he will cost me points in the season. I have to stand up for that.”</em></p></blockquote>
<p>If Arteta is following his former manager’s advice, it seems to be paying dividends. Not only is Arsenal setting up one of the more promising young squads in the league, but the players already look up to the challenge of Premier League fixtures.</p>
<p>There is a quite clear long-term plan in place under the regime of technical director Edu and manager Mikel Arteta and fans will have to be patient as the club rebuilds.</p>
<h5>Bouncing Back</h5>
<p>Arsenal looked like the side that rattled off 10 games unbeaten when it handled Newcastle. Twenty-three shots to nine warranted a pair of second-half goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli. Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who came over at a price that alarmed a number of Arsenal supporters, continued his fine form. His 10th appearance in the league yielded his sixth clean sheet and his seventh win this season.</p>
<p>Ramsdale supports a defense that came into this season remarkably unproven and expensive. Kieran Tierney remained the left-back of choice, but <a href="https:\/\/www.transfermarkt.us/ben-white/transfers/spieler/335721" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben White</a> and <a href="https:\/\/www.transfermarkt.us/takehiro-tomiyasu/transfers/spieler/331560" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Takehiro Tomiyasu</a> came in for a combined $85 million in the summer. While both saw limited action due to late transfers or COVID-19 issues at the beginning of the season, the pair emerged as stalwarts on Mikel Arteta’s back line.</p>
<h5><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-344358 alignleft" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20211201_WST_359607_Arsenal-Crest-300x200.webp&amp;width=300&amp;height=200" alt="Mikel Arteta and Arsenal" width="300" height="200" srcset="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Arsenal-Crest-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Arsenal-Crest-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Arsenal-Crest-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Arsenal-Crest-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Arsenal-Crest.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px"></figure></div></h5>
<h5>Moving forward</h5>
<p>Arsenal’s European hopes look relatively safe when considering the upcoming schedule. Now, that is all subject to change based on form, injuries and anything else that affects results.</p>
<p>Saturday’s win over the Magpies put Arsenal tied with West Ham on points for fourth in the <a href="https:\/\/www.premierleague.com/tables" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Premier League table</a>. While Arsenal sit in fifth, the club is still three points clear of sixth-spot Wolverhampton Wanderers.</p>
<p>The Gunners now face a stretch of games against opposition also in competition for European spots. The likes of West Ham, Everton and Wolves all face Arsenal before the calendar turns.</p>
<p>However, another massively important away game is first up. A trip to Old Trafford to face <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2021/11/29/manchester-united-appoint-ralf-rangnick-as-interim-boss-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interim-manager Ralf Rangnick</a> highlights midweek action in the Premier League. Manchester United may sit three spots beneath Arsenal, but a win moves the Red Devils within two of the London club.</p>
<p>Seemingly, there is no rest for Premier League clubs looking to break into the European spots. The top-three looks all-but locked up between Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea.</p>
<p>Fans of the Gunners, and of the Premier League in general, will get a strong grasp Arsenal’s European hopes as we roll into 2022.</p>


Arsenal's European hopes took a hit after a 4-0 demolition courtesy of Liverpool. A comfortable 2-0 win over Newcastle steadied the ship.

Arsenal's European hopes roll on into winter - World Soccer Talk

Arsenal's European hopes roll on into winter

<div id="attachment_351380" style="width: 1440px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div><p id="caption-attachment-351380" class="wp-caption-text">Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images</p></div>
<p>Arsenal’s rebuild arrived out of necessity. In the previous two decades, the London-based club consistently finished in the top four of the Premier League. In fact, the Gunners qualified for <a href="https:\/\/www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0239-0e970bbed6d8-1a5b9f71f4c2-1000--most-consecutive-uefa-champions-league-campaigns/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">19 straight Champions League group stages</a> until 2017/18.</p>
<p>Unsurprisingly, the fan base developed an expectation of domestic and, at least to some extent, European success. Now, Arsenal finds itself outside of the conversation for Champions League qualification. While Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea battle for Premier League titles, the club from the Emirates Stadium is simply a mid-table side.</p>
<p>Arsenal’s rebuild is one that will take time. Of course, different people have different perspectives on acceptable durations of rebuild before the club should blow it up and try again. In Arsenal’s case, the foundation is there.</p>
<h3>Patience with Arsenal’s rebuild</h3>
<p>Most sports fans don’t exactly react well to the word ‘patience’ regarding their favorite team. Unfortunately for many teams, supporters want convincing results immediately.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, there are some cases in which patience is undoubtedly needed. Perhaps the most common need for calmness and patience is when a particular team is young but shows potential. Or, the club’s manager is clearly building for the future. Both of these examples happen to be true at Arsenal right now.</p>
<p>Just four years ago, Arsenal’s players had an <a href="https:\/\/www.transfermarkt.us/premier-league/altersschnitt/wettbewerb/GB1/plus/?saison_id=2017" target="_blank" rel="noopener">average age of 26.5</a>, which was about average for Premier League clubs at the time. That middle-of-the-pack squad finished <a href="https:\/\/footballdatabase.com/league-scores-tables/england-premier-league-2017-18" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sixth in the Premier League</a>. Good for a Europa League spot, but not up to the standards and without a clear view for the future.</p>
<p>However, at the start of the current campaign, the Gunners now average just <a href="https:\/\/www.transfermarkt.us/premier-league/altersschnitt/wettbewerb/GB1/plus/?saison_id=2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">24.1 years old</a>. Remarkably, this is almost a whole year younger than the second-youngest team, Brentford.</p>
<p>The nearly two-and-a-half year difference may not seem like a big deal to some, but they are the youngest Premier League squad since 2008/09 (also Arsenal).</p>
<h5>Transfer Window</h5>
<p>Manager Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu developed crystal clear plan for the summer transfer market for Arsenal’s rebuild. They wanted to buy young, talented players that both fit the club’s current system well and will progressive over time. All six summer signings by the north London club were aged 21-23.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2021/09/02/grading-europes-biggest-clubs-on-their-transfer-window-signings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">READ MORE:</a>&nbsp;</strong></em><em>Grading Europe’s biggest clubs’ transfer windows.</em></p>
<p>Many pundits criticized Arsenal’s spending, which <a href="https:\/\/www.transfermarkt.us/premier-league/einnahmenausgaben/wettbewerb/GB1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">led all Premier League clubs</a> in terms of expenditure. Much of that came from the fact that many believed Arsenal needed immediate results, not future success. Even then, the new sextet of Gunners performed well in the opening pair of months this season. In fact, new defender Takehiro Tomiyasu was awarded as the club’s Player of the Month for September, with Aaron Ramsdale finishing second in the poll.</p>
<div id="attachment_344114" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><div><figure class="image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-344114" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-344114 size-medium" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20211026_WST_351234_79a6f5517383ec18e9a9d317572a11b23db6da7d-300x200.webp&amp;width=300&amp;height=200" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/79a6f5517383ec18e9a9d317572a11b23db6da7d-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/79a6f5517383ec18e9a9d317572a11b23db6da7d-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/79a6f5517383ec18e9a9d317572a11b23db6da7d-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/79a6f5517383ec18e9a9d317572a11b23db6da7d.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px"></figure></div><p id="caption-attachment-344114" class="wp-caption-text">Photo credit: AFP</p></div>
<h3>Arsenal’s immediate results</h3>
<p>Along with this young crop of players, Arteta is also a young coach. This combination will almost certainly guarantee some growing pains along the way. Despite the fact that the Spaniard led Arsenal to another FA Cup trophy in his first season as a head coach, Arteta is still learning and will only get better leading his team.</p>
<p>Gunner supporters took to Twitter following a disappointing draw against Crystal Palace last week, with some large fan accounts even suggesting that the draw should be the end of Arteta’s days as the club’s manager. Four days following the discouraging match, Arsenal managed to bounce back with an emphatic victory of Aston Villa.</p>
<p>There will undoubtedly be ups and downs throughout the current campaign with this group of players, such is the nature of a young squad and a young manager.</p>
<p>However, there is reason to feel cautiously optimistic about Arsenal’s future. The more this young team plays, the more comfortable and confident they will be. Surely a handful of COVID-19 cases and injuries contributed to Arsenal’s <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2021/08/25/arsenal-fall-out-of-premier-league-contention-after-worst-start-in-118-years/#comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slow start this season</a>. In fact, Arsenal’s first choice defending five (including goalkeeper) did not all play together until their win against Norwich on September 11. Since these players have been on the pitch together, the Gunners remain unbeaten in all competitions.</p>
<p>Some expected the so-called ‘process’ to progress a bit more than it has so far, but it was always going to take time. Arsenal have, however, seem to be headed in the proper direction.</p>
<p>With the club just three points adrift of a Champions League place with three-quarters of the season remaining, this group of youngsters should soon be back in contention for a European spot once again.</p>
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The Gunners are not the squad they used to be. Arsenal's rebuild is a necessary one. Therefore, it should demand patience over pressure.

Arsenal's rebuild requires patience with young roster - World Soccer Talk

Arsenal's rebuild requires patience with young roster

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<p>Arsenal Football Club is a traditional “Big Six” team. They join the ranks of Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham. These clubs are the biggest clubs in England, mostly based on popularity.</p>
<p>However, Arsenal is missing a certain attribute those clubs share. For those clubs, title contention in the Premier League is the goal. Champions League qualification is the expectation.</p>
<p>These merits applied to the club not long ago. For <a href="https:\/\/www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/clubs/52280--arsenal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">19 straight seasons</a>, the Gunners qualified for the UEFA Champions League. Only twice in those 19 seasons did the team from the Emirates fail to make it out of their group in the competition.</p>
<p>Now, the Arsenal Football Club that <span>Arsène&nbsp;</span>Wenger and Thierry Henry developed is almost unrecognizable. Despite spending third-most on transfers among Premier League clubs over the last five years, the club sits outside the realm of competing for a Premier League title.</p>
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<p>In 2021/22, pundits claim Arsenal have a slight chance to rebuild. There is no European competition, the squad is young and recent signings show some promise.</p>
<p>Still, Arsenal sits behind the pace. Other clubs in the big six continue to bring in high-quality talents. All the same, those clubs continue to compete domestically and in Europe. Meanwhile, after two games in 2021/22, Arsenal picked up no points with their next game coming against Manchester City.</p>
<p>Bad luck with COVID-19 never helps, but the club’s issues run deeper than that. Without fixing these problems, the prestige and power of Arsenal Football Club is at risk.</p>
<h3>Arsenal Football Club’s fall from grace</h3>
<p>Since winning the Premier League in 2003/04 as the Invincibles, the Gunners finished second twice. In 2004/05, Arsenal finished <a href="https:\/\/www.transfermarkt.us/premier-league/startseite/wettbewerb/GB1/saison_id/2004" target="_blank" rel="noopener">12 points behind</a> Chelsea. Then, in 2015/16, Cinderella-story Leicester City finished <a href="https:\/\/www.transfermarkt.us/premier-league/startseite/wettbewerb/GB1/saison_id/2015" target="_blank" rel="noopener">10 points clear</a>.</p>
<p>Still, the consistent point of pride for Arsenal was their Champions League qualification. Under Wenger, players came in and wanted to play for the Gunners knowing Champions League football was nearly a guarantee. The other clubs experienced brief stints falling out of the Champions League spots, notably Liverpool and Manchester United.</p>
<p>Now, it seems to be Arsenal’s turn. Wenger left after the 2017/18 season. This is the first time in over 20 years without European competition.</p>
<p>Perhaps that is for the best? Maybe, Arsenal preoccupied itself by trying to compete in too many things without a solid base squad.</p>
<p>Executives will assure fans that the lack of European competition is bad. Yes, the monetary benefits of the Europa League or Champions League are gone.</p>
<p>Gone are the days of Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira or Robin van Persie playing on Tuesday or Wednesday nights to raucous crowds at the Emirates.</p>
<div id="attachment_343033" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><div><figure class="image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-343033" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-343033 size-full" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20210825_WST_342997_Arsene-Wenger.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=682" alt="Arsenal Football Club Manager Arsene Wenger" width="1024" height="682" srcset="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/Arsene-Wenger.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/Arsene-Wenger-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/Arsene-Wenger-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/Arsene-Wenger-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/Arsene-Wenger-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure></div><p id="caption-attachment-343033" class="wp-caption-text">Arsene Wenger managed Arsenal to 19 consecutive years of Champions League action.</p></div>
<h3>Immediate Concern</h3>
<p>Everyone thinks the immediate solution to poor results exists in the transfer window.</p>
<p>Is the club struggling to score goals? Buy a striker.</p>
<p>Is the club conceding too many goals? Buy a defender.</p>
<p>Arsenal tried that. Over the last five years. Arsenal holds the third-largest transfer deficit. Arsenal spent <a href="https:\/\/www.transfermarkt.us/premier-league/fuenfjahresvergleich/wettbewerb/GB1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">almost $400 million</a> more than they sold over the last five years.</p>
<p>This includes the incoming transfers of the 2021 summer window. Arsenal Football Club holds the distinction of spending the most among Premier League this summer. Arsenal’s net spending this summer is about <a href="https:\/\/www.transfermarkt.us/fc-arsenal/transfers/verein/11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$130 million</a>. Center-back Ben White, midfielder Martin Ødegaard and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale highlight the arrivals.</p>
<p>It is just two weeks in, but most, especially in the Arsenal camp, expected at least one point out of their opening two games. A dismal performance to open the season at Brentford preceded a <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2021/08/22/dominant-lukaku-bullies-arsenal-into-submission-for-chelsea/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drubbing at the hands of Chelsea</a>. Nor is the grass greener on the other side, yet. Next up in the league is a trip to the Etihad to play Manchester City.</p>
<p>This is Arsenal’s worst start in 118 years to a season, and it will likely get worse before it gets better.</p>
<h3>Cause for optimism</h3>
<p>It may be hard to inspire Arsenal fans at the moment. However, take this as solace. Arsenal Football Club has the youngest squad in the Premier League this season.</p>
<p>All of Arsenal’s acquisitions this summer are under the age of 23. It is a squad built to develop. For example, many of the signings did not appear due to a <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2021/08/20/arteta-surprised-arsenal-forced-to-play-through-covid-outbreak/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COVID-19 outbreak</a>. Still, the average age of Arsenal’s starting XI was just over 24. Once the signings break through, their exposure to consistent minutes will allow them to develop.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em><strong>READ MORE:</strong></em></a><em> Schedule of Arsenal games on U.S. TV and streaming</em></p>
<p>Another reason to believe might be from Arteta’s run last year. Arsenal’s performance in the Europa League was not bad. In fact, some games even showed legitimate promise for the domestic side. While that never came, it provided the young players the chance to show what they can do.</p>
<p>Consistency has to be Arteta’s number one goal with the state of Arsenal Football Club. Victories against inferior teams in the league coupled with competitive games against the top teams would put Arsenal in good standing.</p>
<p>Yet, the message remains the same. If Arteta wanted certain players to compete, and he got them, Arsenal should be competing. Recent performances show that Arteta may be in over his head. Therefore, he must find successful form soon before the Arsenal faithful come knocking.</p>


Arsenal Football Club is one of the most storied teams in the Premier League. However, recent struggles draw attention to whether they are still top six.

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