Arsenal’s “unplayable” duo now seem like Arteta’s new Saka & Smith Rowe

It wasn’t a traditional, however Arsenal did what they needed to of their League Cup conflict in opposition to Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday evening.

Mikel Arteta named a considerably modified group to the one which beat Crystal Palace, and nonetheless ran out 2-0 winners, and are actually set to face the Eagles once more within the quarter-finals.

With all that stated, whereas it wasn’t essentially the most thrilling of video games, the Gunners did play moderately effectively, and except for a number of moments early on, have been far and away the higher group.

Furthermore, there have been a number of starters who made a robust case for staying within the facet, together with two gems who’re wanting like the brand new Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe.

Arsenal’s standout performers vs Brighton

One participant who shouldn’t be within the group for Burnley this weekend, however nonetheless made a great impression on Wednesday evening, was Andre Harriman-Annous.

The academy gem was handed his first senior begin for the facet, and whereas he did not rating a aim, he was a handful all evening and made a number of clever runs.

Furthermore, it was his shot that led to Saka scoring his aim and sealing the deal for the facet, so though he shouldn’t play on the weekend, the 17-year-old is somebody to keep watch over.

A teenager who does need to make it into the travelling squad for Saturday is, after all, Max Dowman.

The “licensed worldie of a expertise,” as dubbed by analyst Rohan Jivan, was totally unbelievable in his first senior begin, and the Seagulls had no possibility however to double- and triple-team him when he had the ball, he was so harmful.

Lastly, though they lacked some synergy within the first half, all the backline got here out of the sport wanting good, with the centre-back pairing of Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie wanting notably sturdy.

With all that stated, there was one other duo who did themselves proud, a duo who might be the brand new Saka and Smith Rowe.

Arsenal’s new Saka and Smith Rowe

With Dowman already talked about, it can come as no shock that the 2 kids who might be Arsenal’s new Smith Rowe and Saka are, after all, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Now, this does not imply the pair precisely mirror the previous Hale Enders, nor does it imply they’re going to comply with their precise footsteps, particularly as accidents sadly noticed Smith Rowe left behind by the challenge.

Nonetheless, just like the duo that got here earlier than them, the 2 18-year-olds are of the identical academy cohort and, most significantly, play extremely effectively collectively.

For instance, it was the Gunners’ thrilling younger left-back that offered the help for Nwaneri to open the scoring halfway by the second half.

Furthermore, whereas they solely mixed for a single aim, there have been different moments within the sport wherein the “fearless” Lewis-Skelly, as dubbed by Declan Rice, charged into the center of the park and performed some fast passes together with his “phenomenal” teammate, as dubbed by former skilled Stephen Warnock.

Together with Wednesday evening’s sport, the pair have now made 28 senior appearances collectively, totalling 765 minutes, wherein they’ve mixed for 2 targets and averaged 2.14 factors per sport.

Lastly, on prime of their connection on the pitch, the kids have made it clear in quite a few interviews that they’re extremely shut buddies, which may certainly solely enhance their in-game synergy.