BARNET, ENGLAND - JULY 24: Matthew Smith of Arsenal XI runs with the ball during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Barnet and Arsenal XI at The Hive on July 24, 2019 in Barnet, England. (Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images)
3 Arsenal academy players to introduce during the Europa League
by Krish Ajmani
2. Jack Henry-Francis
Arsenal youngster Jack Henry-Francis has signed his first professional contract with the club. #AFC pic.twitter.com/hDv7efJi7Q
— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley_) October 1, 2021
Arsenal’s troubles in midfield have been well-documented. Thomas Partey’s injury woes every season are nearly a given and while Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny are key members of the starting lineup and bench, respectively, they are both ageing players.
Sambi Lokonga is part of the next phase of the Arsenal midfield. Other than him, however, the players who can grow into starters are yet to be seen. One player who potentially could be blooded in is Jack Henry-Francis.
The defensive/central midfielder has trained with the first team squad and has even been present on the bench in recent years. Still only 18 years old, the Irish player has plenty of time to mature although minutes in the Europa League could speed up this development.
With youth players like Charlie Patino and Miguel Azeez on loan and senior players injured, Henry-Francis could get more minutes than he or the coaching staff initially thought.
Continued on the next slide…
#afc</a> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/09/14/3-academy-players-to-introduce-during-europa-league/2/"https://t.co/kjHvJbOsCA">pic.twitter.com/kjHvJbOsCA
<p>— afcstuff (@afcstuff) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/09/14/3-academy-players-to-introduce-during-europa-league/2/"https://twitter.com/afcstuff/status/1443485459674509314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>September 30, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Much of Arsenal’s success this season has been a result of their brilliant attacking play. Quick, incisive passing and rampant dynamism have had fans out of their seats and cheering loudly. Long gone are the days of the infamous “horseshoe” structure, with the passing incredibly slow.</p>
<p>While the structure has led to this attacking prowess, so have the players in that system. Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe have all starred out wide. Unfortunately for the latter, injuries have reduced his time on the pitch this season. <a title="Mikel Arteta provides fitness update on Emile Smith Rowe" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/09/14/3-academy-players-to-introduce-during-europa-league/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/09/08/mikel-arteta-provides-fitness-update-emile-smith-rowe/" rel="">The warm-down after the Manchester United game resulted in a flare-up for Smith Rowe</a>, leaving him on the sidelines once again.</p>
<p>This injury leaves just Martinelli to play on that left-hand side, with no new wingers coming in. Kido Taylor-Hart, however, could be played in the Europa League. His quality on the ball is easy to see and with a gap in the squad, he could look to assert himself and put himself more firmly in the manager’s plans.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/09/14/3-academy-players-to-introduce-during-europa-league/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #2 academy player to introduce </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2>2. Jack Henry-Francis</h2>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Arsenal youngster Jack Henry-Francis has signed his first professional contract with the club. <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/09/14/3-academy-players-to-introduce-during-europa-league/2/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/AFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#AFC</a> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/09/14/3-academy-players-to-introduce-during-europa-league/2/"https://t.co/hDv7efJi7Q">pic.twitter.com/hDv7efJi7Q
<p>— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley_) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/09/14/3-academy-players-to-introduce-during-europa-league/2/"https://twitter.com/ChrisWheatley_/status/1443864110127517697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>October 1, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Arsenal’s troubles in midfield have been well-documented. Thomas Partey’s injury woes every season are nearly a given and while Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny are key members of the starting lineup and bench, respectively, they are both ageing players.</p>
<p>Sambi Lokonga is part of the next phase of the Arsenal midfield. Other than him, however, the players who can grow into starters are yet to be seen. One player who potentially <em>could </em>be blooded in is Jack Henry-Francis.</p>
<p>The defensive/central midfielder has trained with the first team squad and has even been present on the bench in recent years. Still only 18 years old, the Irish player has plenty of time to mature although minutes in the Europa League could speed up this development.</p>
<p>With youth players like Charlie Patino and Miguel Azeez on loan and senior players injured, Henry-Francis could get more minutes than he or the coaching staff initially thought.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/09/14/3-academy-players-to-introduce-during-europa-league/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #3 academy player to introduce </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2>1. Matt Smith</h2>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">✅ Gunner since the age of eight<br />✅ Under-21s captain<br />✅ In the squad tonight</p>
<p>🔎 Find out more about Matt Smith 👇</p>
<p>— Arsenal (@Arsenal) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/09/14/3-academy-players-to-introduce-during-europa-league/2/"https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1565040220365414400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>August 31, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>The attacking players and midfielders produced at Hale End have been some of the best in the world. Brilliant technique combined with end product has defined talents like Saka and Smith Rowe. Another player of this ilk is Matt Smith.</p>
<p>The attacking midfielder has been flittering around the first team, but unable to break in for a while. Like Henry-Francis, he could look to take advantage of a gap in midfield at Arsenal. While he’s young at 21 years of age, his quality is obvious.</p>
<p>His weight of pass is nearly perfect, his close control astounding and his dribbling secure while threatening. Smith’s game actually resembles that of Smith Rowe. Hopefully, he can be just as successful, if not more than the Arsenal #10.</p>
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<p>Hale End’s production line speaks for itself, with world-class talents coming through its ranks time and time again. The Europa League should allow youngsters to get valuable minutes as they look to break into the first-team squad while allowing senior options to get some much-needed rest.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
