3. Arsene isn’t afraid to give the Arsenal youths a shot at glory
Héctor Bellerin and Chuba Akpom were given a chance to show their improving prowess against a struggling but game-on Aston Villa. This was the seventh Premier League appearance for Bellerin this season. In this game, the 19-year old Spanish right back who was recalled from his loan to Championship League’s Watford last month, was in the starting lineup and finished the match in spectacular style by scoring his debut goal in added time. With each game Bellerin grows in confidence and no doubt his goal, the fifth and final of the match, will help to boost him along the way too. Akpom, also 19, has been with Arsenal since he was six years old. The England youth international had previously been on loan to League One’s Brentford and Coventry City and this match was only his second senior squad appearance for Arsenal in the Premier League this season. After coming on as a substitute for Giroud in the 70th minute Akpom soon got to work. Within minutes he was brought down in the box by Brad Guzan while charging with the ball towards an open goal; Santi Cazorla’s subsequent penalty was a by-product of that foul. In the 85th and 90th minutes Akpom had two on-target shots saved. Alexis Sánchez has nicknamed Akpom “Titi” in comparision with ex-Arsenal forward Thierry Henry. If Akpom continues to play like this it’ll be no small wonder why.