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da apostaganha： This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
Joe Willock has extended his contract with Arsenal, the club have confirmed.
What’s the story?
This year, the 20-year-old has forced his way into manager Unai Emery’s plans, having already featured in three of the first four Premier League matches of the campaign.
As such, he has been rewarded with a new deal by the Gunners.
While the length has not been revealed, it has been confirmed that it is long-term in nature.
How do football vloggers afford to watch their team week in, week out? Find out in the video below…
Another example of Arsenal’s young policy
It is an exciting time at Arsenal, especially for the club’s younger players. Willock putting pen to paper for the foreseeable future is just the latest example of this phenomenon.
Looking at the signings that were made during the summer transfer window, it is obvious that Emery and co have the future of the club in mind. Of the six new arrivals, only David Luiz is over 32. Even including the former Chelsea man, the signings had an average age of 22.66 at the time of joining.
The squad as a whole has a fresh and youthful look. There are just four players who are over 30 and Willock is not the only academy graduate to have received considerable playing time this term. Reiss Nelson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, 19 and 22 respectively, have both started games. Also, Matteo Guendouzi, while not a former member of the club’s youth sides, is just 20 yet has been in the starting XI for every game this term.
It is also interesting to analyse the age of those who have departed the Emirates outfit recently. Alex Iwobi, at 23, was by far the youngest member of last term’s first-team squad to seek pastures new. The average age of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Danny Welbeck, Aaron Ramsey and Mohamed Elneny is 30.7.
As such, it is obvious that the north London side’s hierarchy are prioritising a youthful approach. If Emery and his players are given time to grow into their roles, it could be a promising time ahead for Arsenal.
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