THERE HAS been an emphasis on youth at Arsenal at the start of the new season. Manager Unai Emery has given his youngsters their chance and to date they have not let him down, writes Crystal Davis at Emirates Stadium.

One of the club’s rising stars is Joe Willock who showed once more that he is a cut above the rest as the young guns thumped Nottingham Forest 5-0 in the Carabao Cup at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night (September 24). 

Twenty-year-old Willock, who replaced Granit Xhaka in midfield, looked at ease playing alongside match day captain Mesut Ozil and Lucas Torreira, with the Arsenal academy product engineered further encouraging signs. 

Willock’s hard-work was almost celebrated with a goal in the early stages of the second half,  teammate Bukayo Saka – another hot prospect – placed a teasing cross onto the head of Willock from inside the box, but unfortunately the midfielder was unable to make it count. 

In a game that saw the Gunners gradually take control of the match, Willock, who recently signed a long-term contract, added his name to the score sheet with a tap-in that came through an assist from substitute Hector Bellerin, who was returning to action for the first team since picking up a lengthy injury back in January 2019. 

Head Coach Unai Emery believes Willock’s performance illustrated that the promising youngster is “one more step ahead.”