By Daniel Finton (Deputy Editor)
What up, pimps?
Welcome one and all to the twelfth instalment of the Finton’s Frolic, future predicting extravaganza, and also right opinion zone. Today I will be discussing how the future of the Arsenal front line is in safe hands, and how the youngsters present are more than capable of carrying the pressures that come with the gauntlet set to be bestowed onto them by that of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.
As a disclaimer, this article will not go into any depth whatsoever about the futures of Lacazette and Aubameyang. I am coming from a perspective that is set after them. Whether or not either of the current talismen have a future for the long or short term is completely unknown by anybody, therefore this piece will be coming from an angle where both are gone, because sadly, they are both human and will not be at our club forever no matter what the future holds. So why not have a gander at what the future may hold?
Even if the gunners see both players walk away sooner than later, the already present crop of impressive youngsters that are able to play in forward positions looks scrumptiously promising. Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, Nicolas Pepe, Reiss Nelson, and Eddie Nketiah, who are the five main forwards aside from Lacazette and Aubameyang presently, all prefer positions in a front three and the oldest of which from the future five is Pepe at a still young 25 years of age.
What is most attractive to me about the aforementioned furious five is the balance that could be struck with them. Both Pepe and Saka are left-footed players, whilst Nelson, Martinelli and Nketiah prefer to use their right. It seems as though balance is key for Mikel Arteta in all departments, and players with different skill sets who are all pretty different from each other helps to create an opportunity for the front line to have fluidity to it.
Given the versatility of most of the players mentioned along with their malleability because of their young ages, I’ve chosen five possible front threes that would best suit the team going into the future.
1. RW: Pepe, ST: Nketiah, LW: Martinelli
2. RW: Pepe, ST: Martinelli, LW: Saka
3. RW: Saka, ST: Nketiah, LW: Nelson
4. RW: Nelson, ST: Martinelli, LW: Saka
5. RW: Nelson, ST: Nketiah, LW: Martinelli
Obviously, there are other trio formations that could work well too, however, I would deem those shown as the most balanced and realistic. My favourite triplet listed is actually the first on the list. Whilst it does leave out Saka, the balance of Pepe’s insouciance compiled with Nketiah and Martinelli’s tireless workrate’s is a super attractive prospect. Also, I believe that front three would be the most capable of interchanging and showing fluidity leaving it the most balanced. Pepe would be the main threat creatively, with Nketiah acting as a battering ram of sorts given his impressive work rate, hold up play and excellent movement. Martinelli would be the balance between the two, the guy who can score goals and also create them. While basically all of the front threes would most likely do that, the first on the list would do it the most effectively in my opinion. However, the fact that there is as many options and more than those that I displayed exemplifies the fact that the future of our forward department is in safe hands.
As a self-provided caveat, it is worth mentioning that putting this weight of pressure onto a crop of youngsters where the eldest is just 25-years-old is asking a lot, although if any crop of youngsters at any given team in Europe can do it, it is ours. To denote my self-provided-caveat, the Arsenal Hale End graduates, and of course Martinelli, comprise the most promising attacking front of any side in world football at the moment. The only teams that comes anywhere near in regards to potential is that of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Borusssia Dortmund.
Along with the five players mentioned also comes Emile Smith-Rowe who can slot in just behind the front line, or maybe even play as a false 9. And also the ever-impressive, New York City born, Folarin Balogun, who is tearing it up for the U23’s in the Premier league 2 with 10 goals and 4 assists in just 15 appearances.
The future looks bright for the offensive side of our team, now let’s just hope the likes of William Saliba come in and show just as much promise upon arrival at the ther end. Who knows, maybe we are currently witnessing the next Premier league winning Arsenal side’s building. Probably not, but let a guy dream.
Anyways, thanks for reading and I did have a fun time cooking this, so I hope you at least did not hate devouring it in all of its nutrition packedness similar in health stature to Martinelli’s “Brazilian imported” acai bowl that he posted on his socials just a few days ago. The season is coming back so there will be actual content to cover, so sadly the Finton’s Frolic right opinion zone show… CONTINUES. I’m sorry you have to keep enduring this weird shit, but hey you’re the ones who keep reading for some reason. Maybe it’s like a depressing, fire burning car crash that you just can’t look away from. Well, regardless, I’ll take your view and with that I bid thee the most sincere and insecure over the forthcoming city game undertoned, toodloo…!
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