Emerging Trump Cards at the Emirates

                                                          

Alex Iwobi, Photo Credit: Getty Image/ Arsenal

Arsenal's pre-season has gone really well with the Barclays Asia Trophy secured in Singapore after wins over a Singapore select IX and fellow English Premiership side Everton.

The Emirates Cup over the weekend afforded the club's fans to see the players at close quarters. It also provided an opportunity to see some of the club's youngsters. Arsenal eventually ran out winners against Lyon and Wolfsburg to win the trophy for the first time in five years.

With the curtain raiser for the league season against Chelsea coming up next Sunday, the question on the lips of many of Arsenal persuasion is who could be the Hector Bellerin of the coming season amongst the young players that trot their stuff over the weekend?

For starters, going down memory lane, Hector Bellerin emerged as a right back option for Arsene Wenger after his strong showing in last year's Emirates Cup against Benfica.

The Emirates Cup this season saw the likes of Hale academy graduates Alex Iwobi, Chuba Akpom and Isaac Hayden feature in the matches. But it was new signing from Lens Jeff Reine-Adelaide that stole most of the show. The 17 year old midfielder had a solid cameo against Lyon and had an even better display against Wolfsburg when he provided the assist for the only goal.

The French lad and Alex Iwobi played from the left wing in their appearances. What this meant was that Arsene Wenger was auditioning possible options in the left wing in the absence of Alexis Sanchez who is having an extended break after the Copa America. That both players eventually produced stellar displays only increased their chances of playing in the domestic cup competitions especially the Capital One Cup.

Alex Iwobi forged a huge reputation for himself last season with the U21s; scoring as much as 10 goals. And combining both his physical attributes and skill set to good effect. At 19 years, and with his display in pre-season after featuring for the first team for the first time, he could be in for more appearances.

Jeff Reine-Adelaide on the other hand is a new kid on the block. The 17 year old was signed in May from French side Lens along with Yassin Fortune for three million pounds. Despite his performance, he could make do with playing for the U21s as well as training with the first team; a point Arsene Wenger alluded to.

The situation of Chuba Akpom and Isaac Hayden is not different. Akpom featured for the first team last season and showed his huge potential. His hat trick at the Barclays Asia Tourney in Singapore showed that he needs a break or two to finally score for the first team in a competitive fixture. Although he still has to work on his decision making especially when to release the ball to players that are better placed and when to shot.

However it was the substitute appearance and performance of Isaac Hayden that went largely unnoticed. The midfielder who can also play as a defender has been plagued by ankle injuries for almost a year after his solid performance in defence against Southampton in the Capital One Cup defeat last season.

That he played in the defensive midfield position in his appearance at the Emirates Cup could be a pointer as to where Arsene Wenger is looking to deploy him in the long term when the opportunity arises.

A vital point to highlight concerning the young players that played over the weekend is that, physically they are ready as Arsene Wenger would say. Looking at Alex Iwobi, Isaac Hayden, Chuba Akpom and Jeff Reine-Adelaide and their physical attributes means they will not have an issue dealing with the physicality of domestic football.

Football holds much to opportunity and chance. The absence of Tomas Rosicky, Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck and Mathieu Flamini certainly aided the cause of the quartet to feature at the Emirates tournament.

Like Hector Bellerin before them, it would take a huge injury crisis for any of these players that were one of the bright spots of this year's Emirates Cup tourney to feature for the first team in the coming season. A loan spell later in the season could be an opportunity for them to develop. But since Arsene Wenger had said that they will not be sent on loan, it remains to be seen what the first half of the coming season holds for them.

In the end, while Arsenal basks in the euphoria of winning another pre-season tourney, it is one of the purpose of it which includes allowing youngsters to show case their potential that has been one of the highlights of the 2015 competition. And it’s a case of waiting to see where they go from here.