Arsenal failed to convince ‘unplayable’ attacker to stay, their message didn’t get through

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Arsenal weren’t able to ‘effectively communicate’ a plan to a young player who recently rejected a contract offer to stay at the club.

Right now, amid all of the positive work Mikel Arteta is doing at Arsenal there’s only one concern – the link between the first team and the Hale End Academy.

There’s no doubt that Arteta’s next few years at the club will be littered with silverware, honours their football deserves.

But some feel that success will be slightly tarnished if it isn’t supported by the club’s academy players, a rich part of Arsenal’s DNA.

Take Bukayo Saka for example, a shining light for club and country, a player who it almost means more to watch score and succeed.

But at 22-years-old, Saka is arguably the last success story of a player able to bridge the gap between the academy and the senior side, and his rise initially began under Unai Emery.

Since, Arsenal either haven’t had the necessary talent, or Arteta hasn’t seen the situation right to involve the likes of Charlie Patino or perhaps even Omari Hutchinson.

Amario Cozier-Duberry felt as if Arsenal didn’t have a plan for his future

Of course, the latest high profile frustrations in that regard are the recent departures of Amario Cozier-Duberry and Reuell Walters – two players Arsenal wanted to stay.

And to that end, The Athletic have now shared more details surrounding the events that led to the pair deciding to leave, after Cozier-Duberry just announced his move to Brighton & Hove Albion.

READ MORE: Arsenal could sign ‘one of the best’ players in the world by the end of Tuesday

According to the report mentioned, Arsenal believed that both youngsters could have made a first team impact in time, explaining their decision to present multiple contract offers.

However, it was felt that the club didn’t effectively communicate their development plan alongside those contract offers – leading to both youngsters deciding their own path.

Arsenal hoped to find loan moves for both ‘unplayable’ Cozier-Duberry and Walters last January, but were hindered by the pair’s expiring contracts. 

From an Arsenal fan perspective, it has been puzzling as to why the duo mentioned haven’t been afforded more opportunities out on loan.

And if Arteta and his staff perhaps got it slightly wrong in this incident, perhaps they will try to do a lot better with Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Chido Obi-Martin.

All three look good enough to play at the Emirates in the future, and at 17-years-old, it feels as if this is the crucial breakthrough season for Nwaneri.