Ian Wright urges Mikel Arteta to use two Arsenal young guns in remaining two PL games

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Ian Wright has told Optus Sport’s coverage of Arsenal’s 1-0 away win over Chelsea that Mikel Arteta should hand a chance to Gunners teens Miguel Azeez and Folarin Balogun in their remaining two Premier League games against Brighton and Palace.

Arsenal kept their faint Europa League hopes alive on Wednesday night as they recorded a narrow 1-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge – with academy product Emile Smith-Rowe scoring the all-important goal after a mistake from Jorginho.

Brighton and Palace are up next and two wins could sneak Arsenal into seventh place, though it remains unlikely. Arsenal legend Wright believes Arteta should concede defeat despite the win over Chelsea, and hand a chance to the young guns.

He believes Azeez – who at 18, was given his Arsenal debut this season but has failed to build on it – and striker Balogun, who signed a new contract after two goals in five senior outings, deserve a chance to shine in the remaining two outings.

“The way that the season has gone, I think the fans need to see some positivity, hope. There are a couple of young players – Miguel Azeez and Folarin Balogun – they need to be brought in. Fans would go, well at least it is something,” Wright said.

TBR’s view – Next season is Balogun’s time to shine

Arsenal have numerous options up top. Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Martinelli. But Nketiah and Lacazette have been linked with the exit door, while Auba and Martinelli are used out wide.

Next season, with one of the two linked with an exit likely to go, Balogun will get much more of a chance to shine – and qualifying for the Europa League will help that. Azeez needs another season with the 23’s before breaking into the firsts.