Tony Cascarino says Arsenal young guns are upstaging £192,000-a-week player

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Tony Cascarino has told The Times that he believes Arsenal’s youngsters are upstaging the experienced Willian at the moment.

The 32-year-old checked in at the Emirates Stadium during the summer on a free transfer from London-rivals Chelsea.

Willian has contributed either an assist or a goal since the opening day of the campaign when he set up all three goals in a 3-0 win.

He has been largely frustrating and Cascarino believes the club’s academy graduates are upstaging him.

The likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka look very much like the future of Arsenal.

Willian was added to bring experience to the ranks but the ex-top-flight player doesn’t think Mikel Arteta has seen that yet.

Cascarino told The Times: “Willian may be 32 but he is making all the silly mistakes of a raw youngster. Whether it is giving the ball away in good positions or taking a touch when he should be shooting, the forward has been getting the basics wrong since leaving Chelsea for Arsenal.

“It is the promising younger players such as Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe who are playing with composure at the Emirates.

“Willian is a two-time Premier League winner who has played 70 times for Brazil. Unfortunately for Arsenal, they have seen very little of this experience so far.”

TBR View: Is Willian already on borrowed time at the Emirates Stadium?

Given Arsenal’s recent good form with the club’s younger players coming up trumps, it’s a fair statement to say that he probably is.

Willian might have signed on a free but he is costing Arsenal £192,000-a-week in wages.

With that in mind, it’s easy to see why supporters have been desperately underwhelmed by the Brazilian.

Cascarino is right to suggest that the youngsters are upstaging the man with 70 caps to his name for Brazil.

Smith Rowe has been brilliant of late, Saka is getting better each week and Kieran Tierney has been on fire too.

Arteta will be learning a lot about his squad and as the season progresses, Willian could find himself featuring less often if his current form doesn’t pick up.