Mikel Arteta has voiced his pleasure over the way Joe Willock has handled not being in the PremierLeague squad/starting line-up so far this season.
In his pre-match presser ahead of Sunday’s game, the Spaniard spoke highly of the Englishman as he lauded him for his performances in the Europa League and Carabao Cup.
He said: “I mentioned with Joe that I’ve been really impressed with the way he’s handled the situation of not having much game time in the Premier League. The reflection of that is the way he’s played in the Europa League when he had the minutes or the Carabao Cup. He has a chance like everybody else.” (via Arsenal)
Should Willock start for Arsenal against Leeds United
Yes
No
It’s worth nothing to say you’ve been impressed by a player. Arteta needs to act on his word and include the England under-21 international in his starting line-up this coming Sunday. The team has become abit stale in recent weeks, especially in the final third.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goal from the penalty spot at Old Trafford was the last time the side scored in the league. The outfit have also failed to score from open play in over six hours, highlighting the need for fresh ideas.
Willock will prove to be something of a different option with his energy and ability to run beyond the striker. He’s showed his instincts in front of goal in the Europe’s second tier competition, notching up two goals in just three games.
In the recent game against Molde, Willock showed off the exact quality which has been missing since the departure of Aaron Ramsey. With the number nine spot vacated, the £14.4m-rated 21-year-old ran through the heart of the Norwegian side’s defence with Nicolas Pepe finding him with a delicious pass. He managed to slam the ball home for Arsenal’s fourth and in the process show off his predatory finishing when inside the penalty box.
Whether or not, Willock will start is yet to be seen, but, with things having gone stale, adding a hungry and young talent is exactly the type of freshening up the Reds need for Sunday.
