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Fast readings
Arsenal has had a promising and unpromising pre-season so far with a number of exciting young players who have caught the eye – but have they done enough to force themselves into the plans of the first Unai Emery team?
The Gunners have won three of their five friendly matches, beating Colorado Rapids, Bayern Munich and Fiorentina, drawing a draw with Real Madrid (although losing on penalties) and losing to Lyon.
We looked at five players who impressed before the first Arsenal Premier League game against Newcastle United on August 11th.
Joe Willock
A big winner of Arsenal's pre-season so far, Willock has already played 17 times in all competitions for the Gunners, scoring three times.
After replacing Mesut Ozil in the second loss to the Europa League final against Chelsea, Willock continued to pressure the German international with impressive performances as the No. 10 Arsenal friendlies.
"Everything has progressed at home because he started with us last year in the pre-season," Emery told Arsenal during his interview with the official website. "His performance today is very different from that of last year, perhaps because he knows our idea and our spirit.
"He has a great motivation and a great individual ambition to make good performances, and he listens a lot to our idea. We talk to him a lot individually, with Carcedo, with me.
"I really think, really, that he went one step further last season and finished it very well with us, playing 12 minutes in the final against Chelsea with a big performance. We now want him to go one step further with his ability to be with us, with precious help in our performance and our idea. "
Eddie Nketiah
Nketiah was forced to be patient in the UAE the last quarter. After Danny Welbeck was injured at the end of the season, it was planned to leave Nketiah ready to leave, but the striker would remain firmly behind Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette in Emery's order.
But the striker has convincingly demonstrated his commitment to play more with his next winner against Bayern Munich and his double against Fiorentina.
Lacazette said his victory over Arsenal against Lyon this weekend was tough, but Nketiah proved to Emery that he may not need to bet on the Frenchman's fitness.
Reiss Nelson
After such a thrilling start to Hoffenheim, a relatively disappointing second half of the campaign may not have been a bad thing for Nelson, whose hype has quietly eased.
The offensive midfielder has always shown he is one of Arsenal's top players against Lyon alongside Willock, and the 19-year-old should be offered opportunities by Emery.
Video: Inventive finish by Reiss Nelson during the Arsenal pre-season training in Los Angeles today. ? #afc pic.twitter.com/5TkuWCOS4W
– afcstuff (@afcstuff) July 13, 2019
Robbie Burton
Part of the evolution of Arsenal over the summer saw Freddie Ljungberg promoted to the position of under-23 boss in the first team. In pre-season, the previously unknown Burton was used as an example of the benefits of strengthening Ljungberg to work alongside Emery.
"We worked last year with Steve Bould, Freddie with the Under 23," Emery said earlier this summer. "We changed because for them it was a good option.
"With Freddie, we work. Above all, he helps us with young players because he knows better than us all young players.
"For example Robbie [Burton]I did not know Robbie. Freddie told me that he was a good player capable of playing six or eight. Really, he helped us as we needed it.
The 19-year-old was impressed by Bayern Munich and has already participated in each of Arsenal's friendly matches.
Gabriel Martinelli
Arsenal's first rookie this summer, Martinelli scored in his first appearance for the club against Colorado and continued to be involved throughout the preseason.
The 18-year-old striker also scored the ball at the back of the net against Lyon, but his efforts were dismissed.
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