The six Arsenal wonderkids Unai Emery needs to use in the Europa League

Arsenal’s 2018/19 Europa League campaign begins on Thursday with a home tie against Ukrainian side Vorskla Poltava.

The Gunners reached the semi-final of last year’s competition in Arsene Wenger’s final season as manager, only to be knocked out by Atletico Madrid who went on to beat Marseille in the final.

Now under Unai Emery, the most successful coach in the competition’s short history with three titles, the Gunners will be looking to mount another challenge for the trophy.

Arsenal have picked up nine points from their opening five matches in the Premier League but the Europa League does, of course, give them another opportunity to qualify for next season’s elite European competition: the Champions League.

Sporting Lisbon, who finished third in last season’s Primeira Liga, and Azerbaijani league champions Qarabag make up the other sides in Arsenal’s group this season.

Many fans are calling for Emery to blood some of the Gunners’ talented youngsters in Europe, with many of Freddie Ljunberg’s U23 side impressing as part of the senior set-up in pre-season.

We’ve taken a look at six Arsenal youngsters that deserve to be given opportunities in the Europa League this season.

1. Matteo Guendouzi

Age: 19

Position: Central midfield

2017/18 games: 21 (with FC Lorient)

Guendouzi has started all five of Arsenal’s Premier League matches so far this season, but the emergence of Lucas Torreira is likely to reduce the Frenchman’s playing time domestically.

Torreira changed the game for the Gunners when he replaced Guendouzi at half-time in their win over Newcastle last weekend. The Uruguayan’s skillset seemed to get the best out of the much-maligned Granit Xhaka whilst also pushing the likes of Mesut Ozil further up the pitch.

That’s not to say that Guendouzi hasn’t started this season well, though. Nobody expected the 19-year-old to be as heavily involved as he has been for Unai Emery’s side so far following his £7m move from Ligue 2 side Lorient. However, the 19-year-old leads his Arsenal teammates for tackles (14), interceptions (12) and fouls won (11) after five games.

He was particularly impressive on his Premier League debut against Manchester City and seemed totally unfazed by the occasion and the quality of players around him. The Europa League will give him the chance to develop under less pressure as his mistakes are less likely to be exploited – and scrutinised.

2. Ainsley Maitland-Niles

Age: 21

Position: Midfielder

2017/18 games: 28

Maitland-Niles has been on the scene at Arsenal for some time now. In fact, four years ago he became Arsenal’s second-youngest Champions League debutant in a 4-1 away victory against Galatasaray.

He started the Gunners’ first league match of the season against Manchester City at left-back, only to suffer a fractured fibula, which is expected to keep him sidelined until October.

Although he won’t be available for the first few games of this year’s competition, if he can stay fit, he’s likely to play a lot of football – most of which will come in Europ.

His ability to perform in a number of different positions is obviously something that will appeal to the Arsenal boss and could always seem him make strides towards Gareth Southgate’s England set-up.

The 21-year-old has represented England at every age group between U17 and U21, most notably winning the U20 World Cup in 2017.

3. Konstantinos Mavropanos

Age: 20

Position: Centre-back

2017/18 games: 3

Defender Mavropanos arrived at Arsenal in January from Greek Super League side PAS Giannina. He was dubbed as a player for the future at the time but made his Premier League debut against Manchester United at Old Trafford in April.

The 20-year-old received plenty of praise for his performance and went on to start Arsenal’s next two games, including Arsene Wenger’s final home game in charge of the club. His last action of last season, though, saw him sent off in the Gunners’ 3-1 away defeat to Leicester City.

Mavropanos is yet to feature for Arsenal this season, with Unai Emery confirming on Wednesday that the defender is currently struggling with a minor groin strain.

However, with one Greek slowly converting Arsenal fans with his displays in the Premier League, Arsenal’s European conquest is the perfect platform to develop another defensive gladiator.

4. Eddie Nketiah

Age: 19

Position: Striker

2017/18 games: 10

Nketiah caught the eye of many after an impressive cameo for the first team in the Carabao Cup last season. The striker netted an excellent brace in Arsenal’s 2-1 win against Norwich City, scoring with his first touch just 15 seconds after coming on as a substitute and then netted the winner in extra time.

The Lewisham-born forward, who began his youth career with Chelsea, has an excellent goal record for the Gunners’ youth teams and made his England U21 debut earlier this year.

With the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette likely to play most of their football in the Premier League this season – especially given the ever-developing synergy – Nketiah may be set for some opportunities in Europe.

The teenager made five appearances in the Europa League last season and Unai Emery confirmed on Wednesday that Nketiah will be in Arsenal’s 18-man squad to face Vorskla. Whether he plays ahead of Danny Welbeck remains to be seen, although there could be space for both in the starting XI.

5. Emile Smith Rowe

Age: 18

Position: Attacking midfielder

2017/18 games: 0

Smith Rowe had a remarkable pre-season for Arsenal, joining the senior team on their tour of Singapore. He scored a fantastic goal in their friendly against Atletico Madrid and went on to sign a professional contract in July.

The England youth international certainly caught the eye of manager in his first pre-season at the club and is another that Emery has confirmed will be part of the squad for Arsenal’s Europa League opener on Thursday.

The 18-year-old is capable of playing in a number of different positions behind the main striker and impressed in the U18s FA Youth Cup campaign last season. His ball-carrying ability is something that is perhaps missing from the Arsenal first team; driving runs from deep often lead to Smith Rowe being fouled and winning set-pieces in dangerous positions for his side, which he himself is more than capable of converting.

Former Gunners midfielder Jack Wilshere was full of praise for the Londoner when he trained with the first-team last season and this could be a real breakthrough season for the midfielder, who has been at the club since the age of 9.

6. Joe Willock

Age: 19

Position: Central midfield

2017/18 games: 11

Some Arsenal fans have already labelled Willock ‘the English Pogba’ – albeit tongue in cheek – and it will be interesting to see how many first team minutes he gets under Emery this season.

The midfielder comes from a family of footballers, with brothers at Manchester United and Benfica, and has impressed for the Gunners’ U23 side so far this season. He is another that has represented England at youth level and was part of the recent U20 squad for their matches against Switzerland and Holland.

He has plenty of competition for the midfield spots at Arsenal, with the likes of Lucas Torreira and Mohamed Elneny short of match fitness, but we’d be surprised if Emery totally overlooked Willock as an option in Europe this season. He started six matches for the Gunners’ first team last season, including one in the Premier League away to Newcastle.

A midfield trio of Willock, Guendouzi and Maitland-Niles would be as brave as it is exciting, whilst Emile Smith Rowe could be used out wide or in one of three behind the striker should Emery decide on a 4-2-3-1 formation.

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