The left-back situation at Arsenal remains an area of contention for Mikel Arteta after the season-ending injury to Kieran Tierney. Having been unimpressed with Nuno Tavares’ contribution to the side in the 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, the Spaniard opted instead for Granit Xhaka.
However, the makeshift full-back was caught out of position for Brighton’s opening goal as Arsenal went on to lose 2-1 to the Seagulls. The decision was heavily criticised for two reasons. Firstly, knocking the confidence of Arsenal’s only senior backup left-back, Tavares, and weakening the midfield exposing Albert Sambi Lokonga in a single pivot role.
It seems clear though that Tavares is simply not in Arteta’s good books. Despite being one of the Spaniard’s six signings from the summer, he has not been afraid to hook off the Portuguese full-back early in games.
READ MORE: Kieran Tierney’s replacement scores as Arsenal face Crystal Palace with injury worries growing
Perhaps it is therefore unsurprising to see Arsenal youth player Lino Sousa take part in first-team training. The 17-year-old joined up with the senior team ahead of the weekend and could be in line for a call-up similar to many of his young colleagues.
Arteta has used Charlie Patino on two occasions this season, even scoring in the Carabao Cup against Sunderland. Mika Biereth, Marcelo Flores, Omari Hutchinson, Zak Swanson, Ryan Alebiosu, Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand and Mazeed Ogungbo have all been called up to the bench.
With the issues at full-back, Sousa has been impressing at left-back. football.london understands that Mikel Arteta has had his attention drawn by the teenager who made his under-23s debut for West Brom at just 16 years of age.
Should Sousa be given an opportunity, he can look to Bukayo Saka for inspiration. Despite naturally being a more forward player, Saka’s versatility was called upon at the start of Mikel Arteta’s tenure.
Saka had only just reached his 18th birthday when he made his first Premier League start at left-back against Everton. He made the position his own before eventually proving too good in attack to have his talents restricted in the back four.
Sousa though is a left-back by trade and more comfortable with the role. He has already made an impact on the senior side, he assisted Rob Holding in a 4-1 win over Brentford B over the previous international break during a friendly match.
If you’re good enough, you play. Age is just a number and if Arteta deems Sousa worthy of a start, he needs to try and take any chance that falls to him. If an unorthodox 18-year-old Bukayo Saka can flourish in the position to kickstart his Arsenal career, there is no reason why Sousa cannot do the same.
