Wow: Arteta has now unearthed Arsenal's new Saka and Esr in "special" Hale End duo

Mikel Arteta was appointed to take charge of Arsenal back in December 2019, and while he has led them on three Premier League title charges in a row now, things have not always been so easy.

For example, despite lifting the FA Cup at the end of his first campaign, the Spaniard led the team to an eighth-place finish in the league, and in the early stages of the following season, it looked like things were set to get worse.

The North Londoners were bottom of the table by the first international break, and from the 8th of November to Boxing Day, the team didn't win a league game.

Arsenal's League form 8/11/20–26/12/20

Opponent

Result

Aston Vila (H)

3-0 (Loss)

Leeds United (A)

0-0 (Draw)

Wolves (A)

2-1 (Loss)

Tottenham (A)

2-0 (Loss)

Burnely (H)

1-0 (Loss)

Southampton (H)

1-1 (Draw)

Everton (A)

2-1 (Loss)

So, with little left to lose, Arteta opted to start one of the academy's most exciting prospects, Emile Smith Rowe, who, alongside Bukayo Saka, helped to steer the club back in the right direction over the next year and a half.

The midfield maestro moved on to Fulham in the summer, but it looks like Arsenal have found their new Hale End duo.

In the Boxing Day game against Chelsea, Arteta started Smith Rowe in attacking midfield with Saka out on the right, and it was the former who picked up the assist for the latter's goal that secured all three points for the team.

By the end of the campaign, the Croydon-born ace had racked up a tally of four goals and seven assists, while his fellow Hale Ender ended up with seven goals and seven assists.

It would be more of the same the following year, with the former Gunners' gem producing 13 goal involvements from the middle of the park and on the left, while the club's "legend in the making," as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, did even better, producing 19 goal involvements primarily from the right wing.

Smith Rowe & Saka's 20/21

Player

Smith Rowe

Saka

Appearances

33

46

Minutes

2220'

3606'

Goals

4

7

Assists

7

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.33

0.30

Minutes per Goal Involvement

201.81'

257.57'

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Unfortunately, injuries and the club's rapid progression saw the 24-year-old eventually lose his place in the team, leading to his sale to the Cottagers in the summer.

However, while it ultimately didn't work out in North London, the emergence of Smith Rowe alongside Saka cannot be understated, as the pair of them helped to kickstart Arteta's revolution at the Emirates, so much so that the fans would often sing about the pair of them.

Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe

Interestingly, it would appear as if Hale End has now delivered another dynamic duo to the manager this season, a duo who could also help bring in another phase of his long-term ambitions in N5.

Hale End's next Smith Rowe and Saka

While things haven't entirely gone to plan this season, at least domestically, there have been a few bright spots, notably Ethan Nwaneri's and Myles Lewis-Skelly's emergence.

The two teenagers have gone from picking up limited minutes at the end of games earlier in the campaign to starting crucial encounters, such as last night's match against PSV Eindhoven.

While one of the reasons for that is the immense number of injuries the squad have had to deal with, both youngsters, like Smith Rowe and Saka before them, have shown through stellar performances that they deserve to be regular starters.

For example, the Gunners' "special" number 53, as dubbed by respected football analyst Ben Mattinson, has already amassed a brilliant tally of eight goals and one assist in 27 appearances, totalling 1019 minutes.

That means the Enfield-born dynamo is averaging a goal involvement every three games or, more impressively, every 113.22 minutes.

Nwaneri & Leiws-Skelly's 24/25

Player

Nwaneri

Lewis-Skelly

Appearances

27

23

Minutes

1019'

1154'

Goals

8

1

Assists

1

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.33

0.04

Minutes per Goal Involvement

113.22'

1154'

All Stats via Transfermarkt

For his part, the "unplayable" number 49, as dubbed by Jack Wilshere, has already made 23 first-team appearances this term, 12 of which have been starts.

Moreover, while he has been a little rash at times, the Islington-born gem looks to have already surpassed Riccardo Calafiori as Arteta's go-to option at left-back.

Ultimately, while it is so early in their careers, it does not seem like hyperbole to say that in Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly, Hale End has delivered Arteta his next Saka and Smith Rowe.