Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Liverpool, Carabao Cup, Ian Wright, Jurgen Klopp, Arsenal, Mikel Arteta
Chris Byfield
Topics: Liverpool, Carabao Cup, Ian Wright, Jurgen Klopp, Arsenal, Mikel Arteta
Ian Wright admitted he envied one thing about Liverpool after their Carabao Cup final triumph.
On Sunday, Virgil van Dijk netted a last-minute winner to see Liverpool edge past Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley and ensure Jurgen Klopp’s last season as Reds boss is marked by at least one trophy.
Chelsea, who have spent around £1billion on their squad in the past two years, were the more dominant side but failed to capitalise on several opportunities.
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And Liverpool took advantage, with the team snatching victory in the 120th minute despite having been struck by a major injury crisis before the game. The Reds were without the likes of Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez for the game.
In turn, five players aged 20 or under featured, with the average age of the XI that finished the game below 22.
After the encounter, Arsenal icon Ian Wright singled out the performance of Liverpool’s 18-year-old forward Jayden Danns for praise.
Wright added that he envied the Reds for the trust and expectation they placed in youth.
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“You look at the young players that came on, even Danns, I’ve not seen too much of him. Heard his name before,” he said on Wrighty’s House.
“But he came on in that final like an experienced pro the way he played, the way he held the ball, he didn’t look like he was in awe of anything.
“He was just in and ready to go. And that is something to do with the aura of Liverpool and what they expect from a player that can come on and ‘This is fine, this is what we’re about’. I envy them for that.”
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While Mikel Arteta has handed debuts to several Hale End graduates since taking the reigns at Arsenal in 2019, some fans have criticised him for not handing youngsters opportunities this term.
For example, many fans anticipated seeing the club’s youth handed a chance against PSV Eindhoven in December after the Gunners confirmed their status as Champions League group winners with a game to spare. Arteta, however, opted for a tried and tested team.
Moreover, while Arteta has handed debuts to the likes of Folarin Balogun, Charlie Patino, Miguel Azeez, Ben Cottrell, Charles Sagoe Jr and Ethan Nwaneri during his time at Arsenal, these players have since gone on to make fewer than 20 appearances between them.