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Parlour suggests Arsenal may not need Zaha or Ceballos because of these two youngsters
ARSENAL legend Ray Parlour has backed two of the younger members of the Gunners squad to stake a claim for a regular first-team spot this season.
Arsenal: Parlour on which players could be in starting line-up
Arsenal head coach Unai Emery has used plenty of players from the club’s academy on their pre-season tour in the US so far.
Striker Eddie Nketiah has scored three goals in wins over Bayern Munich and Fiorentina.
But it is midfielder Joe Willock and winger Reiss Nelson who have caught Parlour’s eye.
Willock, 19, scored three goals in just six appearances for Arsenal last season and impressed off the bench in the Europa League final defeat to Chelsea.
It’s a real opportunity for the young players, Reiss Nelson, Joe Willock, to put pressure on the manager
Nelson, also 19, spent the entire campaign at Bundesliga side Hoffenheim, scoring seven goals in 25 games.
Arsenal have been heavily linked with signing players who play in similar positions to Willock and Nelson.
Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha is one of Emery’s top priorities and Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos is said to be close to joining on loan.
But Parlour reckons both Nelson and Willock could become firm fixtures in the first team, suggesting Zaha and Ceballos are not needed.
“Joe Willock, young midfielder, has come into the team and he might have an opportunity this year,” he told ESPN.
“So it’s a real opportunity for the young players, Reiss Nelson, Joe Willock, to put pressure on the manager to maybe put them into the starting line-up.”
Meanwhile, Parlour has pleaded for more consistency from Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil in the upcoming campaign.
“Well we know he’s a quality player,” he added.
“He’s played in a World Cup, won the World Cup final.
“But consistency is the most important thing for a footballer. You want to see him getting a seven or eight out of 10 every week.
“You’ve got to build a team around him. I’m sure that Emery will be looking at how you play Mesut Ozil.
“I thought he put a lot of effort in the other night against Bayern Munich and that’s what we need to see every week.
“If he can do that, we all know he’s a very good player.”