OPINION
It has been a testing few days for Gooners, who were left immensely disappointed by Thursday’s Europa League defeat to Belarusian minnows Bate Borisov after a series of underwhelming Premier League results. But encouragement of brighter times ahead came with Friday night’s 4-0 Under-23s win away to Tottenham. Star of the show was attacking midfielder Joe Willock, who scored twice in a match also decorated by strikes from Eddie Nketiah and Charlie Gilmour. Given the identity of the opponents and the size of the scoreline, Arsenal fans took to social media en masse to hail the win and the performance of Willock. The 19-year-old has made 15 first-team appearances, which have yielded three goals, but he was not in the squad on Thursday night, unlike Nketiah, after coming on for the last two minutes in last weekend’s win against Huddersfield. Supporters are now calling for the England Under-20 international to be catapulted by Unai Emery into the senior starting XI and given an extended chance to show the struggling big names how it’s done.
This Is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets below:
May as well get him in the first team. He will show more passion, desire and quality than Xhaka
— Conor Faherty (@conorfahertyy) February 15, 2019
Bring him in for iwobi or we riot
— ????? (@awfcjames) February 15, 2019
Give him time and get him integrated in the team and could well be. Got some promising kids coming through all they need now is game time.
Willock
Nkeiteh
Smith-Rowe
Medley
Nielson
GilmourTo name a few
— Ali – Gunner Runner (@arsenal_runner) February 16, 2019
We really need to push some of these guys towards more first team opportunities. Nketiah and Willock for sure.
— Samrat (@samchez7) February 16, 2019
Time to promote Joe Willock into the first team. Has so much potential. https://t.co/pFzfHJBcFZ
— ?? (@j24_ldn) February 16, 2019
https://twitter.com/Arsena49ers/status/1096561426888560640
If we are going to become a force again then we need a few of our academy players to really step up and become top quality like Ramsey. Willock, S-Rowe & Nelson could be just that but we need to give them plenty of opportunities. I like the loan to Germany option…
— ?? Dave ? (@Hr31_Dave) February 16, 2019
https://twitter.com/DF_Arsenal/status/1096553463255887874
https://twitter.com/Jordan_18_95/status/1096553391927578624
Willock is doing this with so much ease now its ridiculous, Bundesliga is waiting for you next season im sure. https://t.co/t8iKULLog8
— M (@Jimmyconwayy19) February 15, 2019
The way Joe Willock has added power and goals to his game I really impressive completely changed his profile.. there’s actual room for his type at the moment.. he’s put himself in a great position for the need of season and pre season
— Leon Patterson (@leonJPatterson) February 15, 2019