Mikel Arteta has finally found his perfect replacement for Jurrien Timber.
In the wake of the Dutchman's unfortunate injury during his Premier League debut last weekend, Arsenal's manager is gearing up to provide an opportunity for academy product Reuell Walters to step into the limelight.
According to insights from FootballTransfers, the Spanish boss is inclined to utilize the talents already at his disposal to navigate through Timber's absence, and Walters seems to have caught his eye.
Arteta's strategy involves harnessing internal resources to address the gap left by the 22-year-old injury, and the Hale End starlet is emerging as a promising contender for this role.
"I am more thinking about the resources that we have within the team to keep doing what we want to do. It’s true that he was giving us very different things in terms of what we could do on both sides, but again, these things happen, and we have to be prepared for that.
“We didn’t plan for this injury so we have to assess now what the options are and the best way to get the best out of the players. I cannot control anything that is not here. We are always open and we have to always be open to react if something happens, not only with an injury but with the market as well and that’s what we are doing.”
Despite having only made appearances on the substitute bench in Premier League matches under the 41-year-old coach, the young defender is on the cusp of making his competitive debut for the club.
The 18-year-old's versatility as a defender shines through, having participated in 23 games for Arsenal's U21 squad last season, featuring prominently both as a right-back and center-back.
Furthermore, Walters expressed his joy about the fresh contract and shared his aspirations for future chances in the senior team.
“I’m just really grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given. I just want to make sure that I start to push on and do what I’ve been doing before, but now to a new level.”
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