Arsenal manager Unai Emery says youngster Joe Willock can easily fill the ‘gap’ left by midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere at Emirates Stadium.
Going by a stellar show that has been shown by the 20-year old lad especially from his nine appearances in all competitions so far, Unai is confident that the midfielder could be the next big thing at Arsenal.
Willock is an Arsenal academy graduate who joined the academy at a tender age and since 2017 when he made his senior debut, the England U21 international has been on the rise. And Unai believes he can become a better football, still.
“Willock started the pre-season with us last year, I didn’t give him more minutes but he was with us in every game, working in training, playing matches in the cup and at the end of the season,” Emery said.
“I told him he is improving but he needs to not stop that improvement, we are working with him to improve even more. But, if his progression keeps going the way it is going right now, I don’t know when he will stop and how far he can go,” Emery said.
“He deserved to start this season with the first-team and with us. My decision was after I saw him the last two months of last season working with us, his really big challenge was that Jack Wilshere left here, Aaron Ramsey left and he had to take that opportunity to be with us. The last months of last year was the moment I spoke with him and said: ‘For you it is a big challenge in the new season to do differently and really show us you can take their position in this squad’, he added.
On September 12, 2019, Willock signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal- a clear opportunity for him to make a name.