Whether it be on loan or permanently, the futures of Tyreece John-Jules and Folarin Balogun appear to be away from Arsenal. This presents a timely opportunity for Sam Greenwood to emerge from the shadows as the lead striker in the U23s for the coming 20/21 season.
This could be a pivotal moment in the career of the English striker, if he's able to take this chance with both hands he could firmly throw himself into the mix of the striking options Arteta has for the near future. The Spanish coach has evidenced that if he feels a player is good enough, they will get chances regardless of age. It serves as great motivation for Sam to try and propel himself into that picture.
The competition for such recognition as a goal-scorer is high at Arsenal, with Eddie Nketiah and the aforementioned, John-Jules and Balogun, the task of setting himself apart will be tough. However, there are components to Greenwood's game that will encourage this. The former Sunderland player is very versatility, being able to perform as a 10, linking play together, a wide forward cutting inside or a 9 using his pace to run in behind and finish. Greenwood possesses a crisp technical ability with a clean first touch that always allows him to assess the options around him. His biggest strength is his ability in striking the ball, whether it be in the penalty area, from distance or in a dead ball situation, he is able to display great accuracy and use this as a very effective weapon.
Sam's first season for Arsenal was very impressive, instantly making an impact for the U18s and helping them clinch the League title by scoring 10 goals and 5 assists in 21 games. The forward has also been a prolific scorer for England where he has played for the U16/17/18 groups.
This past season proved more difficult for Sam in an U18 team that struggled; however he did manage to make a step up to U23s football making 5 appearances. He also got off the mark in his best performance for the U23s, coming off the bench with 10 minutes left with Arsenal 0-2 down, Greenwood quickly scored and later helped force an own goal, bringing the game back to 2-2. The game that really reminded everyone of Sam's talent was an FA Youth Cup win where he scored a brace which capped off a great performance to beat Brighton 4-3.
The further his career progresses there will be more inevitable comparisons to another player named Greenwood at Manchester United, however Sam's story with United doesn't end there as he turned the Red Devils down in order to join Arsenal. There has also been comparisons in his playing style to a player both clubs know well, Robin Van Persie.
Arsenal snapped Greenwood up from his native Sunderland, where he had a great reputation as a player who couldn't stop scoring. He signed a professional deal with Arsenal in 2019 which helped ward off the interest of Italian giants' Juventus and AC Milan.
It's clear Sam has many admirers and a lot to live up to if he is to reach the next level. It's been a steady ride for him so far at Arsenal and the 5 appearances he has in the U23s will serve as good experience for the coming season as he looks to become the next Arsenal striker that gets everyone talking.
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