Aston Villa Manager Unai Emery has made a promising signing from his former club Arsenal. The highly-rated youngster, Lino Sousa, has agreed to join Villa after being on the fringes of Mikel Arteta’s first team squad this season. Sousa, an England Under-19 international, joined Arsenal two years ago from West Brom, long after Emery had left the club.
Sousa’s path to the first team at Arsenal has been blocked by players such as Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Jurrien Timber. As a result, he has decided to return to the Midlands and join Emery’s Villa revolution. Last season, Arsenal Under-21s head coach Mehmet Ali spoke highly of Sousa’s attributes, stating that he is comfortable on the ball and has the ability to serve effective and dangerous crosses into the box. However, Ali emphasized that Sousa’s main job as a defender is to stop crosses, protect the far post, and win defensive duels.
Meanwhile, Arsenal is working on securing the future of another promising young player. Amario Cozier-Duberry, an 18-year-old winger, is currently in the last six months of his contract and has attracted interest from high-profile clubs such as Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle, and Ajax. Although Cozier-Duberry is yet to make his first team debut for Arsenal, he is highly regarded by Mikel Arteta. Last summer, he was rewarded for his progress with a place on Arsenal’s first team pre-season tour of America.
Cozier-Duberry has been compared to Bukayo Saka, Hale End’s most high-profile academy graduate in recent times. Both players are left-footed and have the ability to cut in from the right flank. Jack Wilshere, Cozier-Duberry’s Under-18s coach, has praised his exciting potential and likened him to Saka, highlighting the need for improvement in decision-making.
In conclusion, Aston Villa’s signing of Lino Sousa from Arsenal showcases Unai Emery’s commitment to building a strong team. Sousa’s return to the Midlands provides him with a new opportunity to showcase his skills and contribute to Villa’s revolution under Emery. On the other hand, Arsenal is working on securing the future of Amario Cozier-Duberry, a highly regarded young winger who has drawn interest from top clubs. The comparison between Cozier-Duberry and Bukayo Saka highlights the exciting potential of the young player and the need for further development. Both Arsenal and Villa are making moves to strengthen their squads and nurture their promising young talents.