Arsenal's only remaining “unplayable” gem would be their Palmer situation

Arsenal have been at their best under Mikel Arteta, who has taken the Emirates from being regarded as underdogs at times and turning the club into a special class that instills fear in opponents at home and across the continent.

The last two campaigns have been superb, battling Manchester City for the Premier League title on both occasions and lifting a talented squad to exceptional levels, amassing 173 points in total.

However, the painful side effect of getting high is that some sacrifices have to be made. Talented players, many of whom are homegrown, must be sold to get a big profit. This is part and parcel, but one of them could come back to bite the Gunners.

Arsenal transfer news

It is understood that both Nottingham Forest and West Ham United have made moves to sign Reiss Nelson, 24, while Emile Smith Rowe – 23 – has been listed for £30m and Eddie Nketiah, 25 , he may be allowed to leave after the start. just once in the Premier League since December.

This is the result of the wheel of success. The growing fear surrounding PSR rules means that monetizing such domestic products can be financially significant. Furthermore, it is unlikely that any (apart from Smith Rowe) will strengthen the playing roles at the club in the future.

According to the Evening Standard, Arsenal youngster Amario Cozier-Duberry is also set to leave the club when his contract expires this summer, with offers from overseas as clubs swirl.

However, this could be a threat to Arteta's outfit, a highly talented 19-year-old who may have the skills to become a leading contender down the line if he fulfills his potential in the coming years.

Why Arsenal would regret letting Cozier-Duberry go

Cozier-Duberry failed to make his professional debut for Arsenal but was named on the bench for the Champions League games against Sevilla and Brentford in the EFL Cup. Despite being eager to tie him down to a new contract, the youngster has decided to move to a club that can give him regular first-team football.

In total, Cozier-Duberry has scored 30 goals and provided 18 assists in 83 games at Arsenal's youth levels, improving year-on-year and excelling in Premier League 2 last season.

Indeed, with nine goals and five assists in just 17 games in the division, the England U19 international will no doubt have a long list of players keen to snap him up, with Jack Wilshere previously touting his qualities as well.

“Amario is very interesting and Mikel [Arteta] you love him,” said Jack Wilshere, discussing the boy's talent in 2023. “He reminds me of Bukayo Saka, who plays in the same position as him, he needs to be better at making decisions like Bukayo does, but he is definitely entertaining.

“Sometimes he is unplayable. Give him the ball and he can make things happen. You can set up a team and have a game plan, but when you have people like that you have a chance.”

Given that the competition for Saka's place on the right side is thin, combined with Nelson's departure this summer, fans are understandably upset, as Cozier-Duberry can provide relief for the Three Lions.

If the young maestro is really able to translate that innate ability to improve performance on the big stage, at the highest level, then there is a good chance that he could leave Arsenal torturing his departure, with Cole Palmer's astonishing rise at Chelsea proof of such a mistake.

Manchester City sold Palmer to Chelsea for £40m plus add-ons last summer, the talented midfielder pushing for Pep Guardiola's side after rising through the academy ranks in search of regular first-team football and a promotion platform. his many talents.

It worked, it really did. A debut campaign as a Blue saw Palmer bag 25 goals and 15 assists in all competitions after scoring badly in the Community Shield and UEFA Super Cup for City earlier in the campaign.

Unchained and allowed to play his football in clothes that put him at the top of the talent pool, the 22-year-old Palmer has established himself as one of the best players in the Premier League, with no player in the division. not seeing more direct goal contributions than his 33 last term.

Could it be that Cozier-Duberry noticed Palmer's incredible success and decided to follow suit? It's possible but if Arteta had given the youngster more investment over the past few years, giving him a few minutes here or an extra nod of encouragement there, we could be looking at a very different picture.

As it is, Cozier-Duberry will be heading to a new destination, and Arteta is likely to hope he chooses to pursue interest in his signature elsewhere, with clubs in Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Germany all paying close attention to his decision. .

However, as he is undecided, he may be waiting for English clubs to knock on his door, with domestic rules preventing him from holding official talks with Premier League rivals until July 1.

Ultimately, Arsenal have the highest quality and are in a good position to challenge for the Premier League and Champions League titles next year, with Saka's popularity continuing to impress as one of the best in the country.

But if Cozier-Duberry lives up to his potential, playing for a rival, Gunners fans may shake their heads in pathos-emitting despair, the victims of their success and the builders of their Palmer status, leaving them feeling the way of Manchester City. he may feel watching the England player from afar.