Arsenal boss Arteta already has the next Odegaard and Saka to save club millions | Football | Sport

Arsenal could already have their next Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka in youngsters Charlie Patino and Amario Cozier-Durberry. The duo have the potential to save Mikel Arteta millions once they have fully developed, offering the Spaniard immense depth in attacking positions.

Arsenal are enjoying an excellent season in the Premier League with Odegaard and Saka central to much of their on-field success. The duo have scored 20 goals and produced 16 assists in the league this season as Arteta looks to bring the trophy back to North London for the first time since 2004.

While Odegaard’s form and leadership has been inspirational, it is Saka who is arguably the Gunners’ poster boy having come through the club’s academy and supported the team since he was a young boy. He has had good luck with injuries meaning he has started every game in the league this season so Arsenal fans have not had to worry about how the team would perform in his absence. 

The Emirates faithful will hope there will not be a day that they will have to play without the 21-year-old but the perfect replacement could already be in the academy in the shape of Cozier-Duberry if they do. 

The 17-year-old is yet to make his senior debut for the Gunners but is already drawing comparisons to Saka as a result of his performances for the academy team. Like the England international, he is a left-footed winger, capable of playing on both flanks, with an eye for goal.

Cozier-Duberry has already trained with the first team and played in the friendly defeat to Juventus in December. He gave fans a glimpse of what he can do, leading to comparisons to Saka.

Meanwhile, Patino has impressed during his loan spell for Blackpool taking up a key role in central midfield. He has scored two goals and produced four assists for the Championship strugglers so far this season including one of the performances of the year in the 6-1 win over QPR. 

He has already made his competitive Arsenal debut, scoring against Sunderland in the League Cup last year and could develop into the heir apparent for Odegaard if he continues to develop at the speed he is. 

As a result, Patino and Cozier Duberry could save Arteta millions if they can fulfil their huge potential allowing the Spaniard to focus on other positions in the transfer market in the future.