Arsenal’s forgotten starlet Gedion Zelalem is back into training with the first team of the Gunners.
Unai Emery has called few youngsters this week to train with the first team players in the absence of the senior players with International Break.
Emile Smith Rowe, Tolaji Bola, Julio Pleguezuelo, Nathan Tormey, Robbie Burton and Charlie Gilmour all joined the training of the Gunners in this week with Gedion Zelalem.
Gedion Zelalem was considered as one of the brightest prospects in his academy days. Zelalem joined Arsenal’s academy in 2013. After his impressive performances at under 21 level for the English side, he was included in Arsenal’s preseason tour in Asia in 2013-14 campaign. Zelalem showed his brilliance in all the preseason matches and everyone started to compare him with Cesc Fabregas.
But, injuries have affected his career badly. He was forced out for two months at the beginning of the 2013-14 season which could turned out his breakthrough period at Arsenal. Though, after coming back from the injury, Zelalem made his debut for the senior squad against Coventry City in the FA Cup match in 2014.
The midfielder was rewarded with a contract till 2017 with the Gunners. But, the sad part of the story is that the ‘wonderkid’ has only been able to make 4 appearances for the Gunners till date.
The young midfielder was sent to serve a loan period at Rangers to get the opportunity to play first team football in 2015-16. Zelalem has made 28 appearances for the Scottish side and helped them to win the Scottish Championship that season. Gedion Zelalem was also called up to play in the under 20 World Cup for United States.
But injury proved hurdle once again, as he picked up an injury in the first match of the tournament against Ecuador and was ruled out for the tournament.
Zelalem was again loaned out to the second division Dutch side in the winter transfer window of 2016-17 season for the rest of the campaign. After the end of the loan period, now Gedion Zelalem is a member of the under 23 squad of the Gunners.
Now, it might be the time for him to reignite his career into a new mode. Unai Emery will surely like to give chances to the youngsters in the upcoming League Cup and group stage matches of the Europa League.
Now, Gedion Zelalem has to prove his potential in the training ground to impress Unai Emery because this might be the best opportunity for the youngster to get himself fit in the new system at the Emirates.
