Arsenal Josh Nichols could become Gunners new Ashley Cole
Mikel Arteta must be experiencing immense joy in his current position at Arsenal. Apart from leading his team to the top of the Premier League, with a possibility of winning their first league title since 2003/2004, he also has a set of gifted young players who could be the future of the club.
Bukayo Saka, Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith Rowe, and Eddie Nketiah are all part of the first team and have graduated from the renowned Hale End academy. Arteta has the opportunity to construct a team that may rule for the next several years.
Despite the already talented youngsters in the first team, there are even more potential stars waiting in the wings at Arsenal. Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, and Josh Nichols have been putting on noteworthy performances for the U18 team, hinting at the possibility of a steady stream of talent emerging.
Out of the three, Nichols stands out due to his impressive skills and his position on the field. He has the potential to become Arsenal’s next Ashley Cole, and he is just waiting for his opportunity to shine.
Ashley Cole was one of the most exceptional young talents to emerge from Arsenal in the last 25 years. He went on to make over 200 appearances for the Gunners and became a key player in Arsene Wenger’s team that secured an FA and League double in 2001/02, as well as being part of the legendary “Invincibles” squad that won the Premier League title in 2003/04.
Cole’s success extended beyond Arsenal, as he also had a remarkable career at Chelsea. He was renowned for his unwavering determination and his ability to attack as effectively as he could defend. Nichols seems to possess these same qualities in abundance, which could make him an exceptional player in the future.
Even though Nichols is primarily a right-back, he has the added advantage of being a versatile player, as noted by Arsenal academy expert Jeorge Bird. He can also be deployed as a left-back when needed and has even played in midfield.
In a recent U18 match against West Bromwich Albion U18s, where there were several injury issues, Nichols was asked to play in midfield. Despite this being a less familiar position for him, he put in a strong performance, contributing to their 4-1 victory.
As noted by Jeorge Bird, Nichols delivered an ‘assured’ performance and demonstrated that he was capable of stepping up to the task at hand. This level of confidence and composure is a trait that was also seen in Ashley Cole, who was known for looking composed in any situation.
Nichols’ versatility could prove to be a significant asset for him going forward, as he has already made 11 appearances for the U18 side despite being one of the youngest players on the squad.
But the most notable similarity between Nichols and Cole is their attacking abilities. Playing in midfield will allow him to further develop this aspect of his game as he learns about positioning and discipline.
Nichols is putting in the effort to improve in this area, with players like Jack Wilshere helping him to become more attacking-minded over the next few years.
Speaking to Arsenal.com, Nichols said: “Specifically, I’ve been working on the attacking side of my game with Jack Wilshere and Adam Birchall, they’ve been helping me choose my moments better of when to go up the pitch and then getting back into position to defend.”
Nichols’ next objective will be to advance to the U21 side, and it’s hoped that he will gain more experience at the senior level in the near future.
While he will have to compete with other talented academy full-backs such as Lino Sousa, Nichols has a bright future ahead of him and could potentially follow in the footsteps of the legendary Ashley Cole.
Arsenal Josh Nichols could become Gunners new Ashley Cole
