Four Arsenal players nominated for 2020 Golden Boy Award

William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Trae Coyle have been included in the list of 100 players that are in the running to be named Europe’s best young footballer. 

William Saliba will join Arsenal from Ligue 1 club Saint Etienne later this summer. He is one of Europe’s most talked about young centre backs and although injuries and the premature curtailment of the French domestic season meant he did not play as much as he would have liked to, he was very impressive when he did take to the field. Arsenal will be delighted that they sealed this deal last summer. He will certainly improve the Gunners’ rearguard next season. 

Bukayo Saka has had a breakout season at Arsenal this year. He deputised for Kieran Tierney after the summer signing suffered an injury in December 2019. The 18 year old winger showed a great deal of maturity as he learnt to play in a role he was not familiar with and excelled. Saka has scored three goals and provided nine assists in all competitions for the Gunners this season. With only one year left on his current deal, the Arsenal hierarchy are keen to extend the Arsenal academy graduate’s contract so that he can continue to shine in North London. 

Gabriel Martinelli signed for Arsenal last summer from Ituano, a club that plays in the third division of Brazilian football. The 18 year old was expected to take some time to bed in at Arsenal but has surpassed all expectations and is considered an important part of the Arsenal squad. He has scored ten goals and provided four assists in all competitions for the Gunners this season.

Trae Coyle’s inclusion in the 100-man shortlist for the award has surprised most people predominantly because he is yet to make his first team debut for the Gunners. Coyle is an Arsenal academy product and is highly rated within the club. He has been training with the first team in the last few weeks and was involved in the recent friendly against Brentford at the Emirates. Arsenal fans can expect to see a lot more of Coyle very soon.