Mikel Arteta insists he is not afraid to throw his Arsenal youngsters in at the deep end in this afternoon's north London derby.
Academy graduates such as Bukayo Saka, Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson have excelled so far this season, as has young striker Eddie Nketiah, who is suspended for the game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after his youthful exuberance earned him a red card in Tuesday's draw with Leicester City.
Nketiah may well have led the line if he were available this afternoon but there are numerous youngsters who have made a case for selection, above all Saka, whose tally of 12 assists in all competitions this season is bettered only by Kevin De Bruyne and Trent Alexander-Arnold among Premier League players.
Saka, 18, has never faced Tottenham in his senior career but his impressive technical displays have come alongside a level of composure that means Arsenal ought to have no fears throwing him in at the deep end in a match where defeat would deal a significant blow to their hopes of European qualification.
"You need the right mix," Arteta said when asked whether he felt that such a high-stakes game was better suited to veteran members of his squad.
"You know, sometimes experienced players make a lot of mistakes as well. A young player makes mistakes [as well].
"It’s about how mature you are and the moment that you are in a situation, you face any scenario possible in a football game. Just put on the pitch the players that you think are more prepared to handle that situation."
Such maturity has consistently been on display from Arsenal's academy graduates, invariably the brightest lights in a frustrating season in north London.
And yet there have been too many moments where players old and young alike have lost their cool with Nketiah's red card against Leicester the fourth time since Arteta's appointment that he has been forced to manage a game with 10 men. On Tuesday it cost them dearly with the Gunners unable to hold out for three points against Leicester.
"I said after the game that we’d been playing with 10 men four times since I joined, very different situations you cannot compare," Arteta warned.
"The aggression is not aimed towards the opponents at all but our aim to control situations, win the ball and attack better."
Yet you suspect he need not concern himself with Saka, who is showing a composure beyond his years in establishing himself as a key figure for Arsenal such that the announcement of his new contract was greeted with a delight unseen in years in north London.
Perhaps Arteta's greatest challenge where the 18-year-old is concerned now is keeping his feet on solid ground but such is the rare maturity Saka is blessed with that ought not to be much of a challenge.
"First of all, enjoy the moment," was Arteta's message to his top proespect. "We can all have some really good moments and some difficult moments. If you are doing so well enjoy.
"But then understand that this changes in 24 or 48 hours. You have to live with your toes all the time ready to react and act.
"Bukayo is like this. Every training session he gives you no sign of anything different. A performance is a collective performance. You need everything to work. There are moments where it goes a little bit up and down because it’s normal and it happens to every player whether you are 18 or 38.
"He needs to understand that, take it naturally and we’re here to support him, to make him better and that’s it. Enjoy!"
