Arsenal are set to enter into a contract extension with one of their promising academy players, Amario Cozier-Duberry. To the delight of Arsenal fans, the 18-year-old England U19 international will now be allowed to extend his stay with the Gunners.
The youngster has been knocking on the first-team door in recent times. He has been seen training with the first team on numerous occasions and has also been named on the bench for Arsenal’s first team against Zurich, West Ham, Everton, Brentford, and Manchester City, respectively.
Cozier-Duberry signed his first professional contract in June 2022 and took up the 85 number, but his growth has caught the eyes of the club’s hierarchy, especially his U18 coach Jack Wilshere, who stated that “in some moments, he’s unplayable. You give him the ball, and he can make things happen”.
The 18-year-old winger adores former Bayern Munich legend Arjen Robben; no wonder he has developed the knack for being so unpredictable with the ball at his feet. He’s able to create chances with both feet either through cut-backs using his weaker foot or cutting inside on his stronger foot while timing his effort to either curl the ball to the far post or lay a dangerous pass to his teammate.
Cozier-Duberry has been dubbed the next Bukayo Saka. Similarities could be drawn as both players are from the Hale End Academy, but that doesn’t seem to be the only thing they have in common. Cozier-Duberry has demonstrated some traits in most of his games (with the academy) that show that he has indeed been learning from Saka, who has had a tremendous rise to stardom since his breakout season under Unai Emery as a left-back before turning out to be one of the most highly rated right-wingers in the world under the tutelage of Mikel Arteta.
With already few first-team cameos and continuous training with the first team, his imminent contract extension might eventually allow him to actualize his dream to be more regular with the first team and enjoy some games in the League Cup to showcase his readiness to play men’s football.
