When Arsenal named their Europa League squad, one name whammed everyone sitting on their couch watching; Joel Lopez.
Who is he? Haven’t heard before, right? Let me help you out here. Joel Lopez is an Arsenal wonder kid, trained and mustered in Barcelona. The 17-year-old is one of those young Gunner, many of us haven’t heard before.
Lopez, a surprise inclusion in Europa League squad of Emery is one more testimony of Unai’s love for premature yet talented youngsters. Lopez, was swooped by Arsenal from Barcelona, last summer and since then was hid in the cave of ‘no media zone.’
Lopez, like his predecessors Fabregas and Bellerin has been plucked from La Masia academy of Barcelona and would want to make a name for himself just like his former countrymen. Arsenal were smart enough to swoop in the youngster in a scholarship deal before Liverpool even thought of offering him one last season.
Last year in May, the Gunners made him officially theirs. The deal was penned and sealed by former Barcelona Sporting Director Raul Sanllehi, now Head of Relations at the Emirates, who is said to have influenced the arrival of Lopez in England.
Born of March 2002, Joel Lopez is a defender that has grown up the ranks with his tenacity and physicality. Lopez has featured regularly in the youth academy of Arsenal under Per Mertersacker and is set to make one under Emery.
To quote an old cliche, defense is the best form of offense, Joel is the one who embodies it. The left-back fantasises in moving up the pitch and create as many chances of attack as possible for the team. He loves to move in the penalty area and manoeuvre through the defenders of opposition.
He combines pretty well with those inside the box and often tries to create goal-scoring assists. He is agile and ever-aware in the defense too. While moving forward he is ever ready to move back and in speed.
He is the coaches players, ever willing to give it for the club.
“Joel is a left back with a lot of future,” Barcelona reporter Albert Rogé told football.london last year.
“He loves to get forward and attack the penalty area. He combines very well with those inside him and has a good touch of the ball.
“In defence he is intense and his speed helps him to correct his position when he makes a few mistakes.
“He is a player that coaches always like. Very discreet on and off the pitch and always good.”
Like Fabregas and Bellerin, Arsenal can bank upon one more Barcelona graduate to pull a few ‘rabbits out of the hats.’
