Arsenal’s Joe Willock exorcises FA Cup demons at Blackpool in push for Premier League appearances

Arsenal's surprise loss to Nottingham Forest in the competition a year ago seemed to hamper the 19-year-old's development

Joe Willock will testify to the unpredictable nature of the FA Cup as he exorcised his personal demons from 12 months ago and handed Unai Emery a timely nudge about his burgeoning talent at Bloomfield Road.

The 19-year-old attacking midfielder scored two first-half goals as the Premier League side made seven changes and still dealt comfortably, nonchalantly even, with a solid and experienced League One side.

It was a far cry from 12 months ago when Willock, along with more senior teammates, was bullied out of the competition in a 4-2 defeat at Nottingham Forest that proved a sad farewell to the tournament for seven-time winner Arsene Wenger.

That loss seemed to hamper Willock’s first team development but, after a couple of solid Europa League outings and now this performance under Emery, the prospects of some Premier League football appear decent.

“It was one of my aims at the start of the season to push on and try to get in the box more and get a few more goals and help the team to victory so yes all the hard work is paying off,” said Willock.

“It is going well for me. Hopefully showing what I can do when I get the opportunities. Obviously, I have always wanted to push on and play more in the Premier League and stuff so I am just being patient but it’s been good, yes.”

Certainly, if pedigree is anything to go by, Willock already has a head start on any of his young rivals trying to force their way into Emery’s first team plans.

Born and raised in Waltham Forest, older brother Matty is with Manchester United and younger sibling Chris left Arsenal for Benfica in 2017 - with all three having actually been on a field together when United and the Gunners reserves met two years ago.

“My dad has just been football crazy since we were very young – he used to take us to the park before training and after training,” said Willock. “We go together and we’ve just been ‘on it’ since we were very young. It has been hard work

Joe Willock made eleven appearances for Arsenal under Arsene Wenger last season (Getty)

“My mum and dad gave up their jobs, we went through a period where we didn’t have any money because we had to go to football and my mum and dad couldn’t work all the time so they were dropping us here and dropping us here so they have made a lot of sacrifices to get to this point so I am just trying to repay them every day.”

That upbringing has clearly served Willock, and his brothers, well. Father Charles, clearly, not only served as the brothers’ major inspiration but remains their biggest supporter and critic to this day, even using scouting software to follow their every kick.

“Growing up he was the only person I ever cared about commenting on one of my matches,” said Willock. “I will go home now and if he has said I’ve played bad I don’t really listen to anyone else except my dad because he has always guided me in the right way.

“He has a thing call Wyscout and he looks at all our games and every individual clip over and over again and he will try to come to the game if it’s in England or fly if it is overseas.

“He has kicked every ball and always been watching me and us. He is very proud that all the hard work and sacrifices are paying off. As a family growing up – it’s all paying off.”

Seventeen-year-old Bukayo Saka made his fourth appearance of the season (Getty)

Quite how far any of these youngsters progress under Emery is, of course, open for debate.

Alex Iwobi, at 22 now firmly established in the first team, scored Arsenal’s late third but there were also fine outings from 21-year-old Ainsley Maitland-Niles, 19-year-old Eddie Nketiah, who might have scored a first-half hat-trick, and substitute cameos for the even younger Zech Medley, 18, and Bukayo Saka, 17.

In short, the competition for places is intense, even before Emery moves in the current transfer window for the centre-half and winger he was talking about adding to his squad.

Denis Suarez, the Barcelona winger with whom he worked in Sevilla, is a £20 million target.

“I think the club is working for the possibility to take some players who can help us during these next four months,” said Emery who spoke of Suarez without confirming his interest.