Aston Villa Academy: Unai Emery shows trust in Arjan Raikhy during Dubai training camp
Aston Villa youngster Arjan Raikhy has been rewarded for his patience when out on loan in the 2021/22 season after being called up to Unai Emery’s first-team training squad in Dubai this week.
The 20-year-old – who started out in close rivals West Brom’s academy setup – starred during Villa’s 2-2 draw with Brighton, coming off the bench and playing a crucial hand in Danny Ings’ opening goal.
Among the next generation of blossoming talents at Bodymoor Heath, Raikhy was part of the successful team who won the 2021 FA Youth Cup and made his senior debut during the club’s FA Cup third-round clash against Liverpool in January 2021.
However, he initially failed to make the required step up into the first team under Dean Smith and was told a loan spell away from the club was needed to accelerate his development.
A frustrating year would follow for the highly-rated midfielder, as he was loaned to Stockport County, where he failed to establish himself – featuring just five times – before switching his colours to Grimsby Town in January as he searched for more minutes.
Whether the physicality of non-league football was to blame for his lack of impact or the number of niggling injuries he experienced, but Raikhy decided to transfer his allegiances and try his luck at Blundell Park – to no further success.
The midfielder – nicknamed the ‘Punjabi Pirlo’ by those within the club – is a typical box-to-box midfielder, able to stretch the play through his actions but just as happy to do the dirty work when required.
His workmanlike approach drew praise from pundits and fans alike during his short stint at Stockport, and especially after starring in The Hatters’ historic victory over Bolton in last year’s FA Cup.
He isn’t your natural Frank Lampard-Esq goal scorer but is a classy operator who can dictate the tempo of the game through his passing ability and powerful running.
And this ability was on full show for Emery to see when he was introduced from the bench during the team’s first friendly of the Dubai warm weather training camp.
After linking up nicely with Douglas Luiz, the youngster broke into space down the left-hand side and whipped a low ball across the face of the goal, which was turned in by Danny Ings.
With upcoming matches against Chelsea and Villarreal in Dubai, Raikhy will be hoping to continue his steep learning curve under Emery and propel himself to the forefront of the Spaniard’s thinking.
In other Aston Villa news, the future of the club’s academy could depend on the management of Cameron Archer.