The lowdown on Amario Cozier-Duberry

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BHAFC

2024-07-13T06:00+01:00

Amario Cozier-Duberry joins Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton fans have “every right to be very excited” about new signing Amario Cozier-Duberry following an impressive spell at Arsenal.

That is according to Football London’s chief Arsenal correspondent, Kaya Kaynak, who closely followed the 19-year-old’s progress at the Gunners.

Not only is he versatile, but the winger – who just joined Albion on a deal until 2028 following the expiry of his Arsenal contract – may be an attacking force to be reckoned with.

“Brighton are getting a quiet, quick but steely winger who is driven to be the best. He has excellent close control and dribbling ability. For the Arsenal Under-21s he played as an eight, on either wing, or even as a false nine,” he said.

“He’s at his best on the right wing, though, as he can cut in on his left foot and he’s not afraid to take a shot on. There are several clips of him waltzing through under-21 defences across Premier League 2 in recent seasons; plus, he’s a good finisher with a great character and mindset.

“He’s also someone who stands up in big moments. As Arsenal's Under-18s got to the FA Youth Cup final in 2023, with a run that featured several comeback wins, Cozier-Duberry was often the spark to turn the tide of the game.”

Cozier-Duberry, who admired Dutch winger Arjen Robben growing up, scored 13 goals and bagged five assists in 24 games in all competitions for Arsenal’s Under-21s last season, and the campaign prior to that, he had 20 goal contributions in 31 matches.

While he never made his first-team debut for the Gunners, the England Under-19 international, who joined the north London outfit in 2019, is still a big talent.

“His time in Arsenal's academy was impressive. The current generation of youth players at Arsenal is probably not on the level of the cohort that included Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, Joe Willock, Reiss Nelson, and more, a couple of years ago but Cozier-Duberry was one of the standout players in this newer group,” said Kaynak.

“He was, however, unlucky in the timing of his rise through the ranks. He came of age at a time when Arsenal were challenging for the Premier League and going far in the Champions League, which is not exactly the best environment to take a risk on young players. He was still very highly rated, though.

“The fact that he was the only under-21 player to go on the pre-season tour of America last summer tells you that. I think most people at Arsenal wanted to keep him, but you can hardly blame Cozier-Duberry for wanting to make the step up to first-team football.”

Now, the teenager - who was once likened to Saka by former England international Jack Wilshire - will try to make his mark with Albion in the Premier League.

And according to Kaynak, Cozier-Duberry can take inspiration from another former Arsenal academy player; who is slight of frame and appears to have a bright future ahead of him.

“Perhaps one critique that is quite fixable is his physicality. The same was said of (5ft 9in) Omari Hutchinson who came out of the Arsenal academy a few years ago,” he added.

“He was one of the best players in the Championship last season and became Ipswich's record signing this summer, after leaving Chelsea. Cozier-Duberry has the talent to match that and maybe even go beyond. I think he can hopefully be a real success."