Reserves Skipper Havard Nordtveit
So were out of the FA Youth Cup for another year, similar to last season’s run we had the players to go and win it, but we didn’t do the business when it mattered.
So to cheer you up and give you some positives for next season here is the second in the series of Cup reviews, the first in the series with a view on the Carling Cup Here.
Below you can read some plus points from the campaign, as well as players to watch for next season and an early team prediction.
2007-2008 Youth Cup Team
Szczesny
Ogogo – Hoyte – Rodgers – Steer
Lansbury – Randall – Dunne – Gibbs
Fonte – Barazite
This was our best team available team this season, Lansbury has been our best player grabbing a hat-trick in just 1 game he has featured, all of Arsenal’s scorers have been English, Lansbury will be able to play in next season’s Cup.
2008-2009 Youth Cup Team Prediction
Szczesny
Eastmond – Nordtveit – G.Hoyte – Evina
Lansbury – E.Thomas – Wilshere – Watt
Sunu – Barazite
This is the predicted side for next season subject to no players brought in which is unlikley this side has been on of the best at Under 18 level in the League and with a season’s experience under there belts could prove important.
Paul Rodgers, Rene Steer, James Dunne, Kieran Gibbs, Mark Randall, Vito Mannone and Kerrea Gilbert from the current squad will be too old to play in the Cup next season, i would expect quite a few of them names to be released in the summer and more recruitment, especially in the right midfield position.
Luke Freeman will also be able to feature next season in the Cup but i wonder without Barazite where the goals will come from, Gilles Sunu has been average but he has been playing with an obvious injury.
Jack Wilshere’s step-up to Reserves football will be interesting, will his small physique and goal scoring ability be suited to a stronger League? only time can answer these questions.
I personally think this season was our best chance to win it for a while, but injuries and not playing well when it mattered have cost us this team but we can still win the Under 18s League which would be great experience ahead of next season’s Youth Cup.
Article By – J.Sanderson
Cream will always rise to the top and Jack Wilshere will be able to make the jump, as for Giles Sunu do you reckon he will have scored a goal for Arsenal by the time the FA Youth Cup starts again next season
If Lansbury and Gibbs are set to play with the first team next season, do you think Wenger would risk them in the Youth Cup?
Lansbury Can Still Play, Gibbs Will Be Too Old A To Play
Sunu Is Playing With An Injury, He Needs Some Time.
Surely Szczesny, Nordveit, Gavin Hoyte & Barazite will be too old to play in the Youth Cup next year ? For this season’s Youth Cup players had to have been born on or after 1/9/89. Assuming that becomes 1/9/90 for next season that would rule those 4 out.