Arsenal have taken 16 year old Greek striker Nikos Karelis on trial, and has joined the squad as Steve Gatting’s Under 16s flew out to Italy this morning to take part in the Atalanta Cup.
Included in the squad are Under 18 players Jack Wilshere, Luke Freeman, and Emmanuel Frimpong. Meaning Arsenal will posses a strong team as shown below.
McDermott
Byles – Nicholas – Obed – Brisnal
Banton – Frimpong – Wilshere
Karelis – Afobe – Freeman
Trialist goalkeeper Sean McDermott should be number one throughout, however one of James Shea or Charlie Mann should also travel as back up. Arsenal took several trialists last year including Jonas Rasmussen, who impressed against Juventus was signed.
The main attention however is on 16 year old Greek forward Nikos Karelis, who his club Ergotelis have confirmed yesterday will be being put through his paces by the Gunners, in a 10 day training camp.
The highly rated striker became the youngest player to take part in a Super League game last Sunday. When he came on as a second-half substitute in Ergotelis’s 2-0 win over Xanthi, a result that kept his side in the top division.
Karelis who lists Emmanuel Adebayor amongst his heroes is delighted to land the trial, and hopes to learn all he can from the experience.
“I learned a few days ago [About The Trial Offer] But they said to me the interest has existed for quite some time. I will leave on 29 April and train for roughly 10 days. Afterwards we will decide all together what will be my future”
“I know that it will be very difficult to start with but I am going there to succeed,”
“Even if I don’t make it, I think I’ll gain lots of useful experience that will help me improve in the future.”
Nikos is a big strong, powerful centre forward, who is more direct than Arsenal’s current crop of goal getter’s, and whilst it remains unlikely the Gunners will snap up the prospect. The fact we are scouting in a small Greek teams Reserves, shows the diversity of Steve Rowley’s scouting network.
Article By – J.Sanderson
Nice article!
A site is saying Jay Simpson got the PFA player of the year for league 1. Is that true?
Yes it is mate, i will include the news in my round up a little later on.
http://www.millwallfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10367~1285519,00.html
good luck to him. hope he does well.
yep according to this site
http://www.millwall-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=390203
Why do you say that it is unlikely we will sign him, if he does well on the trial there is no reason why we would not sign him
who does he play like
Yes I would like to know also why you think it’s highly unlikely that we’ll sign him.
Sure.
1) he did not sound very positive about the trial, “even if i dont make it”
2) We have just bought Luke Freeman who is a 16 year old striker, added to Benik Afobe, and Jason Banton who will be promoted means we would have alot of strikers.
But how do you know all of those will make it or wenger will change afobe into a defender lol?
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Will be interesting to know if he’ll make it or not.
Another thing I’m wondering about, is whether you think Jay Simpson will have a future at Arsenal or not? He did get voted as player of the year in the Championship, think he is good enough to make it at Arsenal?
I spoke about this in the Wilshere article mate.
Overall i feel he wont make it here, All the signs ive been given is that he is up for sale,.
So J.s who do you think improved the most this season Jack wilshere or Benik Afobe I know they dont play the same position but am just asking anyway.
Yeah, sorry about that. Didn’t read the Wilshire article until after I had read this one and had posted my question. :/
Do you know the rest of the squad?
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We wouldn’t take this boy to a tournament for nothing!If he is good enough then we will sign him!if he isn’t then we wont it’s as simple as that.What do you expect the lad to say?Im coming here to take van Persie’s place and score 300 goals in my career at Arsenal?Give me a break.Banton has already shown disrespect to the club by running of to the Spuds so it is he who should be worried about being released.
Wait and see mate, i would be suprised if we signed him.
And no, but a little bit more positivity on his part, would have been better.
The quotes don’t sound negative to me, if anything I would say the opposite. He knows it will be difficult but he’s going there to succeed, and even if he doesn’t make it he’ll gain from the experience. What’s negative about that? Sounds positive to me, just shows a bit of humility.
I would not count his comment as a sign of anything. Just imagine if you were snapped up by a big club. He might just be a very humble kid who doesn’t want to get his hopes too high up. He also says Arsenal have been watching him for a while. I would say that if we get a player on a trial from another country, then it’s likely we will sign him. Not certain, but likely.
Could you do an atricle on the Atlanta cup. Like which other teams will be competing etc….
come on Greece
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guys i know a player that i think is better than kareli and he is playing at greece..his name is peter peponis and is 16years old but is not playing in a big team like kareli he is playing at the topic of greece and he is playing at left forward or center forward.look for him and you dont disapointed….