Sunday afternoon will bring to an end what has been a breakthrough and highly impressive season for Arsenal forward Jay Simpson.
After spending last season as the Reserves captain, Neil Banfield and Arsene Wenger wanted to test Jay’s abilities by sending him out on Loan. After rejecting various offers from other clubs, Millwall snapped up the prospect on an initial 6 month deal. Which was later extended until the end of the current season.
Wenger reportedly informed Millwall boss Kenny Jackett to convert Simpson from his previous striker position to a right winger. That transition has been on the whole successful with 8 goals so far this term plus numerous assists.
Yesterday came news he had bagged a hat-trick. Not of goals, but personal trophy’s having previously won League 1 Player Of The Month award for November & February, he then picked up the player of the year award.
Every challenge that has been thrown at Jay he has handled with ease, although League one is not at a impressive level of football, the fact the has gone there with the correct attitude and adapted to a new position shows he at least deserves his chance.
Millwall are expected to make an offer for Simpson, who is an Arsenal fan. However it is expected he will reject The Lions as he wants to be given the chance to prove himself with the Gunners.
Arsene Wenger has admitted he is not sure what the future holds for Jay, but after learning from his loan spell, surely he deserves at least a chance to prove himself on the right wing.
Sydney FC’s Mark Milligan claims he is on the Verge of joining Arsenal, and is just waiting on a Work Permit before he completes his move to the Emirates Stadium.
The 22 year old who plays as a holding midfielder, or as a central defender reportedly had a 10 day train with the Gunners last month, and Arsene Wenger had given the green light to Mark that he will be the replacement for Mathieu Flamini.
Speaking to Total Football on Fox Sports he confirmed the news, and says all that is stopping the move is the conformation of a work permit from the Government. So what sort of a player is he? Young Guns has been doing some research.
Milligan is captain of Australia’s Under 23s, and is in the running to be captain ahead of the 2010 World Cup. So we know he is a leader, he is strong and aggressive and a hard worker. Added to those qualities he is also versatile. Able to play anywhere across the back four, or in midfield.
I would expect Mark to be the Lassana Diarra replacement, rather than Flamini’s with Milligan expected to feature during the Carling Cup games before making the jump to the first team on a regular basis.
Article By – J.Sanderson
http://sport.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2008/05/01/Premier-League-Arsenal-after-Milligan/
He was a highlight in the Asian Cup for Australia. Since then, his form has dipped with Sydney FC due to injuries. He is a tough player. The link above indicates it’s still far from a done deal.
We should also look for some players st petersbourg. They play the arsenal way. I was very impressed with their right wing. defence and a tall striker. Scorinng 4-0 against bayern is not so easy. I was not so impressed with Lucio. He caanot jump well. Is not so agile. Senderos is better than him.
Well I think Jay should get a chance.I really dont know what to say about Mark Milligan he could be a answer in defence but i still think song is a good DM.
funny arsene has said little about him..but i have been very impressed with this kid..hope he stays on at the greatest club in the world and give us more much needed options
You cant replace Flamini with this guy, there is surely a vast gap between the standard of football in Aussie and in the premier league..
i hear we are interested in Michael Johnson… I dont know much about him but i would prefer him to this Aussie, he has premier league experience, he young, english, and from what i saw of him in the start of the season, he is very promising…
Jay Simpson… We have to give him atleast a chance, we would be foolish not to and if it doesnt work out for him we could always let him go in January. He’s done really well at millwall nd he deserves a chance to prove himself, player player of the year-that something to be proud of and it shouldnt be overlooked. give him pre-season and a few PL games and see how it goes.
I agree with Matt
I thought this was a Reserve + Youth blog… :S
Matt
As J.Sanderson pointed out, Milligan would more likely be a replacement for Diarra rather than a direct replacement for Flamini. I would most likely blood him through the carling cup and some appearances in other comps, and reserves.
Gooner Chris
Jay Simpson is still part of the Arsenal youth system. Milligan would most likely play some reserve football as well.
He is the captain of the Under 23’s so basically a youth side, and its not the main part of the article.
I feel Jay deserves a chance, after all whats the point in loaning if you do not want to see the results?
No, not at all.
Milligan has “apparently” been lined up as a REPLACEMENT for Flamini.
Simpson no chance, send him out on loan again to a better club in the championship.
we had alot of players on trail lol but we’ve been linked with Micheal Johnson aswell hes a good player but needs more work with the defence side
u say simpson no chance but erm i rather see him get a chance because I cant take Eboue for another season the right wing
not sure about milligan but if wenger has seen enough in him then who are we to question it? I have seen Simpson play a few times and I like him. he is atheletic and likes to run into space and make defenders work. I think he could do well as a winger. he might be not quite ready for the first team yet. maybe 6 months or a year on loan in the championship or lower prem?
I think Jay deserves a chance, to say he is Rubbish is very wide of the mark.
He could be super, or he could flop, but we will only know if he plays.
i think simpson will end up at wigan Wenger will test him in the PL.
i have seen clips of mulligan he looks a rugged player mor eof a squad player untill he settles into a position a bit like kolo and flammini in their first few years at Arsenal. we need a back up for clichy as traore has gone backwards this year, i think ehs another one that should be sent on loan to gain more experience.
im glad that JACK WILSHIRE will be part of the 1st team squad next year. that is an amazing endorsement of his talent that Wenger will not test him with a loan spell and put him straight into 1st team action. the last player that was fast tracked like that is now the fabulous FABREGAS the don office wrecker ;-)
have faith ARSENE KNOWS!!
Off-Topic but what happened to those kids we were linked with from real madrid – parejo and u-16 guy pablo sarabia
Jay Simpson is not good enough for Arsenal end of story he is a good championship player like Steve Sidwell and might become a good EPL player one day but not for us
I have watched Millgan in the Australian League.
He is NOT Arsenal standard.
Milligna no where near good enough. This just rubbish from him and his agent,
Sanderson… you know my feelings about Jay Simpson. I’d rather have him on the right wing in the carling cup fixtures than Eboue!! Theo up front so who else does that leave to play on the right?
Give him a chance and see if he grabs it… he deserves at least that much. Especially since he’s scored the first hat trick at the grove!
steve sidwell good player he just made the wrong move he will end up at sunderland or aston villa but you can’t judge jay still he plays a game in the prem
Jay simpson hasnt a hope of ever making it at arsenal, you are talking about a league 1 player of the year here even if he is only 19. i agree eboue is tripe, awful right winger, but he is a good right winger but his attitue stinks so i want him out too, but to say simpson is gonna come in right wing next season is a load of balls. we need to invest heavily and buy a big centre half, winger and striker and keeper. all have to be world class, otherwise we are gonna fall well behind united & chelski, our squad is too small and too young at the moment. dissapointed to see flamini leave too, but he is replaceable. would love to see michael johnson bought but he is a different type of player far more attacking but i feel we need more english players in the squad without doubt.
i meant to say eboue is a good right back by the way!!
Agreed. To say that Jay won’t make it at the club is a bit premature, no one’s seen him play in the BPL yet.
I think Wenger will tell Simpson the same thing he said to Flamini last season. He will get his chances and it’s up to him to make the most out of it. This has to be one of the most successful loan spells ever by an Arsenal player (after Cashley and Bendtner). I would like Jay to start the season with us. He can play in the Carling Cup and be part of the team rotation (which I hope will be better than this season). If he plays good we will keep him. If he is not up to the standard then plenty of teams will be ready to clinch his signature.
As an aussie, I’d like to add Milligan is nowhere near good enough for Arsenal. And he’s no replacement for the Flamster – he’s a right back and a pretty crapy one at that!
Am from Sydney and seen a bit of Milligan, he is the best young defensive Australian player coming through. Is a future national captain and Hinik picked him in the last Aussie world cup squad. He is more of a central back though, not sure about midfield? and he certainly isn’t in the same class as Famini or Darria yet, but given some time at a club like Arsenal he certainly could develop into a real class act.
milligan is a rugged player capable of playing accros the the back and as a centeral midfielder he has a lot of potential and reads the game well. his last season was crap because he was injured a lot
Milligan’s performances in the A-League were fairly poor last season, but I feel he is the sort of player who does adapt well at a higher level. He’s not the sort of player who runs the game, and considering how rubbish Sydney FC were last season, he didn’t get much chance to shine.
Contrasting that with his showing at the Asian Cup last year – he looked very solid except for one stuff up against Japan – and the fact he is good in the air and seems to score in big games when playing as a defender or defensive midfielder, I think the boy has something. Whether he is Arsenal standard is another thing altogether.
If Arsene does sign him, I’d imagine it would be as possible an all-purpose cover player – a fourth choice at centre back, back-up wide defender and backing up Flamini’s replacement in the holding role.
Oh great, we are buying someone with a bad season of injury behind him. That’s all we need.
So Jimmy, we don’t sign anyone who has been injured before? And we won’t be buying him, it’s a free transfer. Good stuff mate.
I cant believe how many people are writing off Jay Simpson.
Fair enough League 1 is a much lower standard than the EPL but it cannot be denied that the lad has taken his opportunity with both hands, and by most accounts has improved considerably over the last year. He is 19, if he continues to improve and stays as hungry as he obviously is then why the hell not give him his shot?
Let him play reserves and CC. If he does well give him a few subs appearences.
I dont know why people think micheal johnson is a great player because in my eyes his average reminds me abit of micheal carrick that cant tackle but am just waiting to hear what flamini says.
Plus Millwall asked for jay to come to there club on loan or it could of been championship team but it dont matter what league he played in as long as he did played and got the taste for first team football.
Im a big simspon fan so i hope he gets a chance and as for the assue if he is free why not add some depth to our squad and he would add to our assue fan base not to mention he is sponsered by nike and as we have a large sponsership deal with nike but to keep getting big sponserships with them we need players sponsered by nike and only gallas and fabregas from the first team and all the young backup our sponsered by nike in our team
vela, theo, diaby, song, rosicky, bendtner, eduardo, all the keepers, traore, denilson – all wear nike, all in the first team
he just needs a chance just a chance I believe the kid deserves that
Milli could be all right. I actually signed him in PES 2008 (for the Gunners naturally). While not as mobile as Kolo, he’s certainly the closest player to TA that I’ve ever seen. Injuries were unusual last season, but he reads the game well, and is a fantastic leader. Played well as a DM the one game I saw him play, and with Gilberto off…. (good header of the ball too btw)
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