Saturday the 19th of July 2008. If you have your fixture list present you will note it is the day Arsenal’s pre season starts, with an away game at Barnet.
The game will see Mexican prodigy Carlos Vela finally pull on the red and white, and do what Gooners have wanted to see for three long years, Play football for Arsenal. But what can we expect from Vela? and is he ready for the rigours of the Premier League?
Carlos has certainly developed this season, not only physically and mentally, but he has also added another string to his bow by learning to become a winger. Some people have speculated that Arsene Wenger sent him to Osasuna with that specific intention, but whether it he did or did not, Vela has been superb on the wing and has made the position his own.
One question remains however, can he cut it at Arsenal on the wing?. Many has over hyped Vela, but for sure he is one of the brightest prospect in the world, but at just 19 can he realistically command a regular position in the team. Only his performances will tell that and he will need settling time, as the adaptation from La Liga to the Premiership is not a simple one.
I think overall he can be a huge option, his arrival will come at an important time for Arsenal fans, and it seems that the left wing position will solve so many problems. However he will need time to adjust and i hope the fans will give him that time.
This year has seen Vela almost double in physique, he has clearly be working in the gym and has constantly admitted his desire to fulfill his dream and play for the Gunners, but his professional attitude and commitment to Osasuna had been superb throughout the campaign.
Having waited so long to see the prospect, there will be so much expectation on his young shoulders. He will not be our saviour and his presence alone will not justify Arsene Wenger not investing in the squad, but one thing is certain. Carlos Vela is a name to remember for the future.
Vela will be with the Osasuna team ahead of the La Liga game against Real Madrid on Sunday, keep up to date with all things Carlos Vela over at Carlos Vela News.
Article By – J.Sanderson
It will take Carlos Vela at least a season to settle in England and the EPL, P.S Jamie when does this Atlanta Cup tournament start
It started yesterday, i do not know the Arsenal results as yet.
Great job as always Jamie. Just a quick small note – ‘riggers’ is actually spelt as rigours and savour is actually spelt as saviour.
Thank you mate, i use an American spell checker and it doesnt seem to pick up on everything.
Cheers anyway.
Let’s forget the spelling. Great blog and as a Caribbean-American I appreciate your content and as a Journalist would say, “We are only human”.
ah thank you so much mate, cheers for your support, all feed back is much appreciated.
appreciated*
Haha, just jokin mate, great blog.
agree
Well, people shouldn’t put too much pressure on Villa, even if he needs time to adapt, he can’t be worst than Eboue.
Anyway if Hleb stays Vila will be warming the bench for Rosicky, and that will give him the time to adapt and be an impact player, like Walcot was this season.
I think next season will be more exciting for our reserves since Arsenal will have 7 players on the bench each match to choose from, and that will benefit the players such as (Vela,Fran Merida Perez, Henri Lansbury, Nacer Barazite, Kieran Gibbs, Jack Wilshere, Armand Traore, Jay Simpson, Havard Nordtveit), as I think after reading about their development they could do a good job.
On a different note, will Merida be a first team player if Flamini leaves? how is he physically?
Diara, Flamini and Gilberto out.
Fabregas, Denilson, Diaby and Song still in.
Do we need to buy another experienced midfield player or the four above, with a help from Merida and Lansbury could solve the problem?
Hi J Sanderson, I enjoy your reports, so keep up the good work.
Like other Arsenal fans I’m also keen to see Vela playing for us next season.
I know that he is predominantly left-footed, but can he/does he make use of his right foot too, during games, and if so, to what degree? In addition, what are his heading skills like?
Thanks for your answer in advance.
Magneto.
Nice Blog man, I enjoy reading it all the time.
people shouldn’t put too much pressure on Villa, even if he needs time to adapt, he can’t be worst than Eboue.
Anyway if Hleb stays Vila will be warming the bench for Rosicky, and that will give him the time to adapt and be an impact player, like Walcot was this season.
I think next season will be more exciting for our reserves since Arsenal will have 7 players on the bench each match to choose from, and that will benefit the players such as (Vela,Fran Merida Perez, Henri Lansbury, Nacer Barazite, Kieran Gibbs, Jack Wilshere, Armand Traore, Jay Simpson, Havard Nordtveit), as I think after reading about their development they could do a good job.
On a different note, will Merida be a first team player if Flamini leaves? how is he physically?
Diara, Flamini and Gilberto out.
Fabregas, Denilson, Diaby and Song still in.
Do we need to buy another experienced midfield player or the four above, with a help from Merida and Lansbury could solve the problem?
sorry
Splendid, as always. I’m excited about Vela, but certainly don’t think that he will be a match decider next season. Cheers, mate. Keep up the good work.
Vela is mainly left footed, and its very rare he uses his right, not seen him use his head much so i cannot really comment on that.
Merida can be potentially brilliant, he has got physically better all the time, and i feel he can be superb.
Your work is exemplary. It is refreshing to see someone focus on one of the many sub-sections of the game as opposed to following the mainstream conventions of first team football. Your application and effort in every article is evident and it merits the respect and appreciation of all Arsenal fans who wish to relieve themselves from the repetitive and linear realities of the first team and immerse themselves in the progressive ideals of the youths and reserves.
Having said that I do not believe that Vela will solve any problems which Arsenal are suffering from. On paper he is ideal, but in reality he is further from what we need than many people could imagine. Presence, directness and efficiency, that is what we need and Vela doesn’t provide that….at all.
Keep up the great work.
Hi,
I think Vela is a tremendous talent, however, my opinion is that he needs to play and have minutes another year in a “intermediate” level club, also i would like to see him playing as a forward to see how much goals is able to produce. He stills have to be more regular in his game and try to improve his scoring stats, it`s true he has improve a lot in defenssive skills this year in Osasuna.
Vela reminds me to Eduardo in some movements he has in the field, I think the mexican has a better technique and less goal.
Wickedddddddd Article.
Can’t wait to see Vela in Arsenal colours in the summer!
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Almunia
Sagna Gallas Torue Clichy
Walcott Fabregas Helb Vela
Adebayor Van persie
i doubt he will play in the barnet game as he will be playing internationals up until the end of june(the american world cup group games) it will be the ashburton grove comp
I agree with the others – a great blog & a refreshing change from some of the rubbish (le grove, sportingo etc.) out there. Of course Vela can make a difference – not immediately but increasingly from the bench. He will give us other options. A good pre-season and more time on the weights will see him progress further.
Overall, I think you’ve summarised it nicely – he’s not the answer to our woes, but he’ll certainly help.
i just hope or wish :
we can have another “Fabregas” player stand up next season…
whether is Vela or Merida, i don’t care…
just someone…please…
(bcos i dont’ think Wenger will spend much, oresel he can find
another Sagna type of player)
*unless he can find another Sagna or Eduardo…
Vela can be the Reyes we had when he was on form, but without missing the sun hopefully.
We’ve missed, and failed to replace, the skill, pace, and goals from that left wing-cum-striker position that Reyes occupied, and there’s no doubt that Vela has the potential to fit in there!
Vela has the potential to be a great player. He has spent 2 years on loan so he needs to be with the Arsenal team now. We need to see what he can do when he is surrounded by better quality players and once he has had time to adapt to the premiership.
I do not expect much from him next season other than a few substitute appearances as well as the CC games. Anything more would be a bonus.
He seems very excited about the prospect of coming to play for Arsenal and I know he has trained with the first team a few times since he joined us. I’m hoping that once he settles in he will offer us the best of Reyes without the negative aspects which led to him eventually leaving.
I agree with most posters here, Vela is a interesting prospect that needs time but I still see him becoming alot involved after the carling cup. The carling cup team for next season.
Mannone/Fabiansky
J.Hoyte Djourou Nordtveit Traore
Denilson Song Diaby
Barazite Vela
Bendtner
Sub:Mannone/Fabiansky G.Hoyte Lansbury Gibbs Merida
This is my team if there are no goings or comings.On the wings to get in the team is Wilshere, Randall(might be on the bench), Sunu and Rodgers. With both Vela and Barazite able to play upfront I don´t think we need any strikers on the bench. For me Song is a defensive midfeilder. And I believie the 4312 formation is what Wenger will use in the future. This team has a good compination in vision and penetration with Barazite and Vela a towering team player upfront and an amazing center of midfield. But if Song will be used as a CB than I would like to see Lansbury in the center.
I meant to say that Bendtner is a towering team player upfront.
And the compination of Barazite and Vela gives us a what can u say something close to Begkamp Overmars Vision and Penetration
he will run down the left without cutting in like the others thus providing much needed width. so arsenal improve straight away crossing and shots from left also. ive only seen a couple games but he looks strong and direct.
arent we luck him on the left walcott on the right cesc in the middle all we need is a holding player if the flamster dosnt sign back on and we will have a dominant freescoring mid field next season were getting better evry week and year
Hopefully he would be a new figure in England, so everyone in Arsenal should forget Terry… but he is still young, give him two years in osasuna so he can develope his football as he should. Don’t push him up.
As everyone has said, great blog. Keep up the good work.
Just looking at Bjoggi’s carling cup team and watching Arsenal TV it shows how much talent we have coming through. It is quite scary.
The good thing about Vela (not Villa hehe) is that he can slot in both wide and central attacking areas so that improves the squad in two positions instantly.
I really hope he settles quickly and can provide an impact from the bench because assuming that Rosicky is fit then he will not manage to get a place in the side.
Possible line up..
Almunia
Sagna Toure/Gallas Signing (I hope) Clichy
Hleb/Walcott Cesc Denilson (Arsene’s choice me thinks) Rosicky
Van Persie
Adebayor