Plymouth Arygle striker Aaron Spear is expected to complete his transfer to Newcastle in the next two weeks, after Kevin Keegan flew back from holiday to help oversea the final details of the move.
The Toon boss gave Director of football Dennis Wise three names before he left, and was instructed to tie up the deals following his return. One of those players was Spear, but after failing to complete any of the transfers, a furious Keegan has now returned to personally help with the clubs rebuilding.
Arsenal had previously offered a contract to Aaron, but the player always preferred a move to Tyneside, despite the year long interest held by the Gunners. Portsmouth were also in for the starlet, but after being shown around his potential new school two weeks ago, everything is in place for his dream switch to Newcastle.
All that remains is for the two sides to agree on a price for Spear, although an initial offer of £150k has already been rejected.
One of the reasons Aaron decided against a move to Arsenal, was the quality already in the youth ranks, and as Steve Bould takes his team to pre-season training on Monday, one of the brightest prospects in the Academy will be trying to make a claim for a place come the start of the season. His name is Benik Afobe.
Afobe had an outstanding campaign last year, his first at Under 16’s level, with an amazing 40 goals in just 33 matches. But it was not just the quantity of his strikes which was so impressive, but also the quality. He has the ability to thrive of even the poorest of chances, with lethal and predatory instincts.
Next season will see him make the step up to Steve Bould’s competitive Under 18 side, where the expectations will be even higher. One or two average performances can see a player quickly on the bench, but the rewards for those who show promise can be spectacular.
Many of the star Under 18 boys were given a chance with Neil Banfield’s Reserves side, and when playing against often experienced and physical Premiership players, the rate of development can rise quickly. There is also a certain amount of pressure for these players this year, as highlights of both teams will be shown on Arsenal TV, with Reserves fixtures going out live.
Arsene Wenger is known to watch every second string game, and often makes personal appearances to check up on them himself. It certainly promises to be another productive and exciting season for both Benik and Arsenal. You can follow the fortunes of all our youth teams, with news, reports, previews and much more right here on Young Guns.
Article By – J.Sanderson
Afobe’s obviously the reason why we are selling Ade then!
LOL
Benik sure looks a good prospect!
He’s got a long way to go though…
i thought lupoli was our answer 12 months ago.
Haha Spike :D
Yes Neal certainly an exciting prospect and one to watch during next season, but as Chris says he has much work to do before we can consider him something special.
Certainly don’t want him getting complacent, well not until AC Milan and Barcelona declare their interest…
That is an amazing strike rate! Let’s hope he can repeat that at a higher level.
Arsene Wenger: Buy Arshavin and Akinfeev. Arshavin is almost as good as Ronaldo, absolutely an amazing player. He is better than Nasri, Hleb and Rosicky, all of them. This man could win us the league next season. Akinfeev is the most promising GK I have seen since Cech stepped up. He is a much better prospect than Fabianski ever will be and is already better than Almunia in my opinion.
Those two look so fantastic. Surely Akinfeev is not quite in the same group as Cech, Casillas and Buffon but he might get there. We would no longer have the worst keeper of the Top4 as he is better than Reina and even van der Saar.
But a hugely dissapointing performance by RvP, invisible and just bad. Sneijder was by far the best of the Dutch and the only one that came close to the quality that Arshavin showed.
Afobe looks like an amazing talent and next season will be an exciting one. I think he might break into the reserves, just like Wilshere did this season (they are only 1 year apart). Our striking force in the second string looks to be changing a lot.
Barazite will either go on loan or only play for the first team. Fonte will be released and it wouldn´t surprise me if Murphy would be as well. That only leaves Sunu of the current crop with Afobe, Freeman and Banton coming up. So who knows if Afobe and Sunu will play together up front for the reserves as soon as August.
I would love to see ashavin in an arsenal shirt, but it looks like that wont be happening. J how long do you think it is b4 jack wilshire breaks into the 1st team?
Ashavin a great player someone that can replace Hleb if he goes but stone I dont agree that he’s better then ronaldo noway but Afobe can keep working hard under bould
Jason Banton , has just signed a new deal , please check this as a friend of hes has told me
Russia will win Euro 2008. I’m totally convinced with what I saw.
They are not the same side without Andrei Arshavin, the assassin!
This guy is a method player. Terrific work ethic, pace, grit and bags of skill. I love to see the two red patches on his cheeks, he’s just so adorable. I’m on my knees begging Arsene to fork out the money for this guy. By the end of the Euros, his valuation would be at least 15m. It would have been money well spent. Russians are fighters. I want this guy, Akinfeev and Schweinsteiger. Imagine having: Nasri, Arshavin, Schweinsteiger and Akinfeev in that Arsenal team. It would make a hell of a difference. Sell Hleb, buy Arshavin I’d say.
Although we need a CB and LW, I don’t mind if we just buy this 4.
No one would be able to stop us. If Adebayor still played for us with those 4, he’d easily score 55 goals
J, do u think that Arshavin can play the hleb role? cause arshavin is simply a striker and hleb is more employed at the right?
Arshavin is a playmaker who plays in the hole.. NOT a striker.
“J, do u think that Arshavin can play the hleb role? cause arshavin is simply a striker and hleb is more employed at the right?”
Sorry i know that question wasnt directed at me but Arshavin is not a striker, hes one of those attacking players that can play a variety of positions. Right wing, Central attacking mid, second striker and probably left mid. The thing Arshavin (from what ive seen of him in the UEFA cup and the two games hes played in the Euro so far) has over Hleb is end product, something that Hleb sorely lacks (hardly ever scores and doesnt get that many assists in either). However if its a choice between Arshavin and Nasri id take Nasri simply on the basis of age and Nasris potential to improve where as Arshavin is very much a finished product at 28.
Arshavin is awesome thou and now Holland are out in goin for either Spain (because of Fabregas) or Russia cuz i love them (i wouldent mind Turkey either).
As for Afobe hes sounds brilliant, the stats obviously stack up in his favour and im lookin forward to seeing him in action for the U18s next season (highlights on Arsenal TV that is) and hopefully a couple of appearences for the reserves.
I have never seen Benik Afobe play but hopefully the England U16’s coach Kenny Swain will pick him for the School Boy Victory Shield Tournament which will be on Sky Sports later this year
Thank fuck for that. A bottler who would rather make it at a lower level then reach for the stars.
Oh there is competition for places. Newcastle will you sign me please.
Jamie, you’ve been getting a lot of praise for this site, which is well-deserved. I’m a journalist living in California but I also have a home in Scotland, intend to move back soon and I’m a member of the Arsenal Scotland Supporters Club. I write a regular opinion piece for the club Web site and I’ve mentioned your site several times.
Obviously, you started by doing your homework and following Arsenal’s reserves and other younger groups of players. Now that the mainstream blog fanatics have found you, I see the questions are directed more and more toward first-teamers, possible major transfers, etc.
There is a connection and irony in all of this that some Arsenal supporters — the ones who complain about AW signing “just more kids” — don’t seem to appreciate.
I know it was a joke to suggest that Afobe’s potential would allow Arsene to sell Adebayor (at an inflated price), but there is more truth in that remark that most fans realize.
If Wenger DOES cash in on Ade — simply because it’s great business and our football can make prolific strikers out of fair ones — the REASON he can do it is that this youth system you’ve been writing about gives him the luxury of knowing that there is talent coming through the ranks in waves.
Will they all make it as Premiership players? No, clearly not. But a decent share of them will play at a top level, either at Arsenal or at another club which has purchased them.
Bottom line: This youth policy is fantastic business, in terms of security and always having home-grown talent ready to step forward — but also because it’s sound financially. Wenger and his scouts and youth development people give Arsenal a huge advantage because the club ALWAYS will have a resevoir of talent without having to go out and pay the obscene market prices (see: Spurs, Darren Bent).
Anyway, add my name to those saying thanks for getting your site to respected status so quickly, feel free to communicate with me at the e-mail address you have on file (full name is Steve Cameron) but also…
Your readers should know that for the long-term health of Arsenal Football Club, believe it or not there’s more truth than you know to the idea of Benik Afobe’s progression through the ranks giving Arsene Wenger the freedom to take a 20 million quid profit on Adebayor if he chooses to go that way.
Wenger has figured out, better than any other manager in the world, that all these pieces fit together.
And thanks to your site, some supporters may be starting to understand that picture, as well.
Cheers!
Top comment Steve.
Agree with all your points and cheers for all your support. Its support from good people like yourself which makes the blog worth while, and i have been stunned by the level of interest in the youth setup.
One of the unique points about Arsenal is that boys like Afobe will at least get a chance, whereas at other clubs they are forgotten about.
Furthermore i feel Wenger is very under rated. His work at all levels, from convincing young prospects to join the club, to setting up links e.g Salamanca as well as his business skills in selling players for top money.
Cheers for your comment Steve, made my day, glad you enjoy reading its a pleasure to have you here.
Totally agreed, Steve!
The comment above states Arshavin is 28 yrs old, he has just turned 27.
You gooners can’t afford arshavin!
Aye, spot on steve. Great blog, great manager, and its looking like a bright near future for us all.
Good to see Spear opting for United. Arsenal can’t have ALL the best young players y’know!!
Your blog is not only one of the best but it also provides such an interesting look at the up and coming young players.
My only criticism is of the stupid, short sighted and downright rude comments in some of the responses. If people like Ben Jones can’t be constructive they should go elsewhere, you deserve better.
I liked Steve’s comments, to the point and worth reading – and I hope that your blog goes from strength to strength… as well as getting more supporters really interested in the players in our Youth and Reserve squads.
Unfortunately only a minority of these players will finally establish themselves in the first team but what foresight to have such a strong and comprehensive feeder into the senior squad.
Keep up the good work, and please try and find a way of getting rid of the morons who respond.