The majority of Arsenal’s young playing staff are currently away on holiday, but a select few have been called up to play for their countries, in friendlies or in qualification games over the next few weeks. You can keep up to date with all the players fortunes in Young Guns International Watch.
In today’s review we feature the following players, in the following games.
Nicklas Bendtner – Denmark V Poland
Armand Traore & Kieran Gibbs – UEFA Under 19 Qualifying.
Nicklas Bendtner – Denmark 1-1 Poland
After a stunning performance against Holland on Wednesday, Nicklas Bendtner continued in his role of leading the Danish line against Poland. The game took place in the sunny Slaski Stadium in Poland, but it was the visitors who made the better start, as they passed the ball expertly around the midfield but failed to find a killer ball.
However on 28 minutes the game exploded into life, and of course Bendtner played a huge part. A neat passing move on the edge of the area, saw Retov slip Nicklas in around the back of the defence, his low drive was scuffed out by Boruc, but the ball came out to Vingaard at the back post who stabbed the ball home.
Almost instantly Poland hit back, as Emi Smolarek was bundled over in the box after racing behind the back four for a penalty. Celtic’s Maciej Zurawiski stepped up, but his tame kick was easy for Thomas Sorensen down to his right.
But they kept going and eventually forced an equaliser, as Zurawiski set up Jacek Krzynowek who’s deflected shot bounced over the keeper and into the net. It would be the final action of an quiet yet eventful first period.
The second half brought a more attacking mentality from the Polish, who worked Sorensen on several occasions. Bendtner and Jop had various come togethers, but following a throw in it all kicked off between the pair. Nicklas wrestled Jop to the floor as they battled for the ball, only for Jop to push his head into Bendtner’s, the two were quickly separated and the game restarted.
The game was marked with substitutions during the second half, and became a less interested spectacle. On 91 minutes Bendtner was also replaced as the game finished as a draw.
Kieran Gibbs – England Under 19 Qualifying
Kieran Gibbs’s England Under 19s have booked their place in the finals, after getting the much needed point against Belarus. a 0-0 draw saw their safe passage into the next phase, after previously winning both of their earlier games.
Gibbs featured throughout and will be a key part to their plans in the future.
Armand Traore – France Under 19 Qualifying
Armand Traore will not be going to the Under 19 European Championships next month, after his French team missed out during qualifying. Despite winning their first two games with ease, they needed a result over Italy to progress, or it would be the Italians which made the finals.
The French lost 2-0, meaning they were out of the competition with Italy going in.
So the teams which have made the finals are as follows.
England – Kieran Gibbs
Hungary
Italy
Bulgaria
Germany
Spain – Fran Merida
Greece
Remember to check back for reports throughout the tournament, as well as possible links to watch the games.
Article By – J.Sanderson
Is Gibbs a key player for England then? Also Henri Lansbury before he was injured was ivolved in the u19’s. What chances is there of him making the squad for the finals?
Was wondering how it works out the tournament in the summer, as there are only seven teams.
I thought Fabianski played for Poland (according to SkySports website).
Are Randall and Gibbs not good enough to get into the England U-19 squad?
Are Randall and Simpson not good enough to get into the England U-19 squad?
How good is Gibbs? Is he seriously future Arsenal material? Because if he can’t get many games at Norwich… and besides when he did get games their fans apparently lambasted him for his shite performances. Heard he came good towards the end thankfully.
If Randall and Simpson can’t get into the U-19 squad then surely they’re not Arsenal material although AW seems to like Randall.
There are always 8 teams that compete in the U-19 championship. The 8th team must be the hosts, the Chech Republic I believe.
no news on nasri then?
Jonty – like Stone said.
M – Gibbs actually made 7 starts at Norwich, in three months that is no bad. Still time to go before we know if he will make it.
Bergy – Nasri is expected to be announced tomorrow.
Good to hear Bendtner and Gibbs played well again. Also glad 2 hear the transfer saga of Nasri will be over tommorrow and look forward to seeing him at Emirates Cup should be well good.
When it happens it happens to be honest. I’m tired of investing myself in the idea that he will sign the next day only to find out that ‘actually no, apparently he is signing the NEXT day.’
When I hear people calling the Nasri situation a saga it confuses me. I mean it’s lasted what??? A couple of weeks maybe. It is only the fact that expectations have been raised on a daily basis that it seems to have taken an eternity to be concluded. So unless people know that he is certainly signing the next day they should not make the assumption based on intelligent conjecture.
Great work Jay.
“Nasri is expected to be announced tomorrow.”…
Hmm, I think I’ve heard that earlier. For like two weeks ago, and every day after that.
Will tomorrow ever come?
In my eyes tomorrow is when Nasri signs, other than that it’s just an extension of yesterday.
Jay, how do you know that he is Expected 2 sign 2mrw?
Well it’s logical that’s why. The France squad have a day’s break today, then they have to report back to meet the president and begin training for the Colombia game, traveling to Austria shortly after. Wenger said that the signing would be concluded before the Euros and thus it seems like this evening and tomorrow morning are the most logical, if not, the only possible periods in which this state of affairs can be ended. But somehow I don’t see it happening.
I have some news, but i’ll announce it later tonight on my blog, it’s fairly big as well.
Good or bad Chris?
Talk about creating suspense Gooner Chris! Ill av 2 chek that out later then, u no roughly when it ll b on? cause Lost is on an im a sad act and wna watch the season finale.
haha ok mate. I’ll give you an idea of what it is.
Wenger’s giving an interview to a popular Radio station in France, he’s expected to talk about Nasri etc. So i’ll update you with what he says later tonight.
thanks for the heads up lol an look forward to avin a look at the story later.
F off Nasri we don`t need u. U wastered r time go 2 hell.Good news for r young boys like Willshere come on S Blatter bring on that 6&5 rule i am fade up of players who don`t love our club only come for big pay.we will b better off with average English player than sale outs like Hleb,Flam,Nasri.If u love Arsenal prove it sign now or go to hell with yo talent
it says that nasri to sign AFTER euros. well wenger ‘hopes’ he will….so basically if nasri performes as well in the euros and we think he will then another club will probably come in and sign him.i cant believe arsenal are their slow transfers sometimes…
What a disappointing news concerning Samir Nasri, its more likely he will not sign than he will.
Wenger should have other big targets to satisfy the fans in case this one fails.
nasri will sign after the euros
This sux deff not gona believe any other transfer story this summer until the players have actually signed :(
Sanderson, have your contacts within the club given you any idea as to what the delay is in signing Nasri?
Nasri’s saga is damaging Arsenal’s reputation.
Day after day Van Persie’s comments are being proved right, Arsenal need to pay money for decent players, there is no way out or we will be left behind.
Wenger should sell the players that aren’t cutting it at Arsenal and use their money for the wages and solve every thing.
This is a short term solution before the money start flowing in 2 years time from the flats sale.
^^^^^ you are so right
Duno if its damaging our reputation but its definatly dissapointing. I dont think ill be able to bring myself to believe any transfer rumers again this summer until their confirmed as signings. Same last summer with Malouda and probably even more dissapointing was Ribery. He may stil sign though, but im not guna bother living in hope, its always best to take transfers as they come in my opinion, no point getting all worked up over speculation.
Gibbs is a good player, does well for the reserves, was a little dissapointing at Norwich but definatly wasnt “shite”. Hes had those two games for the first team aswell this season, and i was very impressed with him in both. Duno why we dont have more players in the England U19s, but remember its picked out of all the available talent, which unlike the first team is alot. In a way its almost harder to get into the U19s than the National first team, simply because the coaches seem more confidant in picking players outside of the premiership and the “big four”. I dont think your could really say Randall and Lansbury not being involved can reflect badly on them as players, we need to judge them on what they do for us, forget England, if they get a game great, be happy for them, if they dont, it doesnt matter aslong as they do it for the reserves and the first team when and if either get another chance (which we can probably be 95% sure they will).
I watched the Poland game and Bentner was good first half, not so great second but the Danish were very scrappy overall in the second half and he didnt get the game kind of service. Good game for him but he was better against Holland, and no Fabianski wasnt in goal.
so how much should Nasri be getting paid a week???
Its funny Van persie made that comment and now he’s signing a new deal must of got more money
“so how much should Nasri be getting paid a week???”
I give him 65k a week on championship manager :D
Duno to be honest but he’d probably have to be given the upper wage bracket, which probably is around 60k a week (maybe a bit more).