Arsenal play-maker Fran Mérida has been named in UEFA’s list of the most promising future starlets from the European Under 19 Championships, despite only featuring in two games.
The 18 year old was suspended for Spain’s opening fixture against eventual winners Germany, but went on to play an influential part in the next two encounters, although it was too little too late as they were eliminated in game two against Hungary.
However, in the third and final group game Fran’s creative elements all came together as the Gunners ace helped tare apart Bulgaria. His slick and controlled passing put in Emilio Nuse on two separate occasions, but the Real Mallorca hit-man only managed to finish one of the opportunity’s.
He would cap of the performance with a tap in after excellent work from Jordi Alba, and showed obvious signs that he will be a huge prospect for the future. UEFA clearly agree, and added this glowing description of the Barcelona born midfielder.
“Fran was suspended for Spain’s opening defeat to Germany but soon made his presence felt on his return, providing much of his team’s attacking threat with his accurate set-piece delivery. Put in a virtuoso display against Bulgaria, capped by a fine goal with his weaker right foot.”
Mérida returned to Arsenal this week for training, and star performances like this mean it’s only a matter of time before first team honors beckon.
Check out the full list Here.
Article By – J.Sanderson
Great for Fran the man , i really think he has the skills and the ability to make it to first team but dont you think J , that he is at an awkward phase (too good for the reserves and not yet ready for the first team squad) lets hope he gets some experience at salamanca or sociedad.
Another thing , i was looking at the list and think there could be a few Arsene Targets amongst these lads. Any tips j?
Ja ich liebe der Merida viel. Er ist eine really gut spieler.
Great comment Ali, he plays the Reserves with ease, but i just dont feel he is ready for the first team yet, so a loan would probably been best.
As for potential targets, i liked quite a few of Spain’s players, especially Pajero and Nuse.
Would be a little sad with a new loan though, love to have him here with us :)
Do you think he has the same potential on the wing as in the middle?
i rate merida highly and i expect more from him this season.
I was expecting him to be involved last night in Austria seeing as he didn’t play against Crawley like Gibbs did.
I hope we see him with the 1st team for the rest of pre-season
where can we see this list of future stars. Can we have a link please J. Appreciated
Gunner From The West – did you read the article? see the bit at the bottom?
Check out the full list Here.
Click the Here writing.
http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under19/news/kind=1/newsid=735075.html
hi
It changes link with http://www.futboldelujo.com
Thank you
I´m spanish
lol didn’t see that my mistake. Only heard of three of the players on the list though and of them all i think that Necid and Merida can go on to be the greatest out of this bunch. any information on the others
Pity Gibbs didnt get any recognition.
Gibbs was England’s best player, i can’t belive he was not named but Mee was. Maybe they didn’t want to two Arsenal players?
gunner from the west – No problem :)
j i just cant wait to see fran in action 4 da first team, i mean he’s technically speaking very similar to fabregas but with better skills.
I don’t think Gibbs was the best English player. None of the English players stood out and I wouldn’t pay much attention to that list. They didn’t even include Gebhart who was probably the best player in the tournament. Necid, Sukuta Pasu, and Lars Bender where some other players who looked good.
Where’s Merida going to fit it? Is he versatile or can he play in the CM role. With Ramsey there who’s going to be better? Ramsey, Wilshere and Merida all have the potential to be sick.
Where’s Merida going to fit in?*
He is versatile. Hes very more attacking than Ramsey who’d id class as a box to box midfielder, but he can defend, he can play right and left wing but hes better in the middle. Very skillful player, good passing, good dribbling, scores a fair few goals, gets alot of assists. Personally i prefere Merida to Ramsey, but both are brilliant for their age. Duno how many chances he’d get if he stayed with us next season, so perhaps a loan move would be a good idea, however id like to see him get some Carlin Cup experiance and hopefully some league games aswell, so id like to see him stay on until around january and then maybe spend the end of the season on loan, either in spain again or even at a strong championship or lower to mid-table premiership side.
much more*
Out of the Reserve squad id say only Barazite and Merida look atall definate in terms of future first team players. There are however lots and lots or likelies and a few maybies.
Brian – Gebhart was far and away the player of the tournament, also impressed with the midfield Bender brother and the german right back. I do agree with J that Gibbs was the ‘most impressive’ and I say that lightly of the English bunch…technique was shocking on the whole.
Good article J
Best Young talent at the club:
1.Carlos Vela
2.Aaron Ramsey
3.Fran Merida
4.Jack Wilshere
5.Henri Lansbury
John. I’d say Barazite in 2nd and the rest fall one below. Except Merida. Swop him with Wilshere.
1.Vela
2.Barazite.
3.Merida.
4.Ramsey
5.Wilshere
6.Harvard
7.Lansbury
8.Fonte(maybe)
merida is good an all, but he seems to me as one of those players that would leave for madrid or barcelona. it worries me
“but he seems to me as one of those players that would leave for madrid or barcelona.”
Ok,
A. How do u know hes that kind of player, wheres ur sources?
B. He left Barca to come to us, thats gotta mean summin, ok Barca is a hard side to get into but so is Arsenal and like us they give youth a chance and he was one of their youth sides top performers when we nicked him.
i have not seen much of the following players below..and i would like to know….
can gibbs really be compared ryan giggs becus thats what arsene wenger described gibbs to giggs….
does lansbury have a future at arsenal, and wot is his strong points??? passin ability, gettin stuck in?? box to box?? because i dont know…
is ramsey a better version of lansbury???
I see the Inler rumour has been rubbished by the Udinese chairman.
i would say
1.Vela
2.Wilshere
3.Ramsey
4.Simpson
5.Nordtveit
6.Barazite
Vela
Merida
Wilshere
Ramsey
Barazite
phoder- Ramsey is more like fabergas if you watched him yesterday
his movement and play making
who was the guy who came on, late, in the CC at Blackburn, fell over and bust his shoulder? Meridia or Barazite?
“who was the guy who came on, late, in the CC at Blackburn, fell over and bust his shoulder? Meridia or Barazite?”
It was Barazite.
Barazite
ta…that was the one game from last year I’ve saved on my Tivo…it had more spirit, mre hard effort than any other I could think of…and we scored the winner with 10 men on the field…but that was also the game that was the making of Song and now he’s got a new multi year contract…he is going to be HUGE.
he’s got the skills to pay the bills
Yeah we got some top younsters but this guy is my favourite out of the ones who have been here for over a year and performed in the reserves. It’s no wonder Uefa have picked him out. I would love to see him get a chance this year (used sparingly). He is potential “world class”. No two ways about it. Gives me the same feeling Cesc did at his age. His mind is always ahead of the game, knows what to do with the ball before he gets it.
arsenal youngsters are sick like gavin hoyte he did gangsta
Timo Gebhart,Lars Bender and Sven Bender all play for 1860 Munich.