Whilst all the buzz and talk this month has been about Jack Wilshere – and quite rightly so – it seems Dutch striker Nacer Barazite has been almost ‘forgotten’ about by the manager, with many fans feeling concerned that Arsenal are not doing enough to aid his development.
Barazite has been top-scorer for the Reserves for the two campaigns, and after an excellent finish to the season, many believed he warranted a starting birth in the final Premiership fixtures. Although he was not granted a start, he was named amongst the substitutes during the 1-0 win over Sunderland on the final day, but he did not get any playing time.
Nacer came from the bench against Barnet, to help rejuvenate Arsenal and eventually bag the winner to avoid some embarrassment, and many once more believed he merited at least a chance to prove himself at first-team level, but again he was over-looked.
Stories have circulated all summer that the 18 year old is set for a loan move, and while there is sure to be plenty of club’s keep to take him on, you can’t help but feel his development would be better served in North London.
His long-term future could be decided by his close friend, as Jay Simpson appears to be ahead of him in the pecking order, but a mixed pre-season means he could have blown his chance to stake his claim for a regular spot, allowing Barazite the slot in the team.
Whatever happens, let’s hope the boss can nurture Nacer’s abilities, as most Gunners who have had the privileged to watch him, share the belief he can be a future great.
Another youngster who has been much talked about during pre-season has been Fran Mérida. His absence however is much more explainable.
Fran’s season with Real Sociedad finished in late June, and subsequently he only had a short period of time to rest before being called up by Spain for the Under 19 Euro Championships – in which he was voted as one of the most promising players – .
After Spain’s elimination he was granted extra time to recuperate, and hence has missed Arsenal pre-season training camps and fixtures. He is expected to return in time for the start of the Premiership season.
Article By – J.Sanderson
Too many players ahead of him right now thus he must be loaned bcuz he is too good for reserve football. Dont forget that Eduardo will probably use CC in his comeback. I cant see obvious opportunities for Nacer to play in the 1st team.
Will Merida be in the first team straight away though?!!
We are stocked with attacking options, but the defensive department is a bit light…
There’s nothing wrong in loaning out Barazite and others for that matter.
To say his develoipment would be better served at Arsenal aint really true if he doesnt play much.
Its different for Wilshire as he is 2 years younger and can afford to play in fits and starts for the 1st team, as well as CC games. barazite could do with playing every week now, so hopefully he will be loaned out.
http://www.arsenal.com/player.asp?thisNav=first+team&plid=86459&clid=4421&cpid=703 Wilshere is a first team member and has got the number 19 shirt ,
Frank
Spain won the Euros fella, just in case you hadn’t heard!
Everyone one should understand that wenger gives more demand to strikers than wingers. Its easy to get promoted playing any other part of the team but difficult if you are a striker. That is why he still doesn’t see walcot as a striker for the season, but surely in the future. He says strikers need very huge physical presence as they always get bombarded especially in the air. So Barazite still has to get some more experience and physic to strike for us, Simpson inclusive. They are all going out on loan.
The problem is attacking players do not need to be as physically developed as defensive players to cope in the prem. That’s why there are more opportunities for our attacking young guns at the present time. But it must also be said that there’s probably more attacking talent in the youth than defensive.
Btw J, do you happen to know whether Miquel will feature in the reserves this yr or will he be loaned out?
Merida is very young yet has a big tattoo on his arm. Do you think he will regret it when he’s older? Bendtner is the same. What is it with youngsters these days?
J you say Merida will be back for the premiership kick-off. Are you suggesting he’ll be involved with the first team this season?
In regards to Barazite, i really hoped he’d push knock on the door of the first team this pre-season but he hasn’t had the chance. I hope he gets it because he deserves it.
Are we playing Huddersfield tonight? Which reserves/youth will we see?
i’m not worry, merida n barazite along with nordtveit are bound to be in 1st team squad and they represent the future for arsenal fc.
Phil, we’re playing huddersfield on wednesday.
thanks for the ‘news’ frank, check J’s previous post
Armand Traoré has signed a new contract – Superb news!!
http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=News&article=494859&lid=NewsHeadline&Title=Young+Frenchman+signs+long-term+contract
traore has just signed a new long term contract.its on arsenal.com
I am sure Wenger has plans for Merida this season in the 1st team bcuz he was really pissed off in his interview last season when he was asked about R soceidad was not playing him from the start. He is exceptional talent because he dictates play like a veteran.
Question whos better Fran Merida Or Ramsey !
Breaking News! Hleb scored for Barcelona in a friendly against Chicas euh I mean chivas, what a miracle!! I hope they are not expecting another one cuase they’ll have to wait at least another 2 seasons before they’ll see the next one!
Arsenal can today confirm Armand Traore has signed a new long term contract with the Club. woohooo..
I really hope Barazite goes on loan now. the reserves is not enough for him and it doesn’t look like he is in wengers plans for this season. he needs a loan more than anyone else. I’d like him to go to a prem club but I suppose thats unlikely. Holland or Spain seem more likely.
I seem to remember Hleb scored in his first appearance in an Arsenal shirt, a pre-season friendly… A sign of things not to come eh!
Howcome Gibbs is already playing whereas Merida, who also played in the U19 Championships, is still on holiday???
J, what does the future hold for Gibbs? He really impressed me aginst Juve at LB… Maybe he’ll be back-up left back for the comming season as Traore is showing promise on the wing…??
I’m sure Merida, Barazite and Nordveit will all make it at Arsenal…. Merida seems really talented and a CC regualr this season.
what do you think going to happen with Randall and Lansbury because it seems ramsey ahead of them in the pecking order. I still think Lansbury could be better then Ramsey but I think he should go out on loan.
Barazite is still relativley young. If he gets a loan move or some Carlin Cup experiance next season and hopefully both that-ll be enough. Id love him to get a premiership debut but its not top of the agenda as far as im concernd for next season. He needs first team experiance.
Hopefully the season after next if all goes well then we can seriously start talking about pushing for a first team place.
As for Merida, next season is a bit different cuz hes slightly older. Needs Carlin Cup experiance and a loan or some first team chances outside the cup to aid his development.
As for Gibbs, did well against Juve in my opinion. He can play Left Back, Left Mid or Second Striker. I like him, i think hes quick, technically gifted and makes a difference in the reserves so i dnt see why with a bit of experiance he can do the same in the first team. Will probably find it easier to get first team experiance due to his versitality meaning injuries could lead him to be called into action at left back, wing or up front (last one is much more un likely thou). Plus Wenger seems to rate him very highly.
Nacer Barazite needs to go on loan for a season because he is at the stage of his career any more reserve team football would be a back would step, and even though i have always said that i dont think he is good enough for a starting XI place at Arsenal if he has not played any regular first team football for us by the time he is say 19 years of age he should be looking for a new club IMO
I hope to see Merida start carling cup games for us this season as hes a great talent and is a mini Cesc and i would really like to see him make it here.
I think Barazite is going on loan. He can achieve a lot of experience. It could be in his advantage after all. Cause when he comes back, he can break out in the first time as a mature striker. We’ll see.
On the playing field, Kieran Gibbs is the next Ashley Cole, mark my words.
There’s no way AW wants Merida to go permanently. He may keep him in the Reserves or loan him out this year, but rest assured he will not let him leave. He is a tremendous player who only needs a chance and he will shine.
Merida is on teh same level as Denilson ability wise in my opinion despite there being a 2 (possibly 3?) year age gap between them. Denilson is a good player and can be very good, Merida is good but can be brilliant.
barazite is only 17 :) calm down guys! – let’s just wait and see what happens this season – i’m quietly optimistic about our chances of some trophies…
…and also – i dont understand the xabi alonso link…last time i checked he wasn’t really a proper defensive mid?!!! – i would say if we dont get a gilberto silva type of player then just stick with denilson for this season..
I don’t think Wenger forgets about his reserve players. Wenger, more than any manager, seems to have his eyes firmly set on the progress of his youngsters. Barazite seems like a very promising player but he may need a bit more playing time at a higher level. Personally, I think that he should go off to Spain or division one and have a year’s loan just like Vela, Bendtner, Song and Djourou have done. As far as Merida is concerned. I think he’s going to be an incredible player but he’s only 17 and I’m sure Arsene is monitoring him very closely. Arsene seems to be the only person that really believes in his youngsters as evidenced by what he said with regards to Song’s progress recently.
Merida and Barazite both need to go out on loan to develop but not to a championship side, they should only be sent to Spain !
kuzz
Nacer Barazite is 18 mate
Barazite and Merida are both 18 aren’t they? Although I think Merida’s close to 19.
I think we all agree Barazite needs a loan spell, La Liga would or the Prem would be ideal but Holland or Segunda football in Spain seem more likely.
As for Merida, I don’t want to see him go back to Sociedad or Salamanca but rather a Primera team (someone like Valladolid or Osasuna perhaps). Either that or he could stay and play in the CC for which he would have to be first choice (otherwise we might as well loan him).
I think both of them are amazing players and along with Nordtveit are the most likely reserves to make a career at Arsenal.
Incredibly that this young player does not get the chance to play itself in the picture. He has the potential to become the best in the world. Believe me,Barazite come there, however, no doubts!!!
Frank. Sky aree reporting that George Graham has just been sacked as Arsenal manager.
OK OK , Everyone is getting me i was jus happy by the news
Barazite to spain I say. Merida might see some playing time with the 7 sub rule
Rumour is is that Fran Merida will be given the #23 shirt.He isnt 19 till next march and has just signed a new 4yr contract.Ajax have asked about Nacer Barazite with a yr loan deal on offer.
The situation with Fran and Nacer is quite different. It´s not so much that they are not equally good, more that they are very different players. I think Barazite should go to an EPL team, as he can play with any team. He is a big, strong forward who would definately add a lot of quality to the likes of Wigan etc. Steve Bruce is a good friend of ours and he would take good care of him.
Merida is a much different player. He is a silky fine playmaker who needs to be in a team that actually plays the ball. How many teams in the EPL would actually use someone like him? Sure all the Top4 would and the likes of Spuds, Everton and Aston Villa. Sure the likes of Pompey play some nice football but would Merida be a regular for those quality teams? Then there is the championship, where almost nobody plays actual football. So there he would not be very useful. So in my opinion there are two options: Keep him or loan him to Spain (or Ajax). There are plenty of teams in Spain that play football like Arsenal (Salamanca for one). I would like Fran to play in the La Liga as I think he is fully capable of doing so. I bet there would be a lot of teams fighting for his signature if we wanted to loan him out. Just look at Camacho at Atletico, he is playing every week as a DM and Atletico are in the CL.
Ajax have huntelar and sulieman or whatever they call their record breaking striker signing..so barazite might not get regular playing time…except as a winger though ,who knows..some beckamp connection might come handy on this one.
For striker’s it’s harder to get into the first team than for the midfielders. Less spots to go for obviously. So Barazite probably will be going out on loan, same way Bendtner did…give him a chance to get first team football and learn to use his abilities in big matches…championship seems ideal.
Merida will probably stick around to add depth. Someone said Gibbs was the Next Cashley, on the pitch wise…makes sense given his movement back from a forward position to full back, can see him being used as back up to clichy, with traore being used predominantly at left wing. Gives us the option for more width when the narrow play isn’t working.
Really getting quite excited by the season ahead.
As for the talk of Veloso and xabi alonso…i just don’t see either…they will stifle the advancement of many youngsters, and don’t really do the job needed. I personally think that an older utility player is more likely, cheap, cheerful and not expecting too many starts…hence why arsene said finding the right man is difficult, just a thought.
I wish we could find a Premiership feeder club where the likes of Merida and Barazite can learn their trade. If he can play in the Premiership next season and get a consistent amount of matches…we can find out if they’re ready to come back. Maybe Hull City will want to take them on loan…both are class players.
so dissapointed if barazite sign with other clubs…i dont want to see any arsenal reserve player to be like david bentley
It’s simple, really. Ade scores 30 goals again this season and he really leaves for 35M to Milan. RvP stays fit and scores 20 and he heads to Juve.
Bendtner and Walcott are promoted to main strikers and Barazite and Simpson will be their back ups. When Bendtner and Walcott are sold in a couple of years, Barazite and Simpson will get their chances to showcase their skills for an expensive move and a bigger pay packet. ;)
Merida had a loan spell. I think he will join Jack on the subs bench. Barazite needs a loan spell, because we have plenty of attacking options who have 1st team experience. Jack is special, like Cesc, in this regard.
Nacer and Pedro will be 2 of the best signings of next summer when they return from Salamanca. What a production line of talent!
One tiny problem in everyone’s thinking here. We’ve come to take the CC as almost like a second season — because in recent years, our kids have been able to progress deep into the tournament.
But in a one-shot event, there’s no guarantee. We could wind up playing one or maybe two CC games, get unlucky by hitting the post 10 times against some muppets and be out.
Keep that in mind when you’re thinking about how much playing time the young ones will get — and where.
Also, over the past couple of years, we’ve had a few really screwed-up loan arrangements. These things have to be chiseled in stone — if a team is going to use our guy as a first-team regular, then fine. But we’ve seen with some of these Championship clubs that they need brawlers more than proper players, so some of our loanees have wasted their time.
Finally, someone else mentioned casually that we just “happened” to have more attacking players who are prospects right now than we do defensive players. And yet defence is where the first team really could use some depth.
I’m beginning to wonder if AW’s scouts — good as they are — have far more of an eye for attackers than defenders.
Other than Nordveidt, who could be starting for the first team a year from a now, does anyone else stick out as a bona fide future star on a par with Wilshere, Barazite, Merida, Simpson, Lansbury or Randall (assuming he’s still in the picture)?
Where are some 16- and 17-year old defenders who could rise quickly through the ranks?
Don’t get me wrong. I’m a Gooner to my soul and I love the youth set-up…but part of being successful is asking yourself the tough questions.
Anyway, who are the defensive mids, fullbacks and centre backs in the youth program that we should be watching?
Cheers, all.
Barazite is a joy to watch. Just love his style.
Many will obviously think “Bergkamp” when comparing him to other greats, and ofc. it makes good sense. Dutch, pretty big physique, and good technical qualities. But I still think he is a little different type, a more mobile type of player.
Gibbs really impressed me at left back, he seems really similar to Ashley there too. When Ashley was a junior he was an offensive player, striker and such, but was pushed lower down the pitch after a couple of years and looked like the perfect LB as soon as he learned some defensive discipline. Gibbs seems to have more potential as a left back than winger imo, because of the extreme creative quality offensive players at Arsenal are required to have.
Do anyone think Nordtveit will feature in the Amsterdam cup? A shame he didn’t get any minutes against neither Stuttgart, Juve or RM.
Wondering if there are such things as defensive prodigies. Defenders seem to get better with age. So, that’s probably where our problem lies. We get them youngish and they look good in their teens but can their defending continue to improve up till their mid-twenties and will they get the chance to improve? Senderos and Djourou seemed to be good when they were in their teens. They haven’t really improved that much since then.
Maybe defence is the hardest position to spot talent. Doesn’t seem like that many teenage prospects make it to the top. Or maybe farming out our defenders on long-term loans is the answer since you don’t really want to play teenagers in defence but if they can’t play, they can’t improve. So, allowing them to leave for a few years at other clubs to gain experience could be the best solution.
Sooth – Well said mate. With defenders it’s all about experience. That’s why it’s really important to loan out your defenders, they’ll gain experience at a good level and build op confidence.
For me with Nordtveit I’ll give him another 3 years or so before he will make into the squad. He needs a few loans too.
Guys if Arsenal needs a feeder club they should look in Holland. We play passing and attacking football, even the smaller teams. Ajax might take Barazite on loan as they told 8 players they can leave. Luque, Leonardo, Perez (all attackers) are amongst them. But the attack is already set to be Sulejmani, KJH, Suarez. I don’t think Barazite will get a lot of playing time with these 3 players. Maybe if KJH leaves he could be brought in but than again Ajax has a lot of own youth they would like to offer opportunities in the first team, so it’s very unlikely to happen.
In the premiership it’s very rare these days for anyone to bring a centre half in as a youth player…they seem to begin as full backs and move more centrally, or teams buy ready made from abroad. Just look through the England U21’s to see that there really aren’t that many great young defenders for many people at the moment. The U21 squad boatsts Matt Connolly, Michael Mancienne, Steven Taylor, Martin Cranie and David Wheater, maybe to an extent nedum onuoha for the future…but that’s it. So it’s not just a problem we’re having. Maybe not so many hardmen have the mentality for todays training regimes and strict diets so don’t make it through.
Either way, there are high hopes for Havard, and we will probably see the signing of a new youth defender under the media’s radar before the window shuts
Frank, ive just heard that Thierry is leaving.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, we cant let Arsenal’s goal machine leave :)
Hey J…..i was wondering……what happened to that Coquelin kid?…..he impressed in a few games and hasn’t played ever since…..is he injured?
You people really have to stop banging on about Barazite,Randall,Landsbury,Simpson,Rui Fonte etc… There simply nowhere near good enough to be considered for our Bench let alone starting for us.The players above have to at least prove themselves in the Championship before they can be considered for our first team squad. ps except for Rui Fonte he is not good enough to play for a Championship team.
Sanderson is there any news on Jibril ?
California Steve said this on August 5, 2008 at 5:36 am
To address a couple points: The Carling Cup is where we play our second team, not our youngsters. It’s easy to mix them up but you wouldn’t have considered Bert a youngster last season would you? The mixture of youth amd experience is what has made us a force in the competetion. Two seasons ago we wouldn’t have made it through the rounds without Ljungberg and Baptista and Eduardo and Bert were essential last. This season, I suspect Senderos, Diaby and Bendtner will be our most important players in the competetion. The youngsters around that spine will just be doing all they can to impress the boss further but the older players is how we win these games. Of course these games could dry up if we lose, but then you could consider us getting a ridiculously easy CL group or only League 1 teams in the FA Cup. You also have to take into account how great a motivation it is for these youngsters it is to try and impress Wenger in a professional game.
Re: defenders – it is widely acknowledged that finding talented youngsters and keepers is much harder than attacking players. The most imprtant aspect of defending (timing, positioning and composure) naturally comes with experience, even Maldini had it trained into him under Sacchi. If you want to look for possible future Arsenal stars in defence, look at Nordtveit, Miguel and Pedro. We’ve discussed it before on here, on god knows what post though, a couple weeks back and i think we came to the answer that: given the importance of Bould in the development we should see his invaluable knowledge be key in producing great defenders in the future. But for now, when our academy is in our infancy and we haven’t found the best mix between technique coaching (which is currently seen as the most important part of their training) and more defensive work, we are unlikely to be producing a roll call of Micah Richards’. These kinks in the system are likely to be ironed out over time though, it’s only natural for the staff to go “Ok, players X, Y and Z didn’t work out and we think this is why. With the next batch we’ll try and add coaching technique B to their development”.
Sooth: Of course there are defending prodigies. They are just much rarer as usually it takes time and experience to learn how to perfectly judge the game. There is the odd occasion though when it is just as natural to them at 17 as it is when they are 30.
Moush: I think with the unofficial link with Ajax, we may see players go there in the future, although obviously not in the same quantities that go to Salamanca or a Steve Bruce team. And Barazite would get about as much time as Bendtner did last season I think, considering they play 3 up front, or did last time I checked, and would need to occasionally rest players.
The Daddy: It’s a youths and reserves blog, we are gonna discuss those players.
Hey guys, give me news on that Coquelin kid!! Where has he gone??