Arsène Wenger has taken three Reserve players with the first team for this weekends Amsterdam Tournament in Holland, although several of the more experienced youngsters have been left out.
Left winger Kieran Gibbs will travel after his superb performance against Huddersfield on Wednesday, and is joined by another versatile player in Under 18 skipper Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, he also made his debut against Huddersfield, and looks to have done enough to push himself into Wenger’s plans.
Newly promoted Jack Wilshere continues his spell in the first-team and will look to celebrate his England Under 17 call up in style. Italian stopper Vito Mannone will also travel.
Wenger has opted to leave out the likes of Nacer Barazite, Jay Simpson, Håvard Nordtveit, Mark Randall, Henri Lansbury and Gavin Hoyte who have all been present in recent weeks, but will now be rested for Tuesday’s Reserves friendly against Boreham Wood.
It is expected several of those players could be leaving on loan in the coming weeks.
The club issued a statement confirming the travelling party would be a 22 man ‘first team’ squad, with 21 year old Samir Nasri left out through injury.
Due to the low number of Reserves taking part in the competition, Young Guns will not be offering reports of this weekends fixtures against Ajax this evening, or Sevilla tomorrow.
Article By – J.Sanderson
J, come on bud do a rewport, yours are the most complete up to date reports. Surely Gibbs,Traore,Jack and Js inclusion warrents your expert eye to run over them
I guess Gibbs will now be used as back up to Clichy
I definatly think Wenger will use Gibbs as Nr. 2 choice at left now.
Good to see Jay Emmanuel-Thomas travel to Amsterdam,He deserve’s Pre season games with the first team after his performance’s last year.
Great work JS.
Plenty of fans were speculating on whether or not Nasri was injured or not, It’s a shame we won’t get a chance to see him in the Amsterdam Tourny – maybe a surprise start for him in the FC Twente game???
Whats Nasri’s injury??
Personally ,I understand. Keep the remit of this as it has been not a general Arsenal thing. Well measured as ever, J.
By the way you agree with me re Randall’s talent then??!!His is only a mental problem you know. Once he sorts that ??!!
Sorry Lloyd but Randall is the most overratted player on our books since a certain Quincy Bongo-Bongo.
It’s a knee injury for Nasri while Diaby sustained a thigh injury.
Chris… Will Nasri be fit for the CL qualifier vs Twente??
I forgot about the Boreham Wood friendly. Out of interest, I know it a few days away, but the will the squad for Boreham Wood be the same against Huddersfield expect for J Hoyte, Fabianski, Djourou, Walcott, Ramsey and Vela and will Rodgers, Ogogo, Steer and Dunne be included or have they been told to look for clubs elsewhere?
If it’s not too serious that he’ll be fit for that game, if he’s actually TORN his thigh then he’ll be out til November/December.
No report JS?
Lazy sod! :D
Dead chuffed for Gibbs. The lad should deffo be in the 1st team squad now.
Hope Thomas gets a game. Well, the lack of numbers in CM now, he’ll probably be partnering Cesc next weekend against WBA!
As for those left out; I hope Nordtveit, Barazite, Lansbury and Simpson get loans to get regular 1st team action.
Cannot believe Diaby is injured again?
If Wenger fails to sign a quality CM then serious questions need to be asked of him.
But, while the window is still ajar, I hope he sorts it out.
Wilshere is a first teamer now, not a youth or reserve. He has been given Gilberto’s shirt! I think that is enough to suggest he is in Wenger’s plans for this season.
Gooner Chris who might of torn there thigh Muscle Diaby or Nasri?
Nasri
From what I’ve seen this pre-season, Randall = David Bentley Mk II. And possibly Lansbury = David Bentley Mk III. They both seem to have regressed from last year, with an inflated opinion of their talents leading them to choose worse passing options.
Obviously I am only judging from what I can see on the pitch, perhaps somebody who knows them better will think I am off-base, but I am personally very negative on their chances of making it at Arsenal. They have gotten the English “too big for my britches” virus that kept the England team at home for the last Euro championships.
I thought Nasri did his groin.
Thats what they were sayin on Sky Sports News the other day??
Then again they announced a team for one game last season and it was completely different when the game kicked off lol.
I just read Arsenal.com said that he might make wednesdays champs lge game. So unless there was a new development? I think it might be Diaby, which is very worrying if he was supposed our 1st choice partner for cesc. His inability to stay fit is now a real concern
Hi JS,
Thanks for a very well written and informative site!
I’ve seen some signs this pre-season that leads me to believe that Håvard Nordtveit has moved down the pecking order in the reserves team. Last season he was captaining the side and would have made his debut in the Carling Cup but for a last minute injury. He was heralded as a great prospect for the (quite immediate) future, and was by some seen as a real alternative at the back for the coming season.
This pre-season he started against Barnet but has since taken a more peripheral role. Obviously the squad has gradually been strengthened by senior players coming back but several young players have still featured prominently. The clearest indication for me came in the Huddersfield match, where he did not start despite the young age of the squad. And when he came on for the last 25 minutes (not at half time like many other subs) he was given the right back position as opposed to his native centre back position. Also the armband was given to Randall when he came on.
My hunch has now been backed up by the fact that Gibbs and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas have travelled to Amsterdam while Nordtveit hasn’t. Do you share my views JS? Do you think maybe the appearance of Thomas as an alternative at the back, who is perhaps bigger and stronger, has seen Nordtveit loose out a bit+ Or is it due to injuries or some other factor I don’t know about?
Regards
Well if Nasri is out till November them we’re fucked…. But it couldnt have been that serious cause he was running at members day….
Well if Nasri is out till November them we’re fucked…
Matt that was blunt and right to the point haha :-)
Agree though if he is!
“However Nasri (knee/thigh) and Abou Diaby (thigh) have both not travelled for the tournament. The former has a minor problem and should be fit for the Champions League qualifier on Wednesday. However Diaby is likely to be sidelined for that game.”
Taken from Arsenal.com
Judging by this I think its Diaby thats injured, long term.
Again……
i think Denilson is better than Diaby in partnering Cesc.. he has more defensive instinct than Diaby..
tight groin not pulled groin, left out as precaution
I’ve been really impressed by Denilson in pre-season… had a fantastic game vs Madrid and like TopiQue said hes got more defensive instinct than Diaby
Agreed I think Delison is well ahead of Diaby. If Diaby is to seriously challange for a 1st team spot he needs better luck with injuries cos i coudld also see Song pushing for 1st team when he geta back.
Would like to see Denilson in there. Would be great if he could prove himself this season!
I don’t know why everyone hates diaby so much as he is a good player and can play well defensively if he sticks to it i thought he had some great games last season and he isn’t scared to go into a challenge.
on to lansbury and randall i don’t think randall has done much wrong and lansbury has looked better by the game and to be honest if noone else was brought i wouldn’t be woriied as we had everything we needed to win the title last season its just we didn’t have that little bit of luck
Gibbs is better than traore and LW and LB , Some of these lads need loans to prem clubs
J – Any updates on Tawrick Djibril or anything on the reports about Inler???
Anyone else think Randall played better since he had his tails (HAIR) cut off??
Probably Nasri will be fit to Wednesday, it said the arsenal.com
Haha yes agree Robinho
so who we going to play left wing now. nasri is injury prone trust….especially in this season hes going to be.
looks like diaby or vela has to play on left.
lol, you say Nasri is injury prone then say Diaby will play on the left, he’s more injury prone than most. I think its just a niggle with Nasri, why risk him this wknd with our tie with FC Twente coming up, much rather rest him and get him running rings round McClarens men on Wednesday.
Vela, Gibbs, or Traore to play left wing. Or even Ramsey.
Or even Wilshire.
Gibbs will not be Wenger’s second choice left back.He gets minutes as a left back only since Traore is injured and will return only by september
gibbs is a better left back than traore
gibbs is the next ashley cole ive said that for awhile now because his composure and defensive prowess gives me no other choice
Good site, J., thanks mate.
Wilshere for left side.
When Song returns the battle to partner Cesc begins in earnest, but good to have cover.
My impression is that Nordveidt was being groomed as central defender cover and Carling Cup playing time.
i think wenger should take barazite … he is talent player …
i think he is as good as wilshere ..
i don’t know why wenger doesn’t take him ..
im wotching the match now….and lets get this straight
walcott is rubbish im sorry, he has NO END PRODUCT. how hard isit to run past a defender and cross really???…..lennon is not gifted technique wise and he shines by doing dat….
denilson played very good….
juss aint happy about walcott…
he played against huddersfield didnt he??…did he do anything??
and our defence. oh my godd….toure and galls is not the paring they are shocking together and it will be worse when we play agaist the likes of rooney and drogba again
It is only a pre season friendly
Uh…Diaby is SO DEAD!