Arsenal winger Armand Traoré admitted his loan switch to Portsmouth last month was crucial in his development, and the Frenchman is keen to learn from former Gunners skipper Tony Adams – now working as assistant boss on the South coast.
Nobody has questioned Armand’s attacking influences, but it’s his defensive play which has needed the most work, something the 18-year-old has recognised and is aiming to put it right.
“Tony can bring lots of things to my game like positioning, how to defend when you’re one-on-one and where I need to be when we don’t have the ball. He’s got so much experience.”
So far he has featured from the start in two Premiership games – against Manchester United and Everton, and although he missed out on the closing stages of pre-season, Traoré believes he is regaining his usual fitness.
“I’m quite happy about the two games that I’ve played in, even though I haven’t been fully fit. I think I’ve done pretty well both defensively and going forward.”
“I lasted an hour in the first game and then about 80 minutes in the second, so I’m pleased with that.”
The 3-5-2 formation is very different from the one that Arsenal play, and Armand concludes by saying he is enjoying the responsibility of both attacking and defending the left flank.
“I think it’s a really good system. It’s a good formation with me and Glen Johnson out wide.”
“We’re quick and can have the whole side of the pitch for ourselves. I haven’t played that way before so it’s new for me.”
“But there’s always the possibility that you can get replaced if your performances are not good so you have to be really good every time you get a chance to play.”
You can read reports on Traoré, and all of the Young Guns currently out on loan in our Loanees section.
Article By – J.Sanderson
J. sanderson. – regarding appiah and the base soccer agency.
They are just a company of agents, not a third party company like MSI with tevez.
Their site lists jack wilshire and aaron ramsey as clients, so you assume wenger wouldnt have any trouble dealing with them.
The move may still be on…?
About Appiah. We were interested in him a couple of years ago and if we couldn’t sign him short term and see if he proves his fitness like Bischoff then why don’t we go for him? At the World Cup a few years back he was super for Ghana, he let Essien bomb forward while he looked after the back four. I can’t see how his signing would be bad for us at this moment in time. He would add depth to our squad and would give a 100% to secure a longer contract.
I hope he can be as goos as a leftback as a left winger when he get’s back from loan :D
you’ve done it again J another great article :) i hope Traoré does as well for arsenal as adams did but i cant really see it happening due to the fact that while clichy is still at arsenal he will not be able to get the 1st spot unless he moves postion or clichy has a bad season which i dont see happening.
on the story of Appiah i think every1 is just saying it will happen to make up for being so inactive during the transfer period especially the last day.
Very mich agree Goonerguy, people are just getting desperate over what seems a non rumour. How come nobody has linked us with Thomas Gravesen yet?
Regarding Traore, i see him more as a winger now, so there is a chance he could force himself into our team, offering more width.
lol J i know this was probally asked in the prevous article you did but who do you think was that reserves player who rejected going to salamanca?
Anybody think that Wenger sees Merida as a first teamer this season? J? Isn’t he still with us and not at Sociedad?
Nobody knows, but i think it was probably Henri Lansbury.
Marko – Yes i would very much agree, he had the chance to go out again and Wenger rebuffed it,.
i dont understand why if it was lansbury didnt go to salamanca as he’s unlikly to make any 1st team games this year so a loan spell in spain would only help his development because they have some good players at their club and play a stlye of football similar to arsenal’s so it would olny be a benefit to him,salamanca and hopefully arsenal
I’m happy to hear when youngsters want to stick around and fight for their place, even if it’s not in their best interests. We’ve had too many good prospects itching to get out and get game time … Diarra, Bentley, Upson, Sidwell, etc.
In all of this, it’s got to be said that Clichy has been a model pro, waiting for his time, serving the club and fulfilling his potential.
Cant agree more. he is more mature the he looks.
Btw J, can u change the url address of Gooner Talk?? cause they’re already moved to another address..
My conclusion, nice article u bring here. keep ur great work, mate..
support from Indonesia :D
RE J.Sanderson: ‘people are just getting desperate over what seems a non rumour.’ I bet GoonerChris won’t be happy about what u said. He did an article on it.
“I bet GoonerChris won’t be happy about what u said”
Who gives a shit
Traore could become a really good player under Redknapp and Adams!
i needs to work on his tatical awareness and his dribbling..
i see him knocking the ball and running past rather that dribbling likle clichy…
id still rather arsene covert him to a left winger can left back..
I can honestly say that i broke this appiah thing on transfer deadline night but i think its pure spec. my good friend Darren Powell is mates with Kieran Gibbs, i went out with them in wimbledon last night and spoke 2 Kieran about arsenal. I can tell u now he is such a nice geezer, he has got the right attitude to make it/ Anyway I asked him if he knew anything about appiah and he said no, he said that he normally can tell when there is a new signing on the way because arsene normally shoots of during training. he said the way arsene works is amazing, he said he analyses everything in training and watches the every session start 2 finish. Kieran reckons that we dont need anyone, he said to look out for Ramsey aparently he is doing some amazing things in training at the moment. I asked who is the best player and he said fabregas and walcott? he said theo is unbelievable but he struggles to convert what he does in training to the game, apparently he is working a lot with the club psychologist. so expect big things. i also asked who is the most skilful and he said adebayor and van persie.
After speaking 2 him it has reassured me a little about our chances this year/ :)
Interesting stuff Stewdog. And Gibbs seems to have a great attitude, which I believe is the most important thing for the local lads to have if they wanna make it.
There is no doubt there is more to Walcott, I think most people everyone believe that, and Arsene, who sees him everyday in training, he definitely knows it.
And Ramsey could do a job this season, seems to have it all, but I haven’t watched him that much. How is his defensive side? Could he be a man next to Fabregas in the future? Or even in the near future?
wow….yeh interesting stuff stewdog
i never cud understand why theo couldnt convert his unbelieveable talent he has, onto the pitch..
im expecting big tings from ramsey….from when arsene and fergerson plus others were fighting for his signature…
im surpised gibbs didnt think v.persie was our best player…becus he is techiqually aint he?…but i do question his decision making sometimes, thats the only ting
i need a new favourtie player….it used to be pires,then henry,then hleb…now who
for me its out of walcott and v.persie
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