When Gilles Sunu arrived at Arsenal in the summer of 2006, both his former chairman and the British media had dubbed the French forward as ‘The New Thierry Henry’.
A first season dogged with injuries and fatigue left Gooners frustrated as well as cheated at the £2 million fee paid for the unproven starlet, but in his time of need, Arsenal stuck by him. At the back end of the season Gilles had played his part in a handful of Reserves games, and although he scored against Derby, many were still not convinced.
This campaign has seen a complete reversal of fortunes for Sunu, who made his first appearance of the season for the second-string at home to Stoke last week. Now back playing in his original position on the wing, Gilou is making up for lost time.
Over the summer much has changed with the 17-year-old, and not just in his hair cut!. He has found his confidence, and looks the part with the weight of being charged as the man to get the goals firmly off his back.
Sunu now seems taller, stronger, quicker and as versatile as ever. Featuring on the flanks has recharged his energy, with the youngster still possessing his athleticism and power, but now with enthusiasm in abundance, his direct style is paying dividends.
Aside from the handful of goals already bagged, attitudes towards the player have been a complete transformation from that of last season. Although Gilles is still not thought of as a massive prospect for the future, Man Of The Match performances at West Ham and Chelsea show he is making a big difference for Bould’s Under 18’s.
So much have the feelings changed, praise is steadily been applied, yet one thing remains the same, the comparisons. It’s still a big international name that’s been associated, infact it’s a player who himself has shrugged off the ‘New Henry’ tag, Ryan Babel.
The directness and sheer power are identical in both, with the Arsenal man only needing to polish his raw qualities to bridge the gap. Being left to quietly develop seems to suit the gentle giant, but fans can be reassured, you’ve not heared the last of Gilles Sunu.
Article By – J.Sanderson
Shouldn’t he be more prolific at youth level?
I don’t know many attacking players that have been poor infront of goal in the U18s/reserves, but great when they make the step up. He’s already got Benik Afobe on his heels…while’s 2 years younger.
I don’t think he’ll make it at Arsenal but he might be more of an Aliadiere, you know.
Aleady two goals this season, and he’s playing on the wing. That’s a top strike rate for a winger, Afobe is a striker.
Why can’t Sunu just be himself?
Why have football fans always got to make these stupid comparisons.
Is the “Young Guns” website the new “arsenal youth?”
Is Jay Sanderson the new “jeorg bird?”
Am I the new Bloodbore8?
He is himself, but he has aspects of other players, that’s what I’m touching on.
We always distance ourselves from comparing players, we’ve only done it once before, in over 600 articles.
Sorry if you misunderstood, although your scarcasm was wasn’t lost on me.
J any news on that south american striker we were going to sign??
Yes, John Terry’s mum, you are the new Bloodbore8.
ironicly enough, Ryan Babel was likend to Henry when he was linked with us, and when he arrived at Liverpool…
BUt a nice article JS :)
How tall his he
“fans can be reassured, you’ve not heared the last of Gilles Sunu.” I hope not, it ain’t like he’s been loaned out or anything, he’s still 17…
He looked much better against Stoke than he did in every game I saw him last season for the Reserves, his directness and pace was impressive.
Ryan Babel is a weird comparison though, he’s more like a young Emile Heskey. (Don’t look at ability ect, I mean playing style.)
http://www.arsene-al.co.uk
Can I be the new John Terry’s Mum then?
Being Fabregas’ Dad isn’t bad but Terry has a bigger pay pocket;).
Gilbert done for drink driving.
http://goonertalk.com/2008/10/13/youngster-gilbert-shoves-his-career-down-the-toilet/
good article JS….
did we really buy him for £2 million….but yet he cant get into the carling cup team…
hmm
Don’t believe every fee that is reported phader. For years people thought Vela cost 2m, but yet it was revealed in the Sunday Times that the TRUE figure was a £125,000 fee that will rise to £550,000 if he plays 50 first-team games. Sunu could be something similar. It was reported that his fee was 1m and it could rise to 2.7m, but those numbers could be much lower.
I hope the Gilles Sunu is a fee based on appearences…because 2 million seems to much for him. At our club, if you can’t make it through as a teenager…you won’t make it to the first team.
I think that the South American striker is the Bolivian starlet Jhasmani Campos.
This site is quite harsh on a lot of the none english talents. I find it hard to see how he can not be seen as a massive talent if the Professor himself thinks he has the potential to be a massive talent and he’s one of the most impressive players on the french u17 team, which believe a frenchman has a lot of impressive players. And many of you will not have seen Henry when he played on the wing, but he used to play a lot like how Sunu seems to play on the wings. Shinda, last year he was about 5ft11/6ft0. Over the summer he has grown maybe 2 or 3 inches and is about, 188cm so about 6ft2.
if that south american striker is Dentinho then e are going to face competition from Real and Barca..because both of these clubs are after him now..
Don’t think the site is at all harsh on non-English talent. It’s the author’s honest view of the players. He’s been harsh on many of the English as well but he has also praised some foreigners.
That said, the headline is totally misleading. It seems to sound like Sunu will end up as a speed merchant playing for a team that has no chance to win the PL. ;)
Babel himself said he was the new Thierry Henry went he was being touted in a possible move to Arsenal. He is an Arsenal fan, but never shrugged off the tag, he embraced it.
Gostei muito deste post. muito bom mesmo!
it’s an honour to be called the Thierry Henry but it’s an insult to be called the next Ryan Babel. Ryan Babel is shit and the way he plays is nothing Arsenal at all. i hope sunu grows into anyone but babel.
I think he is still very similarr to Thierry Henry. The pace, the strength, the build, the only difference is he hasn’t found the goals all that much yet but the talent is all there. he could be a World Beater. He just nedds to find the goals, but remember Henry didn’t always have the goal scorers instinct.
He is also direct much like Henry.
Don’t forget that at the same age as Sunu, not all thought Thierry would be something special. Even when he moved to Arsenal, the fans didn’t think much of him.
And he was a world cup winner!!!
Henry was exactly a direct infront of goal. Nearly all his finishes were quality strikers…nothing poacher type. Reason why Babel will not be like Henry because he doesn’t have an allaround game to bring other players into the play.
Do you mean Henry was or wasn’t direct in frot of goal?
Hopefully the guy will come goodto justify the £2million. it would be great if Arsenal actually showed signs of winning some silver where.
Sorry about that Jay. I re-read what you wrote. You didn’t say that you didn’t think he was a massive prospect, just that other people, probably fans like many here don’t think he is a massive prospect for the future. You almost implied the opposite, as if to say his form is proving otherwise. Though correct me if i’m wrong. Sorry again.
Henry was a winger when he was young, not a striker. Juve played him as a winger. I actually think taht Babel is similar to Henry in that sense and his style of play, not in terms of quality, as he is quite young, don’t forget.
I really feel Babel is wasted at Liverpool, he would be playing so well for us, and scoring too, as I think that Wenger, if he were to buy Babel, sees him as a striker, not a winger.
im a chelsea fan but i have to say ur u18 and reserve teams are right now better than chelseas overall….but in the u16 category we have some great prospects….i mean luk at josh mceachran…billy knott….marko mitrovic….and milan lalkovic