Rui Fonte & Fran Mérida – Portugal U21 4-1 Spain U21
Despite being just 18-years-old, Rui Fonte and Fran Mérida were both called upon by Portugal and Spain respectively for the mouth watering Under 21 friendly at the Estadio Municipal Do Cartaxo in Lisbon.
Furthermore, Fonte and Mérida were both handed places in the starting lineup, meaning the pair would go head-to-head in a hotly contested clash. The opening stages were full of passion if a little tentative, until Portugal took advantage of a mix-up to send the home fans wild.
Balenziaga’s slip at the back presented Rui Fonte with the opportunity to put his side in front, he made no mistakes, coolly punishing the error with a crisp finish. QPR’s Daniel Parejo then thumped a shot off the bar, before his neat touches in the box drew a foul from Miguel Vítor.
The referee pointed to the spot, and after dusting himself down, Parejo converted to level proceedings. Fonte’s strike had given the hosts the lead for just 3 minutes.
Two headers shortly before the interval from Orlando Sá put Portugal 3-1 up, Sá completed the scoring on 55 minutes, walking away with an impressive hat-trick.
Rui played 45 minutes, along with most of his team-mates, whilst Mérida featured for 78.
Hoyte, Murphy & Lansbury – England U19 1-0 Germany U19
A firmly taken long range strike from skipper Henri Lansbury saw England’s Under 19’s edge past a highly rated Germany outfit at Colchester’s Community Stadium.
Gavin Hoyte partnered Jack Rodwell at centre half, Lansbury also started whilst the free-scoring Murphy was left on the bench. After a bright start, the ball popped out to Henri on the edge of the box. He gathered the ball into his possession with a neat touch to control, before powerfully sweeping the ball into the bottom corner with his right foot.
Both teams had opportunities to add to the score sheet, with Sakuta-Pasu going close to a late equaliser. However, it finished 1-0. Murphy came on as a late substitute.
Article By – J.Sanderson
Good to hear about them doing well in the internationals.
Just thought I’d ask J, is there been any real backlash towards the site considering the first team problems and how they are linked to youth development? Also, any chance on an article based on opportunities for the reserves considering the crisis in the first eleven, Wilshere/Bisch for Walcott for example, even talk of Ramsey for Cesc and so on…
gd wrk js
To be honest, the problems have made the site stronger.
People still want to find positives in Arsenal, and the youth sides do that. Obviously there has been the odd comment, especially regarding us being linked with young players, but on the whole it’s positive.
Most fans are intelligent enough to realise we have a youth policy, so don’t expect or get worked up when we don’t sign 27 year olds.
As for your article suggestion, check back around 5pm UK time, I’ll have it up for you.
JS – I have been reading this site daily for the past year, never posted until today. I have to say, you are an absolute legend, a reminder on a daily basis of why it is I support the mighty gunners. Not only does the future look bright, but the enduring legacy that AW will leave this club this will be the only way we’ll be able to battle big-money football, and I have no doubt that we will.
Also – gutted about Theo’s injury, and since Sagna’s out I guess we can’t rely on Eboue for cover, unless AW plays Toure at RB, which I hope we won’t. Hope this means Vela will get more minutes, and fingers crossed for a Wilshire EPL debut (with Nasri on the right?)!
Thank you very much W4E, that’s quite a compliment.
As you mentioned there are plently of options, and when we followed Vela last season on the Osasuna wing, he showed great potential. I can’t help but think his width and crosses would be a welcome option to Adebayor and van Persie, plus he can link up and make a third striker – something most Gooners have wanted.
The media are keen to shoot us down because we don’t conform with the “money is football” mentality, yet those real Gooners can see through it, and notice that the future is brighter than it’s ever been.
Something I don’t understand is about Fonte being linked to go on loan to Palace even though he is on loan at Arsenal. Anyway, I think Wenger is yet to try Djourou, Song and Diaby as much to say that the season is over. Ramsey may come in for Cesc considering he is out against City but more likely Diaby and Denilson as they are not on international duty. They did well against Madrid in pre-season. Also wenger has already stated that Wilshere is not ready for regularly first team but can play a few, same for Bischoff.
i really think bentdner shuld have one more season if not he shuld go, den bring in fernando llorente from athletic bilbao hes sick trust me
denilson can finally play in his rwal position lol
hmm against man city is gonna be madddddddddd whos gna replace walcott and fabregas
I like Pogrebnyak on Zenit but he will probably cost a lot. Top striker, quite tall and similar to Bendtner, less skilful but still flamboyant and a goalscorer.
Arshavin also expensive but would be really explosive, Parker great partner to Fabregas and could come cheap. I’m not saying Denilson has been bad.
My friends mate son is at Arsenal, trains at Shenley for now and believes his future is elsewhere, not because he isnt good enough but that Wenger clearly doesnt trust Hale End produced English players in favour of non Hale End / foriegn based players. English talent is sold off to pay for foriegn players on 3/4 yr 3-10k pw contracts. Basically Wenger doesnt rate Bradys players. In 11 yrs of Wenger, Ashley Cole is the only home based player to establish himself and he WASNT initially rated hence his loan and possible sale to Palace. Bentley WAS good enough but his attitude was held against him – however his recent 40 yard goal at the Emirates shows his quality, something Bendnter or Eboue coundnt do if alone with an empty net. Its ok spending millions on 16/17 y/o players eg Walcott Vela Djorou Ramsey Denillson but these are not homegrown players – Players like Simpson Randall Wilshere will find theselves on the bench or sold off to pay for Wengers purchases. Bradys job is to produce cash transfer for Rowleys imports- sad but true if your a homegrown player
“denilson can finally play in his rwal position lol”
Yes and he can prove once more that even in his ‘natural position’ he’s still an incredibly average, boring footballer with no guts and no imaginiation. I’m fucking sick to death of the first team, I’ve never not given a toss about so many players of my beloved club before. Bring in the hungry youngsters every game for me. Don’t care if they’re not ready. They want it.
in response to sjerkins can i just say i comletely disagree with what you are saying. In regards to bentley is was his attitude that CAUSED him to be let go, it wasnt held against him. how did he possible expect to get loads of game time ahead of world class players like pires and ljungberg, if he had been a little more patient he may have made it. Yes there has been a few players who have been let go too easily – and i don’t include bentley in this – but looking at a majority of the ones that have come through the academy, realistically who would you want back in the arsenal team now – pennant,sidwell? – didnt think so. Looking at any top premier league club you’ll only see a few acamdemy players who eventually make it so its not like arsenal are an exception. fact remains that we have an excellent bunch of HOMEGROWN players coming through and im sure that wenger more than anyone else will want to see these coming through, he even recently spoke about the english players who he thinks WILL make it here.
Btw one flukey goal doesnt make a player world class.
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Player photo reported.Real Life Player Fact FileReal Club: Athletic Bilbao – View
Age: 23 years old
Born: 26 February 1985
Nationality: Spanish
Position: Central Striker (CF)
Foot: Right
sjerkins- it sounds like your lying about the player and also Wenger does place trust in players if they are good enough simple as that. Ashley Cole was, Bentley wasn’t yet and he required two three years after leaving to show his true colours, same for Sidwell but both still not good enough. Top Players, but nor Arsenal quality.
Your friend’s ‘mate’ looks like another ‘Bentley’ if you believe what he’s saying.
m_goona/the brain the next time you see eboue denilson vela or any other foriegn import score a ‘flukey’ goal like bentleys please be sure to flag it up. And yes Eboue Senderos Flamini pre 2007 were all arsenal quality and Flamini wasnt about to be sold to Brum for 2 mill before he was given the opportunity to play as Gilberto was deemed surplus to requirements. Funny how Flamini is needed right now.
The facts are clear 1 academy player in 11 years proves the exception not the rule. The media red tops go all goey about the kids but the kids have been nicked from other academies-Cesc Vela Fonte Barazite Coquelin Ebooooe RVP Walcott Ramsey etc etc … Spending 5 mill on a good 16/17 y/o isnt producing homegrown players and this latest crop havent yet been given the chance to play Prem football, it remains to be seen if they ever will ?
I don’t know the exact histories of these players, so excuse me if I’m wrong. But aren’t Lansbury, Wiltshire, Hoyte, Gibbs, Simpson, Afobe, Murphy… and so on and so on, home grown?
The academy is starting to come good. Wenger said that it would take about 8 years to come good and it is starting to show. There are some good players coming through, English ones and more to come I’m sure of it.
If this guy you know is good then he should persevere, if not good luck to him. He’s probably U16 and you’re feeding him these negative thoughts.
Can someone please agree with me about my Denilson abuse above?
Thanks.
Nacer Barazite can’t agree with you about denilson he has been better than Cesc this year yet he keeps copping the flack sorry but cesc just hasnt performed like we know he can not saying denilson is better than cesc just that this year fab has been poor now everyone bags the poor kid but its the manager that picks him he is 19 years old cut the kid some slack come on mate. im also not saying we dont need a Yaya we do but wenger isnt getting the cheque book out at the moment maybe if we keep playing as bad as we have he will have no choice come January as even he couldnt just standby and watch our team sink out of the top 4
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Happy that they both got on the score sheet! How did they play overall? I just watched the Mexico game. They lost 1-0 to Honduras by an own goal. Mexico finished the game with 9 men…Carlos Vela was one of those that got a red card. Foolishly kicked out at a Honduran player and was shown a straight red card.
Szczesny played for Poland U19 as they won 2-1 over Montenegro. polish scored all 3 goals…poor wojceich :P
btw, why randall wasn’t playing against norwich res? called up for 1st team or injured again?
oops, my mistake, thought it would be Oct 20 today. even worse news than conceding own goal for szczesny. he broke both his arm in weithlift training and will be out for at least 3 months :((((