During Arsenal’s incredible journey in this years Carling Cup, it’s been the same set of names who have taken the most credit for the team’s success and achievements, in every round. Strikers Carlos Vela, Nicklas Bendtner and Jay Simpson have hit the headlines, along with midfield duo Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey.
Yet one man, or should I say boy, has been quietly but effectively keeping the Gunners midfield ticking over as well as adding vital width when needed. His name? Fran Mérida Perez. After joining Arsenal via Barcelona – like Cesc Fàbregas – and occupying a similar position to that of the iconic number 4, it’s no wonder comparisons have been made between the two.
Analysing from the touchlines in training and during games, Arsene Wenger believes it’s a mistake to say the Catalan pair are identical players.
“Merida is different to Cesc [Fàbregas], but he is still very dangerous in the final third. If you analyse a game and look who gives the ball every time in the final third, you will see Fran.”
The high praise continues for the exciting youngster, who came out of his shell against Wigan and was prepared to share the burden with Mark Randall of getting “stuck in” to the Latics. This complemented his usual expert passing range, and it’s doing the difficult things like playing those killer balls which Wenger highlights.
“That’s is the most difficult part of the game and that is where Fran is strong.”
He’s going quietly about his business in the Arsenal midfield, but there is no doubt that the 18-year-old will be a key component in any Carling Cup success.
Article By – J.Sanderson
He was anonymous in the first half of the Wigan game. I don’t think I heard the commentators mention his name once.
He’s garbage. Another youth that will probably be sold or will never play for the first team. Wenger is mugging us off with promises of riches to come. In reality, only 3 or 4 of these 20 kids will be good enough to play for Arsenal. Everything’s been built on a foundation of lies.
Fran is an extremely classy player but i dont think he is quick enough to play wide or defensive enough to play central. He’s going to find it hard to tie down a position, but a great player to watch.
Jamesq. you are an idiot. and a pathetic fan who noone needs. go and support chelsea. the end
FUCK ATTACKING PLAYERS WE BLOODY NEED SOME DEFENCIVE ONES.CANT WAIT TO SEE THE BACK OF THAT PIECE OF CRAP DENILSON
Jamesq… errr where have you been my friend.
The Carling Cup is a first team compeition… and he’s made two starts this season. Therefore, he has already made the first team.
I think all of us need a little bit of perspectvie , like most arsenal fans we are all sad , angry at whats been happening with the senior team currently , but lets be rational for a moment here …. the youth project at arsenal is doing its job and the CC performances this year is testimony to the fact that these youngsters are progressing well. Against Wigan they showed guts, skills and fight , so why blame them if the ” first teamers” dont have the stomach for a Stoke or Villa. These youngsters are good and have done nothing wrong , its the club management that needs to sort itself out. Also this website takes great pain in covering these young guns and thats the primary purpose , to showcase their talent. Lets buckle up , critisize the team but support the club, it needs fans now more than ever. Remember Victory through Harmony, something seriously lacking these days.
A very very refreshing view Ali, thanks very much.
merida is a fantastic player and played some gr8 balls to vela and simpson but no one ever acknowledges it.
He didn’t protect Gibbs at all. Although I would like to see more of him in CM.
If fran was english (or british) we woulda heard about him alot more.. the rise of whilshere, gibbs, ramsey and the outstanding goals that vela scores r all getting headlines.. fran merida a simple (much like cesc) but proberley the most effective player on the field.
cant wait for these players to mke it in the 1st team..!!
J. Do you know why there were no U18 and U16 this week?
When will the friendly take place that Eduardo will play in?
Will Nordveit play as well?
Some fan are economical with truth at time,my happiest day will be d day we sack wenger b/cos he lack winning mentality,and each we are playing a team with 4-5-1 formatiom he always run out of idea
Having seen the carling cup games several times, it’s nice to see Merida get some much deserved recognition.
He’s quietly gone about his buisness, efficiently distributing the ball.
People need to lay off Denilson. He’s doing pretty well for his first run in the 1st team.
Support the team.
Come on Gooners!
I still do not think that Fran Merida will make it at Arsenal.
denilson has been more effective than fabregas this season but no1 has criticised cesc lay off merida he was 1 of the biggest talents at the U-17 Championships this summer he is going to make it here
I am very proud of Merida and the other young starlets. I hope we will go to next round, because we can play with Nacer Barazite and Havard Nordtveit for January.
Wenger played 4-5-1 because other are injured/suspended and He said at the start of the season that Vela needs 6 months just like he has done with other foreign recruit to get used to the pace and combative side british game thus he is less likely to be starting in the PL/CL until the new year. KAYODE, you are not an arsenal fans, you are a glory hunting plastic fan, period. Real supporters back the club through all circumsatnces. Why did u bother to make a website about arsenal, i definately will not visiting it to hear your non objective peice of sh*t & other real should do likewise. Chelsea and Spuds need new fans apply quickly.
As far as ways to improve the team, we need to put Song in DM permanently to give better balance and since most teams clog the central position against us [e.g. Villa, Stoke, Hull, Fulham, Sunderland], we need to get the ball wide and put crosses to vary our play just we did last year scoring many goals from assists coming from wide positions. We persist playing through the centre when it clearly is not working.
As for Merida, with physical growth and right application when we dont have the ball, he will definately become important member of our squad.
Fran is an interesting one. He undoubtedly has talent and a competative streak too, but lacks the pace to play out wide and the bite for centre midfield. Like so many of our midfielders, he suits a middle 3 role in a 4-5-1. This is the major flaw I can see in arsene’s recruitment policy. Its not a lack of talent, its a lack of enough of the different pieces to make up a full team. Another reason to hope that Jay and gavin make it – players who lack subtelty but don’t mind a bit more directness and dirty work.
Merida looks a top talent but defensively looks to lack the desire but hopefully that irons out over time if he becomes a central midfielder. I want him to succeed but he doesn’t have the same feeling as seeing Wilshere make it as he was stolen in a way.I’m sorry to bring that up as it has been talked about to death. Great prospect hope he makes like Fabregas did and became ours.
hopefully merida develops to a player like david silva….
Wenger doesn’t need a FULL team of youngsters. Once the recession tanks the transfer market – summer 2009 – he’ll dive in and get whatever he still needs at a deal.
I’ve been having serious problems accessing the site JS. Whats good m8? Been happening since the url change.
We had a domain change to .org, but due to various problems the blog suffered alot of downtime.
So we decided just to go back to WordPress for the time being.
name says it all….
he has immense!
He is immense*
And I think he’s possibly the best long range passer in the squad. If he can develop a bit of aggression he’ll make it here. I expect him to get loaned out maybe in January.
merdia dosent know how to defend gibbs was so exposed on the left wiing because meridia inability to pass
I can’t believe some of these Arsenal fans are writing off an 18-year-old like a useless 28-year-old. He’s just a boy and it’s his first season with us fgs! Cut him some slack and just watch.
In terms of his style, he might not already be scoring goals or giving assists. But he gives good balls to the other front 5 and starts attacking moves. Sort of doing the Hleb stuff that nobody recognised until last year. This boy has always created and scored goals since he’s young so the ingredients are there. It’s just a question of giving him games and developing him further.
Cesc was/is a true exception that he came to the fore at like 17, 18. We just CAN’T expect every kid to do the same. Deal with it and stop acting like morons to these talented kids!
Bottomline: if we stay patient and support these kids, there’s no guarantee of success but they have a CHANCE. But if we keep slagging them off, they’re doomed to fail. Let’s not be stupid and stifle the growth of our own promising kids.
If we want our kids to grow up, so should we.
* defend
Ok, talking about perspective, then think about this. Merida, along with Wilshere, Ramsey and Randall are all between the ages of 16 and 19. They played against a Sheff Utd side and Wigan side who are all seasoned professionals. Yet you say Merida’s passing was not good enough and he left Gibbs exposed? That is because he is naturally a centre mid so his tendency at this stage of his short career would be to drift in field. Anybody watch Englands last game (possibly Andorra game) when Gerrard played on the left? Time and time again he left the left back exposed, doesn’t mean he’s going to be dropped does it? We can only wait to see if Merida will make it, With Theo out for a few months he may get some bench time in the Prem and might get to show what he can do with seasoned pro’s around him.
hey guys ..give the young lad abreak u all call ur selves fans and all you do is bring about needless pessimistic criticism that wont help. MERIDA is a class act that in two or three yrs time will be a world class player for us so take ur blind views and keep them to ur selves …..then we`ll here u say wenger pls buy DAVID SILVA AND PLAYRS OF THAT SORT …YHINK BIG!!!!
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Merida is world class , needs to play in the premiership soon…he is a better option than denilson
Когда уже какой-нибудь конрукс будет? A?
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