Armand Traoré was present at Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Manchester City on Saturday afternoon, after returning to North London for treatment on his ankle injury despite Portsmouth not sanctioning the arrangement.
The 20-year-old winger was in action for the French Under 21’s during the International break – where he played the full 90 minutes in the first game, and then 80 minutes against England before a sprained ankle ended his evening early.
He returned to the South coast for initial treatment, but was spotted among the interested parties at the Emirates Stadium for the 2-0 victory. Armand left the ground via the players car park shortly after full time.
Traoré has had an unhappy time with Pompey since Harry Redknapp left for Tottenham, and then Tony Adams was relieved of his duties after a handful of fixtures.
New boss Paul Hart was expecting the youngster to be watching their clash with Hull City, so it no doubt came as a surprise that he had returned to London.
Many believe the Frenchman’s future lies away from Arsenal, but speaking earlier in the week, the former Monaco trainee spoke of his determination to succeed with the Gunners.
“First of all I am going to return to Arsenal to work hard.
“Then I will try to play much more, and why not break into the team in a few seasons’ time? life is about patience and what I am going to do is remain patient for a few seasons and then we will see.”
“All I can tell you is that I am determined to make it with Arsenal.”
It’s currently unknown what if any punishment Portsmouth take with Armand.
Article By – J.Sanderson
i would rather see Arsenal than Hull v anybody
J, tell me finally.you would have heard this b4. is Traore better than gibbs?
Gibbs is a better defender. Traore is e weapon though – id hate to see him go just yet
Quite honestly I believe Gibbsy is the better prospect out of the two. Armand will become a top player, but Gibbs is the better all-round prospect, has more of a goal threat (see his goal scored in the reserves on Eduardo’s return), is superior defensively (albeit not the strongest aspect of his game), and is technically better too. Armand I hope remains a squad player, and can fill in on the left when the inevitable injuries pile up next season. It is evident that Harry Redknapp still rates him, and to see him play for that lot would definitely irritate me. Lets just hope after his knuckle-duster incident, he knows where his loyalties lie!
It depends, Gibbs is more of a left back now, whereas I’ve always said Traore is not good enough to play left back, but he’s a sound winger.
I think he at least needs a season here to show what he can do.
I think Traore will provide back up to the left midfield player Arshavin. He will also take his time to learn from Rosicky and Traore. Both are no longer young traore will have his share of games in the next season. He will have to prove himself to Wenger to show that he still has a future. I believe his future at left back is no longer possible given that Gibbs has eclipse him in that department. Furthermore we have another interested LB youngster in Pedro Botelho. Therefore I can only say I see Traore as a Left winger, using his speed to terrorise the left just like how walcott does on the right. But he faces competition from Arshavin, Nasri and Rosicky. But give the lad some time and he will succeed.
Traore is a far better player then Gibbs at left back or on the wing.Gibbs maywell be kept ahead of Traore with him being English and the possible 6+5 rule.
We should play gibbs cm thats his best position. Armand traore is not an inteligent footballer reminds me of lennon got pace to beat a defender but no end product or vision. Walcott got pace but hes got inteligence he know when to come in and knows when to make diagonal runs. He can come inside or outside and he can find a pass as well as score goals.
Why do we always get so fixated on who is better than whom? They are both splendid talents. I’d like to see Gibbsy get more first team time this season. If anything happens to Gael, he (not Silvestre) is the deputy. I think Traore’s future is out and out left wing. Isn’t it OK to have cover there too? Yes, Rosicky, and Nasri are ahead of him, but he’s still in his teens. Think how good he’ll be at 22 (the time players arrive for first team duty at clubs except Arsenal). Keep them both, give them time. Sell Silvestre.
JS do u think Henri Lansbury is our best youth CM? I think hes more tactically aware and he always seems to have time on the ball than friampong, coquelin, thomas, randall. He his more powerful and stronger now. Hes got taller and hes got more pace.
Pompey fan here. Armand has been really poor for us, after a bright beginning. Unfortunately other teams worked him out very quickly. So poor is the defensive side of his game that I don’t know a single person who would dream of him playing at left back. He simply does not track back, doesn’t tackle, and he keeps asking to come off after 70 minutes. He just doesn’t look bothered, and his decision making is just abject. I’ve been one of his biggest fans too, but if you look at the players keeping him out they are Hreidarrson, Nugent and Belhadj – he doesn’t even get on the bench now – and I don’t hear anyone arguing for his inclusion. He is very talented but I would be amazed if he makes it at any top flight club here, his game is just far more continental.
troare is a great player and i think he might be able to break into our first team
I’ve watched Armand a fair few times at Pompey and more or less agree with the Pompey fan quoted above. That’s not to say that Traore can’t develop or get better, but he currently lacks the tactical and mental focus to play left back and truth be told he isn’t much better on the wing as he doesn’t focus and has a very poor work rate.
At Arsenal, we have Arshavin and Nasri on the left midfield/forward. Backing them up are Rosicky (fingers crossed) and Vela. Not to mention that the Boss has used Eduardo and even RvP over there.
And of course there is Jack Wilshere coming through the ranks who can play any of the attacking roles. And Theo will likely become more comfortable cutting in from the left.
So while Traore should be given a shot to stand out in the Carling Cup next season, the reality is he is going to have to make big improvements to get a look in a crowded attacking role.
Had hoped that he would learn to play fullback at Pompey, but that certainly did not happen. He should have gone down to the Championship or abroad where he could have been deployed at left back.
Wonder what Tony Adams thinks of his defensive ability?
I suspect Traore could be back with the Gunners next year as backup to Clichy and to play on the wing as well. This will allow the Gunners to put Gibbs out on loan, where he can gain the experience he needs to succeed. It will also give Traore a chance to prove that he belongs.
I think Michael might be on the money here: Gibbs on loan and Traore to come back and play deputy. I’ve not seen much of him this season although I have seen some displays that make me think he could be very good (the pompy fan who commented obviously knows more though). Also, I think whoever suggested that his age is a significant factor here, the biggest problems in his game come from naivity you suspect could be sorted with age. Hopefully now full backs are clocking on how to defend his direct style, he will learn and adapt to beat his man. He’s got time and a generous manager on his side. To be honest I feel the same way about his career now as I did in January last year about Theo or Song not too long ago – it was taking too long to see improvements being made, so it seemed like they would never come. Arsenal fans are never as patient as they should be.
I suspect Traore could be essential next season in a capacity of super sub. Our passing game wears down the opponents for 75 minutes and he comes on with his ferocious pace, it could turn losses into draws and draws into wins.
Hey, hey guys. Lets all lighten up. Gibbo and Traor-o are totally different players. They’re like chalk and cheese. Gibbo’s more of a modern day Alan Wright, whereas Traor-o’s todays answer to Jeff Kenna. Who wouln’t want both of those absolute badboys in their team? I dare someone to answer that without creaming their pants. Case closed!
Traore’s numbers are way better than gibbs, he can jump higher, run faster, run longer, shoot harder (other than RvP he has the hardest shot at Arsenal) and is the fastest in the squad over 40 metres (although Walcott’s fastest over 20 and Adebayor over 60).
It is well known and frequently publicised that Arsene rates him very very highly. Two seasons ago Wenger thought he was the pick of the bunch. But the game is played in the head, and if Armand doesn’t learn to apply himself soon, his promising career will flash past him.
I’m a a Pompey fan who has seen every home match he’s played for us and most away matches and, IMO, Traore is the original “headless chicken”. He has plenty of pace but absolutely nothing else and he’ll never be good enough for Arsenal’s first team. To be perfectly honest, he’s not even good enough for ours!
If he was injured, Portsmouth wouldn’t have expected him to travel to Hull, so he stayed at home and went to support his parent club instead.
Seems as though he may be playing as a winger instead though
like that pompey fan said, traore don’t really work hard enough in his games for pompey. but his quality as a winger cannot be ignore too. he is very similar with walcott. while theo found his position early on, wenger not sure traore better as left back or winger. i think that slow his progress a little because early on walcott not much different than traore now. but now he found his true position as an out and out winger, the tactics and mental side of his game can be improve when he back with arsenal and train week in week out with world class teammates and great coaches. i think what he gained from this loan spell will only have benefit for arsenal in the future but won’t contribute much to help pompey.
“Traore’s numbers are way better than gibbs, he can jump higher, run faster, run longer, shoot harder (other than RvP he has the hardest shot at Arsenal) and is the fastest in the squad over 40 metres (although Walcott’s fastest over 20 and Adebayor over 60).”
Where do you take this stats from? Interesting stuff.
Armand isnt a bad player. At Arsenal u need pace and thats his gift. He needs more games with first team to sharpen up and a little patience will do for wenger to bring him on board as a winger.
once again arse fans are at it, hitting out at a player with great potential for the club. remember the stick senior team players song and denilson got from such fans? now the story about them is different. please give arma a chance.
I feel that Gibbs will be our future left back. He already looks comfortable when he plays for the first team and he has stated that he doesn’t mind waiting a couple seasons for his opportunity to cement his first team place. Traore is a pacy left winger in my opinion. He played there for Portsmouth before Redknapp ‘lost his mind’. We need as many midfielders as possible, as ours are softer than triple velvet at the moment.
Could you imagine having Walcott on the right and Traore on the left. We would have the quickest wingers in the league. It could add a new dimension to our game. If the slow, patient build up doesn’t work, we could unleash the pace of Traoare and Walcott to terrorise defences. There might be only two defenders in the premiership that could keep up with them two.
if traore is only on loan at pompey then why are the cracking up with him going back to see the the club he is contracted to he has a lot of mates at arsenal
I’m not sure how true this is as it is common for Arsenal players out on loan to return to the club to receive treatment. Portsmouth and Arsenal would be in constant contact about injured players and Arsenal would control somewhat how best to treat their player.
y go an watch hull vs portsmouth with no goals when u can watch ur team mates beat man city at ur home (emirates stadium)
So what you Pompey fans are trying to say is that you never taught him anything in his time with you. He was good enough when he joined you – what happened?
Think you guys might be forgetting a certain Pedro Botelho
Absolutely no comment from Portsmouth in this article suggesting that they were unhappy that he attended the Arsenal game. So tell us J how you know that they are upset about it?? An article with no facts or quotes from pompey looks like pure speculation to me
Who’s this Kyle Young, Ashley Young’s little brother we have in our academy:
http://fourfourtwo.com/news/england/28459/default.aspx
http://fourfourtwo.com/news/england/28459/default.aspx
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Traore has great pace, a cannonball shot, is one of he best crossers at arsenal and is a decent tackler with good height and strength. He lacks the defensive awareness for full-back or the dribblign skills of a winger. At present he is a little like a left sided eboue..all the tools, but a lack of know how and mental strength. He shoudl be retained, simply because he hecould becoem a very good player if he sorts out the mental side of his game. Agree he’s lost his way at portsmouth a bit. But him and belhadj was never going to work as a combo. Hreiderson is a far more sensible choice for a team in portsmouth;s position as he is more solid and experienced.
@Mark P, where did you hear that about the different speeds of the players?
While Traore should be given a chance to earn a place, the comments from the Pompey fans regarding his attitude are somewhat worrying. He’s undeniably talented, but that will only take you so far (anyone remember Mark Flatts??? Thought not). Kieran Gibbs seems to be a better long-term prospect if only because he’s prepared to work at his game & learn from those around him. Whether a loan would be right for him, i’m not sure. Kerrea Gilbert looked good in ’06 but has been continually out on loan since & it doesn’t seem to have done him much good – i doubt he’ll ever pull on an Arsenal shirt again, certainly not for the first team.
Keep Gibbs as Clichy’s understudy next season ( with the number of fixtures he’ll get plenty of games) & let Traore fight for a place on the left of midfield. If he’s not good enough – sell him. Simple as that.
Провокационный пост. Поэтому такие и комментарии :)