Every day this week Young Guns will be producing a ‘Top 5’ series of articles with the aim to celebrate and educate on all things to do with Arsenal’s Reserves and Youth. To kick things off, today’s will feature 5 players from Arsenal’s Under 16’s who we are tipping to have big roles to play next season.
5. Luke Chambers – Goalkeeper
Many bemoan Arsenal’s lack of young English goalkeepers with potential, but highly rated Luke Chambers is hoping to smash that stereotype and develop into a future star after re-joining the Gunners last summer.
After leaving for Derby County as a schoolboy, he returned having transformed his fortunes from a nobody to one of the most sought after prospects around. Luke’s form for the Under 15’s and Under 16’s has seen his stock rise even further with Liverpool believed to be very interested in snapping him up.
But Chambers is almost certain to bring his excellent kicking and superb agility to the fore next term as he becomes back up for the Under 18’s – while still keeping his role as Under 16’s first choice.
4. Samir Bihmoutine – Left Wing
Already highlighted by Young Guns as a player to watch on Saturday, Samir Bihmoutine is number four in our list of players to watch for next season. To read more about him see our in depth Player Profile Here.
3. Jordan Wynter – Defender
Versatile Jordan Wynter is another ‘unknown’ with massive potential. He made three appearances for the Under 18’s towards the end of last season where he looked comfortably at home. Capable of playing at centre back, right back, central midfield or on the right wing, Wynter brings power, pace and a fierce shot to the side.
The coaching staff will need to settle him into one set position in the next 12 months but his imposing style and quick feet will surely be right at home in the competitive Academy League.
2. Zak Ansah – Striker
Free-scoring striker Zak Ansah exploded onto the scene towards the closing stages of last season where his lethal finishing helped the Under 18’s finish strongly. He is theyoungest of all the players featured today yet probably one of the most important ahead of the new season. He may be forced to start the campaign in the Under 16’s, but Zak should be a regular in the Under 18’s once the season really gets going.
A classy finisher with pace and awesome strength, watch out for the Young Guns Player of the Month for April.
1. Chuks Aneke – Midfielder
He’s already played and scored for Steve Bould’s Under 18’s, represented England and signed scholarship terms, yet Chuks Aneke is still a relative unknown among many Gooners. A giant and imposing central midfielder, the starlet is a powerhouse in every sense of the word. Whether he’s defending his own box with powerful and crunching challenges, or barging his way through the middle of the park to unleash a powerful shot, Aneke is a handful.
Next season the youngster should establish himself as one of the lynch-pins of Bould’s Under 18’s with the potential promotion to the Reserves a real possibility for the enforcer.
Article By – J.Sanderson
would you say aneke is the biggest talent coming through?
What about Alban Banjuku?
what about ben glasgow?
I would say so. I think he’s gonna be a real top player in a few years.
Everybody is welcome to put forward their suggests but I don’t believe Banjaku or Glasgow are better than the five players above.
Is Jordan Wynter eligible to play for England?
yh bt also jamaica remember he was born there and most jamaicans proudly carry the flag think hes gonna play for jamaica in the end and ill still back him 100% just like frimpong
Why does Aneke qualify for this? Born July 3rd 1993 he will be a scholar and 16 before the start of the season, and whilst I think he could still be eligible for the Under-16s, it’d be a waste.
Oh, and since I’m here, I see the pics from the Trofeo Ferroli against Chievo – where did you get them? Chelsea played in the same comp and I wanna see if there’s any of ours there.
Good stuff as always.
On a separate note, for some of those players who’ve been with the club for a number of years, and tried loans, do you think we should try and release Simpson, Barazite, traore and randall, or do you think that any can press for a first team squad place next year?
Because he’s the Under 16 captain and has yet to make a real impression on Under 18’s yet. Plus he’s not 16 yet.
Fair enough, I’d just assumed that because 4 of the other 5 will still be schoolboys next season that it was the way the piece was headed. Surprised when I got to Aneke.
what about Brislen-Hall….? And is Afobe gonna be an U-18? Imagine Afobe and Ansah as a strike partnership, goals galore, great speed and great strength….
So Luke chambers left arsenal to go to derby than rejoin arsenal? Thats a bit weird. How tall his he? Goalies now days gotta be taller than 6ft2.
Also Jordan Wynter i remeber seeing him play right wing he looked quite good there, maybe his best position is RB.
Chukes Aneke is good but havent really been impressed but hes still young. Hes so tall whats his he 6ft 4/5 hes a stick though. And hes very slow hes got no pace but hes got a prescence and very good technical ability. But for me hes too slow to play in midfield. I think he could play CB
Jordan Wynter is my personal favorite out of the 5 players, skillful, pacey, physical presence plus terrific workrate.
Superguuner i agree from what i have seen on arsenal tv jordan wynter looks top class. Very powerful and strong but technically excellent. I think we should play him RB cause we do lack good full backs.
JS what about Josh rees? Do u rate him? I do he might not be powerful like aneke but hes seems to be very inteligent.
This is one of the blogs I enjoy reading the most. Brilliant job! I really hope Chuks Aneke does make it. We have had many powerfull, strong, midfelders who were all compared to PV4,however, none of whom really made the grade,Svard,Muamba and now JET and Diaby come to mind (maybe a bit too early to write of Abou,and JET, but the problem is i cant see which position they would excel in). Hope this boy is the real deal. Is it even fair to compare Chuks Aneke to these players or he is in a different mould?
John – The last paragraph of your first comment doesn’t make much sense as pace is an attribute which is more important for defenders rather than central midfielders.
Goon- I dont really care its my opinion but defenders need a physical edge and hes 6ft 4/5 he could play CB
My personal favourite is Samir ofcourse… based on absolutely nothing because I haven’t seen anything of him. I just want him to succeed because he is from the same origin as me.
I really rate Rees. I think next season he needs to avoid injuries and have a full season where he can just concenrate on getting some form.
But no doubt he’s an exciting prospect – the only question mark is those injuries.
Thanks for this – very interesting.
Just thought i’d mention Jack Wilshere when commenting on the number of good youngsters coming through beneath the youth team mentioned Benik and Chuks by name.
JS who would you compare Josh rees to? He looks like a gerrard, lamoard type box to box midfielder.
Last year Wilshere was unbelievable and definitely the stand out player but this year no on has really stood out in the youth sides. Myabe we could see someone like henderson making a claim for himself. I am a massive henderson fan hes got the inteligence like what wilshere, lansbury, ramsey seem to have. CM needs inteligence and good awareness.
Good point Chris. Also nice to see that Jack isn’t forgetting the kids who he grew up with.
josh rees is definitely in the gerrard/lampard mould
from what iv herd he used to score loads from midfield
yet this year hes been put out of position but still impressed
I’d say Rees is a similar type player to Cesc. He’s got some running in him but he’s not very quick. A good passer and a solid box-to-box runner, maybe he’s a little more mobile than Cesc.
wynter lacks pace totally
No he doesn’t, he is above the average speed and has a good acceleration than most people his age as i’ve seen in previous games and obviously arsenal tv
j can you predict what you think the under 18’s will look like next season?
McDermott
Obed – Ayling – Miquel – Evina
Deacon – Ozyakup – Frimpong – Sunu
Afobe – Freeman
But it will change throughout the season
Ayling? Isnt he 18? What about henderson? Sunu is older than 18? I am looking foward to the freeman and afobe partnership-they could bag in a record amount of goals
You can still play a couple of 18 year old’s in the side. I believe Sunu and Ayling are still 17. Correct me if Im wrong.
Edge will also be in the side. Its hard to predict the side because it will change so much. There is so many talented boys coming through.
Sunu Date of birth: March 30, 1991
Ayling Date of birth: August 25, 1991
From Wiki “The league was reorganised yet again in 2004-05 season, with the league being reformed as a single Under-18 competition (players are aged under 18 on the preceding 31 August), with up to 3 Under-19 outfield players and 1 Under-19 goalkeeper allowed per team per match. Teams also compete at an Under-16 level in identically formed groups, but these are played as friendlies – no league table is maintained and no play-offs are contested. This format has remained to the present day.”
It is correct?
But the Youtg Cup is different “Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part.”
Next years FAYC team:
McDermott
Obed – Boateng – Mquel – Evina
Ozyakup – Frimpong (Aneke) – Henderson – Deacon
Afobe – Freeman
Pretty strong, huh? Don’t think Wilshere will appear in the FAYC next season.
JS. Why do you think Ayling will play for the U-18 next season? I would think Boateng and Miguel would continue their partnership.
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Jay, Where would that leave Coquelin?
They all look good.Let’s hope they perform well this coming season. Arsenal is in need of some good strikers. Bobby Gee Thanks for reading… http://bobbygee.wordpress.com/
I reckon Coquelin will be strictly for the reserves next year and if he continues to develop and impress he will be slowly introduced to the first team. Definitely the CC.
i would like to see a fair few players go on loan.
Well done J.keep up the gr8 work. I’m amazed at how much talent we have coming through at Arsenal & most of them are English.imho we need to add some s.american flair to the academy sides.
Frimpong has left the u18s behind already. But will presumably appear in the youth cup games.
A great chance to enjoy the sports this summer.
Mate, you were gonna publish one story a day… Where are the other ones?
i have heard that liverpool are very intrested in chambers and that they have been after him for a long while