With the 2008-2009 season now at a close, all that remains if for Young Guns’ annual player awards and season analysis before we can begin to look forward to the next campaign.
This term has been a historic one for the Under 18’s who won the double. The F.A Academy League title came first when Steve Bould’s boys beat Tottenham 1-0 at White Hart Lane to seal the trophy after 29 games, which included 24 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats, while the F.A YouthCup was secured with an empathic 6-2 aggregate victory over Liverpool.
Skipper Jay Emmanuel-Thomas walked away withthe top scorer award after bagging 13 goals across both competitions. The leggy England Youth International epitomized the spirit and quality that saw the Gunners come from behind against Aston Villa and Tottenham in the Cup.
Neil Banfield’s Reserves finished their season 6th in Reserves League South, and they had to wait until the final day of the season to claim their first win in 2009. Another tough term only yielded 5 wins but with the majority of the squad going out on loan and gaining valuable experience, it was expected that they’d fall away towards the end of the year.
Mark Randall just edged out Rui Fontein the battle to be the second string top scorer with four goals, but he added a handful of assists in his 14 appearances meaning the 19-year-old proved to be one of Banfield’s key stars. The fact that the Youth Cup side were playing in the Reserves come the end of the season was a notable sign that the Academy is getting stronger, while 16-year-old Ignasi Miquel was impressive when he turned out in the final two fixtures.
So with the 2008-2009 season reviewed, all that remains is to commemorate and crown the stars and headline makers from what proved to be a remarkable and hugely successful year for Arsenal’s youth. Like last year – we’re inviting you to vote for the players in a range of categories and we’ll announce the results in one week. All you have to do is click the link below and chose one name for each cateogry and then click finish when you’ve done. Happy voting.
I get “This survey is currently closed. Please contact the author of this survey for further assistance” when I click. J?
same here.
Ditto
I can’t open the survey
Same
What sort of midfielder is Randall exactly? I’ve heard everything from right winger to holding midfielder. I’m wondering because, apart from some fairly sub-par Carling Cup matches, I haven’t seen much of him, but have heard of his apparent talent and skill. Same with Lansbury and Barazite.
Who did you vote for j? Just interested to know your thoughts.
I get “This survey is currently closed. Please contact the author of this survey for further assistance” when I click.
We’ve had a massive response and the survey seems to have crashed. I think I’ll just go with the results that we’ve got so far unless other people still wish to take part.
I would go for Luke Ayling outstanding player compared to last year its a unbelievable i thought he was going to get released i did not really see anything special in him. This season he has developed ever so well not just physically but as a commanding centre half who has good communication skills. He may lack pace but he reads the game well and hes two footed.
Emmanuel Frimpong- The closest we have to Essien probably at the entire club.
Hey guys, first of all J, I would like to thank you. As I would never have thought to go to see the youth games unless you had informed me. I’ve moved down London from the midlands this term for university and when I saw that it was £5 to see us play spurs I just had to go! Then went to the Emirates to watch us destroy Liverpool. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute, and especially appreciated the noise the young fans were making in the blue corner (?). My impression from those 2 games was that our players are really gifted and was very impressed that Bould has managed to get them playing a style so reflective of the first team. The players that stood out over those two games for me, were Jay Emmanuel-Thomas,Lansbury Coquelin and Frimpong. I didnt bother putting Wilshere in because that much is obvious. I was particularly interested in Thomas, as I feel physically he looks like a colossus and thought he had a lot more to him than simply the physical side.
Would you mind sharing your thoughts on your favoured players?
I still want to take part :O
coquelin is incredible – he is gonna be that guy who makes a name for himself in pre-season, like Gibbs and Wilshere have done in the last 2 seasons. (hopefully!)
I have high hopes for many in the u18 side. Conor hendersson looks good, so does frimpong, couqelin, JET, sunu, murphy, bartley and many more! I really hope atleast 5 from the side make it. Obvously they are so many so some will be loan out. My guess is that 6-7 will stay and fight while the rest will be loan out. I think bartley have more chance to make it becouse he have the physic but ayling will be loaned. Its really really hard to tell who’s gonna make it. But I hope atleast 5-6. I know thats alot but if you are good enough you will get your chance as wenger said.
@ Josh: Randall would see himself as a central midfield, indeed he played there most of his career but the Arsenal coaches seem to see his future as a deep plying playmaker.
He has got the bite (though at times maybe too much) and positional awareness but needs to improve his decision making and discipline (i.e. in position). Playing RM will improve his skills such as the ones mentioned and also tight area manipulation.
JS and fellow gunner supporters,
Does anyone know when Arsenal Online will have the FA youth cup highlights?
Thanks & Peace
@ The Brain:
Thanks for that. How about Lansbury/Barazie? I’ve heard that Lansbury is very in the ‘Gerrard’ mould? And I’ve heard Barazite likened to a lot of people, from Pires to Ibrahamovic.
A fair comparision of Barazite would be Antoney Stokes with less work rate.
J… How did the trial of the young Argentinian keeper go? We haven’t heard anything
JS whats happaned to sam byles? Do u rate him highly? or will he get released
Anthony Stokes just says it all about how good you have to be to be a Gooner. He scored 9 goals in four games in the SPL and was the top scorer after the first half of the season, still 18 I think, but was sold to Sunderland for couple of millions. I remember many fans wishing we brought him or Bendtner back from their respective loan teams as they were banging them in while our forwards were doing everything except.
@ Josh. Hi. I’ve written an article on Lansbury once before. He is a player in the Gerrard mold which is good but by him playing RM it means he can learn how to be more disciplined in the centre when he moves there etc. Such as what Randall is learning. I think he will be a top midfielder for Arsenal but I would prefer to see him turn out in the Lampard mold which if by the last few performances go, he is getting there.
http://arsenalcolumn.wordpress.com/2009/05/22/lansbury-may-have-to-reign-free-instinct-in-order-to-break-through/
Barazite, I had high hopes for and I do but not wide. I think as a skillful second striker he can be a hit, as a winger more like a Kuyt (not necessarily a bad thing). Hardworking, pressures the ball, carries a goal threat but more skillful. The Pires comparisons are fair too but I like his hard work and determination hence the Kuyt description (or a Rooney could be a better one).
i fear for henri lansbury Hes a brilliant player when u play him CM but cause there are so many CM i can see him going. I think lansbury is as good as coqulin or even better when he plays CM.
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