Arsenal’s Under 18’s walked away with the League, League Cup and the FA Youth Cup last season, but perhaps most importantly, an enhanced reputation.
Since then, Jack Wilshere has constantly been named in the first team squad, Jay Emmanuel Thomas and Henri Lansbury were snapped up on loan, and Francis Coquelin and Emmanuel Frimpong constantly flirt with the Carling Cup squad. There is one man though who has quietly gone about his business; Craig Eastmond.
Craig signed professional terms at the end of last season after playing every minute of Arsenal’s FA Youth Cup run. He also became a star man for the Reserves, finishing the campaign with a promising six starts to his name, despite playing in an unfamiliar right back role. Craig’s tremendous work ethic matched with his raw determination helped make the position his own.
The only blemish was the FA Youth Cup Quarter Final clash against Tottenham, in which Andros Townsend was able to get past his marker on several occasions. Yet this was soon erased, as only a couple of months later, the two foes met again, and a much improved Eastmond demonstrated his resolve by keeping a tight lid on the speedy left winger. The performance impressed many, and also silenced any critics.
Craig has continued to develop well this season, and has been given the chance to impress in his natural central midfield role, starting three of the five Reserves games and scoring twice along the way. His early season form hasn’t gone unnoticed, and he was amongst the Arsenal substitutes for the first time against West Brom in the Carling Cup.
The Wandsworth born starlet maintained his outstanding start to the season with an all action display against Chelsea Reserves on Monday night, demonstrating his composure in possession and provided a commanding influence in the centre of the park which was rewarded with a goal.
Neil Banfield’s side boast an embarrassment of riches in the midfield department, and this perhaps unexpected yet pleasing form shown by Eastmond has certainly given the manager a selection headache, while also helping his first-team cause
The Under 18’s success last season helped place several young players on the professional radar, but this year Eastmond has been given his chance to impress, and it’s a chance he has clung too with both hands.
If Craig continues to turn in consistent displays and develop as expected, then he looks certain to follow the Wilshere route into the first-team.
Modern game is so fast, tackles must be used sparingly or used last resort or when it favours you winning the ball otherwise multiple yellow cards will lead to sending off and suspensison.
Instead players must develop the intelligence to read the game or intelligent posistioning to make INTERCEPTIONS, this is the area where Randall, Coquelin, Frimpong, Eastmond & Yennaris will have to improve if they want to make 1st team. For exmaple last season, Denilson who is considered ahead of these players was in the top 3 statistically for BALL INTERCEPTIONS and top 10 for tackles won hence top 5 overall for winning ball back for the team.
Exiting times ahead for arsenal, love watching the carling cup purely to see the talent arsenal can produce
Same here, elliot. Wished they could have the CC games every week. ;)
j whats happened to jamie edge? and who would you say looks like the most exciting player from the u 16s not including ansah?
Supergunner07
What statistics didn’t talk about Denilson were that (1) he lacked recovery pace to track down opponents running towards goal (2) lacked wider passing range and restricted to short sideways and backwards passes which couldn’t support a counterattack (3) he was often pushed and shoved to the ground and couldn’t fight high balls because of his height.
Denilson is decent but not the solution to the midfield problems. With Nasri, Rosicky and Diaby improving his chances might be reduced.
I don’t think he’s a good example to pick for our young DM’s coming up. In fact, technically. Coquelin, Frimpong and possibly Eastmond are better.
“Coquelin, Frimpong, and possibly Eastmond are better” than Denilson technically…?!!!! Rediculous. The points you make criticizing him are legitimate. I disagree with them, but can’t criticize the thinking behind them. This nonsesne about the youngsters being technically better than Denilson is completely wrong, however. None of them possesses the technical level of Denilson…complete nonsense.
Yeah that is ridiculous. It is very easy to see that when Denilson has been in the team we have been steady at the back and winning going forward, and two examples of him not being in the team have led to losses: Man Utd and Chelsea in the Cups last April and both Manchester teams this season. Your points are valid but remember it is Song’s job to be the last man and the player to cover for the defence; Denilson just adds an essential other quality to that.
J, you think Eastmond will do a Gibbs and go from being a midfielder to a full back? We are not going to be able to have 4000 CMs but the way these youngsters play, they also should be given a chance somewhere.
KC/Samuel
I don’t like talking about first team players on a youth blog. However, I’m talking about technicality here: First touch, ability to get out of tight corners, good passing range, ability to go past defenders, right?
I’ll still place Coquelin, Frimpong and Eastmond ahead. He beats them with age and experience.
@ only fabregas, please stick to talk kindegarten, even if i were wrong or you were too, Wenger rates Denilson immensely hence thats why he played 37 out 38 league games last season. Also as previously mentioned in other articles, the pressure of every week 1st team games @ top 4 level is totally different to level of pressure that youngsters mentioned by you face currently @ reserves level or in CC.
As for the other points you made, recovery pace [wrong, its physical presence that he lacks hence Song was brought into the team this season], passing [ of course he can improve like anyother player i.e Cesc but its a myth about passing sideways], he had 7 assist from DM position more than creative DM like Alonso. Tracking runners from open play and long ball knockdowns is where he can improve alot thus you have a point on that issue.
Nahh.. they can’t have better touches than denilsson. He is so damn good and intelligent. What he does with the ball is amazing. They will need to work extremely hard to get ahead of denilsson and song. I heard JET was better tecnically than song is 1 year ago but what people seems to forget is that our first team players also getting better tecnically and Song is awesome nowdays. I rarely see Denilsson lose a ball from first touch or lose the ball to opponents. He keeps the ball in his foot so great. I know for sure that he have great offensive qualities too but we have already many attacking players that can do the job upfront, and someone have to make sure the opponents don’t get through. Coq, frimpong and eastmond have potentiall to make it but in Arsenal you need to have offensive qualities too. Look at Diaby. He is use as a defensive midfielder also nowdays.
Denilson was Arsenals most consistent player last season, he is only 21 and is still improving. All the young players have a long way to go to get near him. Denilson at any other club would be in the youngster bracket and wouldnt be under constant critcism
Perhaps we should keep him as a CB,
With our Cbs at the moment…
Vermaelen, who will stay
senderous will leave
gallas will leave
djouru who will either stay or go
silvetsre who will retire
Nordveit will fight 4 starting place
song who is better as a middy
and our youth who have little to no experience
I KNOW THAT WAS A TINY BIT HARSH…
BUT…
Bartley will be an England player,
Ayling and Cruise will be fighting for a plac ein the squad in 2 yrs
boateng and Hajjrovic will be emense
obed will be a good prem player, but maybe not for us…
angha and others like sesay,jones and campbell it is to early to tell,
I think we should even try to add to these,
Witth…
MARC MUNIESA FROM BARCA
HE WILL BE AMAZING…
soz 4 the mispelling and laziness on my speech but im tired lol
I really like eastmond, hes not the best player ever, but gets his head down and does the businees, hard work can get you a long way, reminds me of flamini.
At present theres no backup to SONG in the senior squad.This should motivate one of the reserve DM’s to step up and claim a place in the senior squad.
I’m expecting Coquelin to fight for the DM’s position in a year’s time. He has everything; interceptions, pace to recover, wider passing range, power, height, good positioning and shooting ability.
Coquelin is the real Vieira in the making. Watch this space.
This is great. I hope he makes a huge splash on the scene. http://bobbygee.wordpress.com
Its hard to claim the young guns are better than Denilson because they play with their peers! Will they be that good every week when they step up to the first team? Where Denilson beats even Song is his discipline. He never strays from his holding position yet if you recall, he arrived at Arsenal as a central midfielder à la Cesc!
I’m expecting Coquelin to fight for the DM’s position in a year’s time. He has everything; interceptions, pace to recover, wider passing range, power, height, good positioning and shooting ability.
Coquelin is the real Vieira in the making. Watch this space.
Only Fabregas said this on October 13, 2009 at 1:40 pm
I couldn’t agree more with that mate. Also, he has great dribbling ability too which not a lot of people mention. He can dribble out of difficult situations with his quick feet and skill at times. Top, top prospect. Glad we have this boy, and we got him for peanuts.
I also agree with what Kenyan Gooner says too. Denny’s discipline and reading of the game is fantastic. If he had better physical attributes he would be a top player.
In a 4-3-3, you need a hard anchor midfield (Song), a releaser (Fabregas) and an interceptor (Denilson).
Fabregas is supposed to launch attack from deep (see his pass at Fulham for RVP, and his two assists against Blackburn) and possibly participate in counter attack (his goal against Blackburn Rover).
Song is the last line of defense prior to the defense proper. he is also dropping whenever one of the CB attack (See Vermeulen goals). He is there to outmuscle people so they do not reach our defense in a good position with ball in their feet.
Denilson is the link between both roles. His two functions are to stop the attack before they can be dangerous (either by intercepting the ball, stopping the pass by his positioning) and restart Arsenal move (either by passing to Fabregas or by acting as pivot or free player to a team-mate). Because of his role, most of his passes will be to Fabregas and sideways or backward. It does not mean that he cannot do a forward pass. It just means that he is more effectively in a slighly in retrait position. Discipline and anticipation are the key point of his game and none of the youngter have yet mater those. Against Manchester City, and the second goal against Blackburn were due to the player who was supposed to do his job went missing. People who critise Denilson role are the same people who used to criticise Gilberto until he went missing for 10 games and then they realised what he was bringing to Arsenal’s game. His role is less glamorous than Fabregous less visible than Song but its is very important. Against quick counter-attacking team it is primordial. That why against Manchester City and team a la Aston Villa we need him.
Coquelin by his energetic play is the closest to Song type of player. I also think that we may see him on the bench during Song ACN’s competition.
In term of attribute, Randall is the closest to Denilson but he lacks discipline and he is always a rash challenge away from a red card.
Frimpong is nowhere near ready for the first team. He lacks concentration and often jump into challenge. Next year he will go on loan and a season in a championship club will help sort that out.
@Valentin, wonderful content! Most fans would want a flamboyant player but forget that the team must be balanced. In fact, based on the above explanation who thinks Nasri may step into that role since he’s an all-round midfielder?
when is the next article?
Frimpong will be amazing for us one day, he will partner up with an AM or CM easily!
coquelin is a better prospect then frimpong.
Denilson and song will be hard to knock out of the side for any of the youngsters coming through.
Whatever problems denilson has in his game he will iron out pretty soon. When he plays a less restricted role u see he has the talent to be a pretty decent attacking midfielder.
On Eastmond – I’ve never seen him, but it sounds as though he’s coming along nicely. The competition in midfield should serve to push himself, coquelin, frimpong, and the others who play there. So even though they cant all make it at arsenal, they should all be able to go on to have good careers.
Zak Ansah has just scored for the England U16’s team tp put them 1-0 up after 76 minutes.
why cant England youth national coaches get bunch of young talents that can play one-touch combination passing game? how can they expect to produce/develop world-class players in high quanity when style of play is awful/boring. Still from the national team right down to U16s cant play front the back when they are pressured by oppositions, truly shocking
The Welsh kids played better football. If i was a scout watching that game then i would have only looked twice at the Wales number 8 and the West Ham kid Fanimo. Very poor game of football and if that’s the best this country can offer at that age then lord help us.
“Coquelin, Frimpong, and possibly Eastmond are better” than Denilson technically…?!!!! Rediculous. The points you make criticizing him are legitimate. I disagree with them, but can’t criticize the thinking behind them. ”
I can.
1) lacked recovery pace? True he’s not exactly Usain Bolt, but he’s got a good positional sense. His one problem is that he can get too caried away going forward sometimes, but with Song willing to take over defensive duties as well, this should be less of a problem. And in terms of actual pace do you think he’s significantly slower than Gattuso, Yaya, Senna etc? People just tend to look at these players and think they must be great because they’re big, have been built up by the media and have dramatic moments. I bet you peopole over in Spain etc who watched him play would say that Den is at least on par with some of the best in the world at his position.
2) His passing range is not outstanding, but it is perfectly adequate. He rarely misplaces passes, and it’s good to have someone alongside Cesc etc who can just keep the machine working without catching the eye too much. Gilberto is the most obvious name for a gooner to point out here.
3) He’s too short so he can’t header? I’m not going to defend his heading ability, but I am going to attack you’re reasoning. It’s not about the height, it’s bout the timing, especially in DM when the need for heading is only really going to be from GKs and high balls (something that Tommy V struggled with vs Blackburn and even Ferdinand and Vidic have made some high-profile errors on in the last few months), rather than crosses. Den is as tall as Vermaelen, and taller than Essien, Gattuso, Senna and of course Cannavaro. Is it really that he’s too short? No. That’s just what the Sun will tell you.
next article?
“Coquelin is the real Vieira in the making. Watch this space”. As much as I rate Coquelin, and believe me I do, this is the kind of comment which proves you read the Sun.
really TJ, was it that bad? I didn’t see the game. that’s depressing…
Very poor mate. I spent most of the game scratching my head as to how that RB even made it onto any team’s books. Poor kid was diabolical. But his poor performance was just one of many.
Very boring game and i only watched cos i wanted to see how Chambers and Ansah faired. I was a bit upset to see Zak was only on the bench and thought the kid Hallam Hope (of Everton) was something special, hence the ommission of Ansah from the starting line-up, and from what i’ve heard before. He was very poor too. Big lad and all but he had nothing apart from that from what i saw on yesterday’s performance. Zak gave England much more up top and should have had a second but for a poor finish. Great, great header though. Happy for the lad.
its all because of the fucking england setup, none of them have a clue what they’re doing
People can go on about selection and tactics or how crap the coaches are etc etc, but those players had never played together before thursday nights game unlike the Welsh U16’s team who have, so we should cut the players some slack, after all it was only the first game of this years “Sky Sports Victory Shield Tournament” and there are lots more players to look at.
lol Kentpaul, are you kenny swain ?? it’s an excuse I’m tired to read. That’s what international football is about, you don’t get to play week in week out with the same players, so you have to be skillfull and clever enough to perform
You can just tell from Kentpaul’s comments that he’s a very patriotic person.
I’m going to stick up for kentpaul here. I’m not patriotic at all. I hate all international football, but I ‘support’ Holland, Spain & Brazil more than any other sides. I can’t stand England. BUT from a footballing side, kentpaul’s point is valid. I know its often used as an excuse, so people tend to dismiss it, but it does make a huge difference. Even at my Sunday league level, if you put some randomers together it takes a while to maximise the team performance. Of course, their experience means youth internationals are expected to do better than this immediately, but when they’re up against other youth internationals, who don’t give you the ball straight back when you loose it it’s difficult to establish a rhythm with a bunch of people you’ve never played with before.
All I have to say is that Makelele is lucky he never had to come though the Arsenal reserves as a young player. He would have been slaughtered by the fans because he was:
– too short
– not tall enough
– not an Olympic 100m candidate
– didnt have muscles bulging out of his shorts and chest
– passed the ball sideways too much
And no, I’m not kidding. That’s exactly what you all would have said.
Even Gilberto at 18 would hav been slaugtered by you folks on ALL those counts, except for one which is his height.
Get real on what it takes to be a DM, folks….seriously…
Exactly sam – although I’m not sure that even the bunch of fans you’re talking about would critisize Makalele for being too short AND not tall enough.
I mean mean to write “not FAST enough”.
You could say the same of Roy Keane too, on ALL of those traits, he of the over-stuffed trophy cabinet.