Arsenal's Afobe Heading For Spain After Barça Invite

Barcelona’s copycat chase of two of Arsenal’s Under 18 starlets has been stepped up with Barça represenatives making formal offers for both Benik Afobe and Chukwuemeka Aneke to visit their Catalan base for talks.

Explosive midfielder Aneke has spurred the European Champions advances, preferring to remain with Arsenal, but Afobe is set to jet out during the week after completing England Under 17 duty where his 4 goals in 3 games earned him player of the tournament.

Young Guns revealed on Tuesday that Barcelona were scouting Benik and since then the worlds media have taken our story and run with it, including the UK’s ‘Gutter Press’. The 16-year-old’s agent is speaking daily with the Blaugrana while Liam Brady must mull over whether to offer improved terms to the striker who has been offered a standard professional contract on his 17th birthday.

Barça are awaiting the green light from the player before showing their hand in the form of a deal. Up to £5500 a week in wages has been mooted but whether the terms materialise will be down to Afobe’s reaction after looking checking out their facilities. West Ham have previously tried to sign the bulky frontman who has 7 Academy League goals this term – making him joint top scorer.

Article By – J.Sanderson

112 thoughts on “Arsenal's Afobe Heading For Spain After Barça Invite

  • November 2, 2009 at 1:07 pm
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    NO NO NO NO NO NO FUCK OF BARCA

    Reply
  • November 2, 2009 at 1:11 pm
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    can’t let it happen. offer him the contract that he wants.
    fuck off barca and good on you chuks mate

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  • November 2, 2009 at 1:13 pm
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    This is all about us taking Merida and Cesc. Barca wont give him a chance to develop in and around the barca team. he will not get the chances that young players are given at Arsenal. thats the reason players like cesc moved to Arsenal in the first place. Benik must not allow himself to be used as a porn in what is an argument between the clubs over the catalan players. Going to Barca will destroy his career. they will always prefer to promote local lads over the english.
    if we have to we need to match Barca’a wage offer.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 1:14 pm
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    I can’t blame the lad for having his head turned, but I hope he’s been taught wisely to realise that Barca are not a club which gives youth a chance and largely speaking are just looking to destabalise the club that offers a big European threat.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 1:14 pm
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    let him go and ruin his career…

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  • November 2, 2009 at 1:15 pm
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    What prowess with the English language – six repititions of the word NO, a profanity, a mis-spelling and an abreviation. That is one of the things I enjoy about the English fans – their ability to express themselves and reveal their character at the same time. Bracelona, a city of culture, good food, beauiful women and sunshine and a team of football players of incredible skill. London …. need I say more.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 1:19 pm
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    If you are going to pick someone up on spelling at least get your spelling right. beauiful Bracelona eh? oh dear.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 1:21 pm
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    Is that the same cultural Spanish that racially abuse black players whenever England play over there ?? – hey London may not be a city of culture, but at least we are multi-cultural and tolerant of others.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 1:22 pm
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    doesnt he already signed a pre contract and become professional after his 17th birthday?

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  • November 2, 2009 at 1:22 pm
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    But fuck me….. 5500 pounds per week for a 16 year old kid? That is almost 22000 pound per month.

    That is fucking lot of money for a 16 year old kid…

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  • November 2, 2009 at 1:22 pm
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    we say it how it is over here.

    If your gonna take the moral highground at least have a leg to stand on.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 1:23 pm
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    absolutely agree with gazzap – is it porn, pawn or prawn you meant!!!!

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  • November 2, 2009 at 1:26 pm
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    no9 – high moral ground ??? – who pinched youth players first. Live by the sword …… How many Arsenal youth players actually make it to the first team anyhow?

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  • November 2, 2009 at 1:27 pm
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    benik afobe is imo arsenals biggest under 17 right now and if barca do get there hands on him and turn him into a star now maybe arsenal and arsenal fans will realise the same when taking other teams prized youngsters.ps i would also hate this to happen cos i see big things for mr afobe.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 1:30 pm
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    How can Barcelona offer him a professional contract before he is 18? And they have limits upto the value of contracts for “contrato de estudiante”. Please clarify.

    Anyway, if this DOES happen, I don’t think we can particularly complain since we’ve been doing it to other clubs for years. Speaks volumes though that Bojan and Dos Santos, both much heralded Barca Academy players are struggling at various levels right now. He’d be wise to stay at Arsenal.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 1:31 pm
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    I think you meant ‘pawn’. I think this needs to be nipped in the bud though. If he leaves, he may be left for dead when Barcelona have made their point. Oh, and I’m sure we will be going to court just as with Merida. I just hope Benik has $2.5m spare.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 1:33 pm
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    no9 – high moral ground ??? – who pinched youth players first. Live by the sword …… How many Arsenal youth players actually make it to the first team anyhow?

    ——————————–

    you were trying to take the moral highfround by talking about spellings yet you had mistakes in your post.

    Hmmm the 2nd statement is just stupid. Of course they dont get into the 1st squad. Barca made the mistake of letting fabregas go,hopefully arsenal dont make the same mistake, though its more down to the player.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 1:39 pm
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    HLEB LEFT FOR A GREENER PASTURE AT BARCA RIGHT, HE CAN ALSO GO THERE AND END UP LIKE HLEB.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 1:44 pm
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    We must be due some compensation for that no? Is it only if we have a contract with the player? If so how come we had to pay out 2-3 Million for Merida?

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  • November 2, 2009 at 1:44 pm
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    Be a shame if we lose him – very rare for an English player to go abroad at any age let alone a teenager… could be the next Sonny Pike.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 1:48 pm
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    interesting choice for him if he chooses to go to a side that does not give youngsters a chance, from one that does. Barca have success in developing talents though. It will provide better money with among other tax laws. He is a big talent, but the last thing we need is someone not being focused on the project at Arsenal. De-stabilizing players like Ade was. Jumping to conclusions is not wise though, am giving it time, who knows how it goes

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  • November 2, 2009 at 1:50 pm
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    @ john brandon:

    you have absolutely no clue and I am sure you are a sh.. barca fan!!! go sh.. up!! We have the best youth in country, fact!!

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  • November 2, 2009 at 1:51 pm
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    Damn_Gallas i completely agree. but i think barca’s offer should be matched none the less. best case scenario is that the lad goes on to be a world beater for us and then he’ll be considerred a steal and the worst being that he’s not good enough and we sell him and at least make a few quid profit of him

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  • November 2, 2009 at 1:53 pm
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    Pinching youth players is the very essence of the issue and sadly Arsenal are to the fore in this regard.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 1:54 pm
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    It’ll be quite a coup from Barcelona if they manage to nab him. Obviously his head has been turned slightly but his best option would be stay at Arsenal and maybe even bench him for the Carling Cup if need be. The best person for Afobe to talk to will probably have to be Fabregas and talk on his experience. If he goes, then there is no better place for him to go to than Barca.

    Reply
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  • November 2, 2009 at 1:58 pm
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    If i were him i would stay at arsenal until i join the first team and be marketed properly for the benefit of the club as how Ronald and Kaka were sold

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  • November 2, 2009 at 2:01 pm
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    We also did this, twice actually, so shut up and accept that we get it back…

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  • November 2, 2009 at 2:09 pm
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    Sad to se this but he can go if he wants. I think he would be absolutely mad to do so, learn the language, move family who have to do the same, deal with the culture change, losing his friends. Try to break thru at a club absolutely full of youth talent already who have a poor record of giving players a chance. One of the great things about our academy is the low key humble approach that the club encourages – cesc staying in digs with a landlady for ages etc, we seem to actively discourage making them big headed. That wage is mental for a kid who may be shit by the time he is 20, its impossible to tell how they will progress as they keep growing, they can lose pace, gain too much bulk etc as they mature. I assume we have a wage cap for the youths and we shouldn’t break it for one player when we have so many good ones at all levels. Rather lose him than cause diruption in the ranks.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 2:12 pm
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    Arsenal4ever likes facts or so it seems, how about these…
    Starters 27,24,29,24,18,18,20,16,27,21,16 Bench 17,18,18,22,18,21,24 – The ages at which the team and bench from Saturday joined Arsenal. I think Wiltshire at 9 is the only true product of the Arsenal youth system to make it to the curent panel. The rest were bought from other clubs.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 2:12 pm
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    does anyone know if either of them are arsenal fans?

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  • November 2, 2009 at 2:13 pm
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    agree with rayman. if he decides to go he can go!!

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  • November 2, 2009 at 2:14 pm
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    Ok Look, We will find a replacement but the only problem is, Arsenal are trying to develope English players and it might be difficult to find another English talent like him. Anyways, He more then likely wont make it to the Barcelona 1st team. Name the last none spanish youth player to make the grade at Barcelona not named Messi. (Dos Santos didnt either) Barcelona only play 1 striker. Just Dumb if he leaves, but lets not cry about it.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 2:20 pm
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    We can’t claim any moral superiority over Barcelona here, but Benik would likely be making a massive mistake to leave us. Having to adjust to a new country, lifestyle, language and football club at sixteen will be very tough, and could easily break him, and even if it doesn’t, it will be a massive struggle for him to ever break into the Barcelona team. I hope, for his sake as well as ours, that he makes the right choice and stays at Arsenal.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 2:20 pm
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    R.E. Mr John Brandon.., the more big words you try to use, means more chance for them to trip you up as you’ve ably demonstrated already.
    Just out of curiosity, but i was wondering what part of Catalonia John brandon was born. Or is he, like i suspect, another one of these pretentious barca fans who have never so much as stepped foot in the country, let alone the ground.

    That being said, he is right about one thing. That we offered a chance to Cesc, one that he took, you really can’t complain if we were to lose one of ours to somebody else. Its the nature of football these days.

    If he were to leave, then i think he would be making a big mistake. But that mistake is his to make, and whatever the outcome I wish him well in the future.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 2:26 pm
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    Who says I’m a Barca fan – I admire their football that is all. Have been a life long fan of Arsenal and will remain so till the end. Just because I don’t tow the party line on issues seems to rattle some people. Poaching players works both ways and getting ansty about youth players who have an extremely low success rate of making it to the first team is the nub of the issue.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 2:27 pm
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    spot on j :-)!!!

    Of course you have to chck talents at the lower leagues but fact is Afobe learned the Arsenal way!!!

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  • November 2, 2009 at 2:32 pm
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    ‘Bracelona (sic), a city of culture, good food, beauiful women and sunshine and a team of football players of incredible skill. London …. need I say more’

    I don’t know John – shall we ask Cesc Fabregas what he thinks?

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  • November 2, 2009 at 2:36 pm
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    Brandon:

    “I think Wiltshire at 9 is the only true product of the Arsenal youth system to make it to the curent panel”

    When you consider the density of football clubs in London it is incredible luck just to have one youngster born in your catchment area who is capable of joining the first team ranks of one of Europes elite teams. How many teams are there in Catalunia?

    That sort of talent is rare and the onus is on clubs to go out anf find it. There are two proper teams in Barca and at least 8 in the London area not to mention countless smaller teams. A good scouting network is essential in modern football. DOn’t cry just because we are good at it.

    Also british talent has taken a long time to get into the first team because Wenger has needed time to put his youth policy into acion and realistically it is only the ones coming through in the last few years who have had the full benefit of this experience.

    And as for your jibes about London, pathetic. Barcelona is an incredible city with a tradition that is rightly celebrated. Good food. England has more 3 Michelin star restaurants than any country other than France.

    If you think that Aberdeen Angus Steakhouse and TGI Friday tourist traps are representative of British cooking stop waffling drivel on the internet and earn some money so you can afford proper grub.

    It’s easy for someone to draw conclusions about a country by comparing the worst aspects of one to the best of another. Believe me there are gorgeous London girls and there are ugly women in Barcelona.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 2:37 pm
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    Oh and John – implying that ‘Bracelona’ is a city of culture and London is not is frankly deluded. If you can’t find culture and good food (amongst many other great things) in London then you shouldn’t be allowed to venture out of the house on your own.

    I’ll concede the point about sunshine though.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 2:47 pm
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    Love this notion that he’d be jumping from a team that give young players every chance to one that never brings any through. Pretty sure the average Barca first XI has a lot more homegrown players in it than the average Arsenal one.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 2:51 pm
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    Let him go if he wants,
    we have Freeman and Ansah aswell…
    Tho’ afobe is good, so dont let him leave,
    im confused, why would he wanna leave.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 2:56 pm
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    @John Brandon

    Do you even bloody speak Spanish?
    The word NO in Spanish is also NO
    If you’re trying to be a smart arse, at least appear like one!

    As for Afobe, well let him go.
    If he thinks he’s all big, let him be.
    I think we all knew what happened to a certain Nicolas Anelka

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  • November 2, 2009 at 2:59 pm
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    Gotta love the juvenile nature of these comments, one moment he’s the next big thing but as soon as there’s a chance he’s off he’s cast aside like nobody wants him. If he doesn’t go you’ll all be loving him again.

    Fickle as anything, and I bet 95% of you have never even seen the lad play.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 3:05 pm
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    I have seen Afobe play and he’s the best striking propect we’ve had in years and Barcelona know it. We have to keep him. Wenger needs to step in.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 3:05 pm
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    Plain english John Brandon fuck off

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  • November 2, 2009 at 3:16 pm
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    I’m going to put my head on the chopping block here and say I don’t feel its a big lose at all if he does go. The boy has ambition to play outside of England which I applaud as too many English players stick to their home comforts.

    I have seen him play a few times and have not been overly impressed with him so I don’t understand why so many people are upset about this move. He is 16 now and not really in with a chance of seeing the first team until maybe 21-22 so who knows in that time what talent Wenger could have unearthed.

    Let the boy if he wants too.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 3:16 pm
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    Obviously it’d be great to see him decide to stay but paying him £5,500 a week just wouldn’t be feasible. Surely that would be as much as several other players would earn? You can’t have that in a team…

    I wouldn’t say Barcelona never bring players through but it would be tough to get as much first team football at such an early age as he might at Arsenal. Look at guys like Bojan- and he’s been capped for Spain. They tend to be nearer 22 or 23 before they get a real shot in the first team in Spain, unless they are something incredible.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 3:33 pm
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    YoungGuns quickly becoming a satire of itself it seems.

    I’ll await this move to never happen and Afobe to return to his hero status on here again; and if it does happen you’ll always have Zak to take over the mantle.

    As for the comments about Barça not giving youth a chance, that’s almost laughable.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 3:37 pm
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    At the end of the day, it will be the lad’s decision as to whether he leaves or not………..it must be quite a moment in his young life for a club like Barca to come knocking at his door and to offer such wages. I have watched a few of the U18’s ganme online but will go and re view them to take a more serious look at this lad.

    Although many of the current squad were taken from other team when well past the toddler stage (but still very) young, most were then schooled in the Arsenal culture and way of football and devloped into very fine professionals. Many were blooded in the Carling Cup and then went on to play for 1st team (Cesc, Clichy, Almunia, Bendter, RVP, Denilson, Song, Diaby).

    I believe MANU are really the last team to have a winning tema made up of a significant number of academy players (Becks, The Nevilles, Butt, Scholes et al) but developing an academy is not easy. Arsneal have done a wonderful job and it appears to be about to pay off, with the likes of Wislhere, Eastman, Sanchez Watt et al soon to be knocking on the 1st team’s door.

    Barca do have a fanmed academy and hopefully Arsenal’s will be viewed in the same light in years to come. We certainly seem to be producing more youth talent than any other top English club presently. Success for an academy would be viewed as maybe one or at most two players making the grade each season, something which we seem well on course to achieve.

    I wish the lad well, whatever he decides but it does say something that the mighty Barca are coming to pinch players from us……..The Mighty Arsenal!!!

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  • November 2, 2009 at 3:39 pm
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    If Arsene Wenger believes he is worth keeping then he will personally hold talks with him and him the attention and development plan the way he has with Jack. If the player persuaded that he will get a better chance of breaking through at another club then good luck to him. Their are many other players as talented if not more who will be jumping to replace him at our academy.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 3:49 pm
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    He might just be using this as a base to negotiate a better contract.

    We can’t take the moral high ground though.

    Hope Chucks is rewarded for his decision in next years CC team with a berth on the bench.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 4:14 pm
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    Love the irony in John Brandon’s attack on gazzap.
    ‘Repitition’ and ‘abreviation’ aren’t spelled the way they are in the Oxford English dictionary, but I guess you already knew that too. ;)

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  • November 2, 2009 at 4:34 pm
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    oh oh i’m a lil bit worry now

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  • November 2, 2009 at 4:39 pm
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    EVERY club takes youngsters frm other clubs but when it come to arsenal there always seem to be a witchhunt.
    NOT ALL the youngsters at barca come from barcelona,funny how no one comments about how barca got messi.
    Chelski have paid the price,united have been doing it since day-one and even lazio complained about mecaida,liverpool have signed over 40 youngsters but where are they?

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  • November 2, 2009 at 4:43 pm
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    @ nickogs20 of http://manunitedyouth.wordpress.com/, stop coming here to talk nonsense, keep it shut if you have nothing constructive. We dont look at passport when giving youngsters a chance thus we have better talent screening than other any club in England to ensure the ones that get to 1st team are top-class not some hype-job. We are now producing better talents so with time and natural process [not artificial ones] haters like you will see it & eat massive humble pie.

    Barca have clearly declared war on us, its a dagger in their hearts everytime Cesc & Merida do well. We actually did them a favour bcuz only Xavi & Puyol were actually given a chance but as soon as Cesc was doing very good things at Arsenal, they have since given Iniesta, Messi, Busquets, Bojan, Dos Santos, Pedro Rodriguez, Muniesa were given chance within a 4 year period. They only have themselves to blame for not playing them 16 17 18 yr old who are very good talent.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 4:52 pm
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    Way to miss my point mate. Was pointing out that Barca are actually pretty good at bringing youngsters through, as shown by the number in their first team – care to point out how that is nonsense? How is it even ‘hating’?

    Some of you lot are absolutely hilarious.

    Reply
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  • November 2, 2009 at 5:07 pm
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    Bringing thru youngsters after they lost 2 brilliant talents. Before that only Xavi and Puyol had been given a chance, so there werent good bringing them thru & also dont forget that Arsenal almost took Messi as well if it wasnt for work permitt issues. Van gaal was more interested in filling his squad with Dutch & brazilian player [some good and some terrible] even though their coaching structure and coaching syllabus had always been good

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  • November 2, 2009 at 5:12 pm
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    talking of players who we signed as kids or not is not relevant at all. the important thing in this conversation is giving youth players a chance. betdnter, cesc, hoyte, merida, wilshere, ramsey, watt, gilbert, lansbury, muamba, larsson, mannone, simpson, scezny (sp?), walcott, vela, barazite, randall, amongst *many* others are all players who over the last couple of years have had *first team* games in serious competitions. of which almost all of them have made appearances before the age of even 19. correct me if i’m wrong, but is barca’s record of giving young players games anywhere near that? i hugely doubt it. even our first team lineup (roughly) is comprised of bentdner, walcott,denilson, song, cesc, diaby. whether or not you would put all these players int he first team is another matter, but these are all players who get very regular games in the best competitions. nuff said.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 5:13 pm
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    not to mention ramsey (who i think deserves a lot more playing time) is right behind the first team according to wenger at 18 years old. don’t say we don’t give young players more of a chance than any other top team, because i can’t imagine that it’s true at all

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  • November 2, 2009 at 5:14 pm
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    We have no right to complain if Benik Afobe does decide to jump ship to Barcelona, in fact we should take it as a compliment that a club like Barcelona who have the best acadamy set up in world football, should want a player from our club IMO.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 5:22 pm
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    prettyboyfloyd – Thanks for pretty much saying what i was thinking about saying earlier on (just couldn’t be bothered to wade into this one). I think it’s ridiculous how Gooners can seemingly take pleasure in something like this. Yes, we have done it to them, and others in the past but so be it. That’s just the way shit goes sometimes. We didn’t break no laws did we? Also, i think Benik will be a top, top talent and it will definitely be a huge loss if he was to go but i doubt he will.

    nickogs20 – We’re absolutely hilarious are we? At least we aint a bunch of arrogant know-it-all fuckers like ur lot.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 5:25 pm
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    Also, well said Ryan. Very true. You only have to look at the average ages of the top European clubs for that point to be proved.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 5:33 pm
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    only the comments come up for me now so could someone briefly explain from the article what is stated, and why chuks name is involved in this too?

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  • November 2, 2009 at 5:36 pm
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    supergunner – point missed again. I was responding to people saying Barca don’t give youngsters chances NOW. And that is not ‘nonsense’.

    Ryan – reeling off a list of players who have in the main just seen Carling Cup action (or have been punted off to other clubs) isn’t that impressive. Reckon Barca could probably reel off a similar list of youngsters they’ve fielded in the Copa del Rey, and they don’t even have the benefit of a third comp like the CC to use.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 5:37 pm
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    TJ DA GOON – with your ‘we play the prettiest football, we have the best youngsters’ shtick, I’d say that’s exactly what you are :)

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  • November 2, 2009 at 5:46 pm
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    Chuks is a tottenham fan

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  • November 2, 2009 at 5:46 pm
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    Erm, whats the source for these stories pleae?

    They aint from the catalan media are they?

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  • November 2, 2009 at 5:58 pm
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    Don’t talk rubbish YoungGun.
    If Aneke supported Spuds he’d surely have left for Barca. Not to mention a young, black guy of Nigerian origin? No way he’s a spud.

    Reply
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  • November 2, 2009 at 6:07 pm
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    if he is indeed stupid enough to go for the money then his loss really. Ok he is a talent, but for a talent to become good he has to be nurtured and attended the right way. You dont go from zero to hero just cause you increase your payroll. But its his life, if he wants to throw it away then be my guest. We all know that NO ONE knows the art of developing talents than Wenger, i think if he is stupid enough to go he will be to weak an indidvidual to ever be a star in arsenal anyway. He will be like cashley, its all about the money..

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  • November 2, 2009 at 6:36 pm
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    @ nickogs20, alright you are responding to other people making comments however using the word “average” Barca & Arsenal is damn right arrogant.

    With the other argument, about 50% of our squad are CC graduates and over 50% of the starting XI that took the field against Spuds on saturday so i dont think they can reel off a list. Copa Del Rey isn used as specific torney to play youngsters by Barca

    Also in England right now from what i have seen from all academies, irrespectives of what won @ youth level, I do believe we have the best youngsters in England right now and we do play brilliant one touch combination passing game bcuz AW believes thats the best way of achieving success.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 6:39 pm
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    #

    I can’t blame the lad for having his head turned, but I hope he’s been taught wisely to realise that Barca are not a club which gives youth a chance and largely speaking are just looking to destabalise the club that offers a big European threat.

    Chris said this on November 2, 2009 at 1:14 pm

    Umm, look at their first team- Valdes, Puyol, Pique, Busquiets, Iniesta, Xavi, Pedro, Messi- all academy trained.

    If he wants to go then fair enough, good luck to him. We have the best player in the league by fucking with Barca, so I don’t think we should take the higher ground. I hope he stays and I hope he has a successful Arsenal and England career but if he wants to go earn a shit load in a beautiful city with beautiful women and hope to play with Leo Messi then I won’t get down on the lad. 99.9% of footballers in the world would jump at such a chance.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 6:40 pm
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    £5500 a week he’s only 16 thats rediculous.

    fuck off barca.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 6:48 pm
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    Benik is no fool he will not go to Barca. He just wants to check out what they are offering him.

    If you were 16 and offered a chance to enjoy the hospitality of one of the bext clubs in the world and in sunny Spain would you not go.

    Let the boy enjoy the outing and the attention, he will return home. I doubt if his parents will be keen on racist Spain anyway.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 7:28 pm
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    Having been thinking about this today I’d actually quite welcome it if he did leave and go on to become a success. Granted it would mean Barca have got their own back for Cesc but hopefully we can then employ the Sun or equivalent to come up with “Afobe longs to return to Arsenal” headlines every other week so Barca fans can live with the constant shot stirring we’ve put up with about Cesc for the last 5 years.

    In seriousness though, let’s not get on his back yet, he’s having a look not definitely joining them and there’s still no guarantee of his long term success despite the early portents.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 7:55 pm
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    J sanderson can you please tell me if arsenal will be doing anything about this?

    Obviously i understand that they cant break the bank for afobe then every other youngster would want the same

    but i would very much like too know your opinion.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 8:04 pm
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    Why does everyone go about these beautiful women in Barcelona for? Have they ever been there before? I can assure you there are some absolute trolls there. It’s like what prettyboyfloyd stated earlier, there’s some really nice women here in London too – and good food (like everywhere else on God’s Green Earth). We should really cut the shit, going on like we know what Benik might be thinking. There is no way whatsoever Barca can offer him definite success and to be playing with the likes of Messi and Iniesta before too long. Besides, i doubt they are willing to pay him that much money right now (no offence JS).

    nickogs20 – As opposed to ‘We’re the best team on the planet’. Come on now. You haven’t got a leg to stand on. Utd fans are known for their arrogance – trust me, i have firends and family who support them.

    As for our youngsters being the best. Well if you go on last years under 18’s then yes – without a shadow of a doubt. We even beat a Man City side who lost three times all year – all against us. So there was no fluke whatsoever. However, going on this year’s bunch, i would say Leicester are a good bet for that. I’m just telling it how it is.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 8:11 pm
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    What u all forgeting is that barca have the best youth system in europe. afobe will have more of a future at barca. arsenal never win anything who wants to play for a side that produces no silverware. watch cesc will follow nd the gunners will continue failing. it all good playin a good game here or there but its silverware that counts, something arsenal clearly cant win. it all good having great youngster but the prob arsenal has is a lack of experience.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 8:37 pm
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    I think it’s best for him to stay at Arsenal. Doubt he’ll get more chances at Barca, no matter how tempting the club and the wages may be. Maybe Cesc and Merida should have a talk with him.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 8:57 pm
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    TJ Da Goon;

    I suppose its a personal taste thing mate!

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  • November 2, 2009 at 9:11 pm
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    Samuel,

    Fuck off. Puyol was not Academy trained. He was brought in at around 19 from ANOTHER CLUB. Go fuck off to the Barcelona blog, this blog is for Arsenal fans.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 9:16 pm
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    haha…I went out in Barcelona and found men with boobs in netting tops…scary. London and Barcelona, both got amazing ladies…just depends where you look…sure you can find men with boobs in London as well. Gunners and Barca are both esteemed talent develpers and clubs with history…though this story smells a bit of a trap mr.sanderson…will be interesting to see

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  • November 2, 2009 at 9:25 pm
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    Samuel;

    By the criteria mentioned earlier, you can’t say messi is a barca Academy product either.

    Piet;

    Shut up you sad petty little prick. What were you hoping to get from that stupid adolescent purile remark?

    Retarded gimp

    Erm, or perhaps, you were hoping for a bit of free abuse?

    Shit!

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  • November 2, 2009 at 9:26 pm
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    Mr Saunderson;

    As I asked earlier. Where exactly is the source of this story pretty please, with sugar on top?

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  • November 2, 2009 at 10:21 pm
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    Messi played there since the age of 12, it isn’t exactly like he was bought yesterday.

    TJ- ha, I have been the Barca and they do have some fiiiine, fiiiine ladies. No doubt in London we do to. You know the best place I have been for the eye candy though? Milan. No wonder Adebayor was whoring himself around for ‘Beyonce’. Shame he ended up in a town where the ratio hotness isn’t pretty and they all sound like the grew up on a council estate chewing on bricks.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 10:31 pm
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    Samuel – I guess it’s all about one’s taste like Spike mentioned earlier. Have you seen some of their teeth ffs? :)

    I gotta agree with you about Milan though……Bella. :)

    On another note – Didn’t anyone else notice Fran Merida was on the La Liga show yesterday alongside Guillem Balague as a pundit for the Malaga vs Valencia and Deportivo vs Sporting Gijon games? I mean, wtf they need Fran there for? I didn’t like that one bit.

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  • November 2, 2009 at 10:39 pm
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    It’d be best for Afobe to move to FC Barcelona! The world’s most entertaining football club! Fabregas too will move back to Barca when the time is right, for now, let him grow stronger and better with Arsenal, but Barca will be waiting!

    Vamos Barca!

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  • November 2, 2009 at 11:19 pm
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    Well, Barcelona is a club that gives youngsters a chance – if they’re good enough. Just look at the team: Messi, Bojan, Iniesta, Pedro are just a couple of players lately that started in the A-team when they were 17-18. We’re still pissed of about Cesc but this is not the right way to go. But maybe this kid don’t see a chance of making it to your A-team because you already got so many youngsters. I mean, Wenger has to start building a team that can compete for the league and CL – he can’t do that if he sells of his +25 players every other season and replace them with youngsters. I belive you have to have a healthy mix of experineced players and young talents.

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  • November 3, 2009 at 12:34 am
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    Barca were great last season and it was fantastic for pep to do so well in his debut season. However, that was then and this is now. I do not see barca doing anything this year, either in la Liga or the Champions league.

    Football, like life, can be a right old bitch eh?

    Adios

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  • November 3, 2009 at 12:35 am
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    And still, I ask…. Where the hell did this story eminate from?

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  • November 3, 2009 at 1:09 am
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    No offence Spike but don’t get worked up when that question has been asked and answered before.

    The story came from a good source.

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  • November 3, 2009 at 1:11 am
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    None taken, I havent seen any answer fella, hence the questions man.

    If Chuks wants to check it out, then fair play to him, glad that Afobe has rebuffed em though!

    Laters

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  • November 3, 2009 at 2:56 am
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    If they take Afobe, you can guarantee we’ll never sell cesc to them. When cesc wants to go back to spain we’ll sell to madrid and afobe can sit on the bench behind bojan for the next 10 years.

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  • November 3, 2009 at 5:11 am
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    Daniel

    Cesc will never where the white shirt of Madrid, as for Benik Afobe what makes you think that he would sit behind Bojan Krcic because he has not exactly set the world on fire since he got in the first team.

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  • November 3, 2009 at 6:36 am
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    Let him leave if he wants.. I just hope for his sake that he has a spare few million in his pocket because like Merida with Barca, he’ll be forced to pay alot if he wants to leave. I wish him luck, if he decides to leave, in trying to secure a first team spot because only the standouts from the Barca academy every few years are kept.. the rest fade into obscurity

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