Year: 2009

Brentford have made their second loan swoop on Arsenal’s Reserve team by adding striker Rhys Murphy to the acquisition of goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny. England Under 19 starlet Murphy heads across London on a 3-month-loan deal.

The 19-year-old injury plagued forward was a key member of the Under 18’s historic double winning side last season and he will go straight into Andy Scott’s side for tonight’s League One game away to Wycombe Wanderers. Arsenal have also given the green light for Rhys to play in FA Cup tie against Walsall at Griffin Park this Saturday. Speaking just minutes after confirming the capture of one of the country’s most exciting young goal poachers, Scott said:

“Rhys is another good signing for us. He has a lot of potential, so much so he is seen as a future First Team squad member at Arsenal. This opportunity is good for both ourselves and Rhys as it will allow him to blossom under our guidance. In that respect it also confirms that Brentford is seen as a club that can help the progress of young up and coming Premiership players.”

Rhys will wear the number 37 shirt for Brentford and as usual Young Guns will be reporting on his fortunes throughout his period away from the club in our regular Loanee Reports.

Article By – J.Sanderson

As Ivan Gazidis continues Arsène Wenger’s mandate in extending the contracts of some of his most exciting young assets, the club are yet to make a decision on whether to extended Henri Lansbury‘s forms which are due to expire in the summer.

Lansbury initially struggled to make an impact in the Watford team but after holding down a regular slot in an improving Hornets outfit, Henri is considered one of the Championship’s most exciting prospects. He starred on Saturday against his former employers Scunthorpe United, claiming an assist for Danny Graham’s decisive third goal.

As his attitude continues to improve from the days when many regarded him as a typical ‘party boy’, Lansbury revealed to the Scunthorpe Telegraph on Friday that his decision to move to Watford was down a preference of being closer to his friends rather than for the obvious football reasons. It’s little things like that which could ultimately decide whether Henri makes it as a big time professional or ends up on the list of forgotten talents or could and should have made it.

Arsenal are expected to sit down with Lansbury in January and make a firm decision.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Arsenal’s Under 16’s continued their impressive form yesterday morning with a 5-1 romp over their Southampton counterparts on the South Coast.

Coach Steve Gatting selected a mixture of exciting regulars and promising trialists while summer signing Elton Monteiro made his debut at centre half. The 6’3 defender will return to FC Sion next week ahead of his January switch to the club but Gatting took the opportunity to hand the Swiss powerhouse a run out.

FC Lucerne left back Stefan Marinkovic also started while two trialists from the club’s Thai link-club BEC Tero FC featured. The Gunners cruised to victory with England Under 16 international Zak Ansah notching another brace while his strike partner, Nigel Neita, also found the net. Jeffrey Monakana put the game beyond doubt before one of the Thai subs wrapped things up with number five.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Brazilian Serie ‘A’ outfit Fluminense have sold their highly prized young forward Wellington Silva to Arsenal for $5 million dollars, according to respected Rio-based journalist Gilmar Ferreira.

Ferreira has reported on his official blog that, following talks last week, Arsenal have finally ended the protracted saga by snapping up one of the most sought after young strikers around. However, due to FIFA rules, he will follow the same path as Argentine goalkeeper Damián Martínez by remaining with his club until he is 18, in 2011.

The starlet, nicknamed Ciel, impressed during a 7 day trial last Christmas – he even played 45 minutes for the Under 16’s against Norwich – and he made an emphatic impression, scoring 4 goals. In a bid to warn off potential suitors who included Chelsea, Man Utd, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Barcelona, coach Carlos Alberto Parreira promoted Wellington into his first-team squad but financial trouble has seen them buckle, and a deal looks to have been struck by trusted Brazil-based scout Sandro Orlandelli.

More to follow.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Arsenal’s Under 18’s maintained their lead in Academy League Group A this morning with a comfortable 3-0 win over Southampton on the South Coast. Steve Bould’s boys hit three unanswered second half goals on their return to action following last weeks postponement at Portsmouth with the impressive Chukwuemeka Aneke leading the charge with brace while Benik Afobe bagged his 8th of the campaign.

Bould didn’t resist the opportunity to shuffle his pack after a 6-0 win over Charlton last time out. Under 17 World Cup winner Sead Hajrovic partnered Daniel Boateng at centre half while Oğuzhan Özyakup replaced Conor Henderson in a midfield three. ‘Chuks’ Aneke was handed the free-role between the midfield and a front-line which boasts 22 goals from just 11 Academy League games.

Dunn
Byles – Hajrovic – Boateng – Evina (c)
Özyakup – Yennaris
Aneke
Deacon – Afobe – Freeman

Substitutes:- Obed – Henderson – Meade

Southampton began well and seemed to settle into their game plan despite the powerful wind which has  battered many parts of England over the last 24 hours continuing. Arsenal struggled get going early on but as the wind started to subside, the quality of the game dramatically improved.

That said a few neat moves from Bould’s boys couldn’t be rewarded but as the half time break came and went, the Gunners found top gear and proved too strong for their hosts. Two quick-fire strikes in a matter of minutes from Aneke had the Saints on the rack and struggling and their misery was compounded further when Benik Afobe slammed home number three.

With the game all but over and with next weeks Reserve game on the horizon, Özyakup was replaced by fellow play-maker Conor Henderson while rapid winger Jernade Meade came on for Afobe.

Article By – J.Sanderson

League One outfit Brentford have signed Arsenal’s Reserve team goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny on a month-long loan deal. The 19-year-old trained with the Bees this morning and will stay at Griffin Park until the 20th of December.

Szczęsny, who made his full international debut for Poland on Wednesday as a second half substitute against Canada, has been courted by many Championship clubs for a potential loan spell but injuries to fellow glovesmen Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski has seen Arsene Wenger hold fire.

Two clean sheets from his three Reserve team outings this year added to his already growing reputation as one of the best Under 21 ‘keepers around, and he confirmed this after starring on his first-team debut against West Brom in the Carling Cup. Bees boss Andy Scott moved to welcome the 6’5 inch Pole on Brentford’s official website:

“This is another good signing for the Club and he brings with him more of the quality that we are looking to introduce to the squad. It also shows our capability to bring in good players. We are looking forward to working with him and enjoying a fruitful relationship.”

Wojciech will go straight into the Brentford team for tomorrows clash with Walsall where he will ware the number 53. Young Guns will have a full report on his debut in our weekly ‘Loanees Reports’.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Arsenal’s mutual partnership with Spanish Segunda outfit UD Salamanca has officially come to an end. However, the club have maintained their base on the continent by re-establishing their previous link with Celta Vigo.

Young Guns announced in September that Arsenal were considering cancelling the partnership with Salamanca following their treatment of both Havard Nordtveit and Pedro Botelho during loan spells. The latter was even withdrawn early after allegations that assistant manager Fran Albert had been attempting to black-mail Pedro into handing over money.

Celta Vigo have been handed a second chance to link with the Gunners after an acrimonious split over a row with Carlos Vela in 2006. After promising they would loan the Mexican, they signed too many non E.U players and were unable to add Vela to their ranks. Yet after Salamanca’s Sporting Director Miguel Torrecilla switched to Celta in the summer, Arsenal have now rekindled the relationship which was initially setup by David Dein.

After a struggling start to the season, Celta’s initial push for promotion appears to be over already, but future non-EU players look certain to make the switch to Spain.The club will also look for a new man to look after the arrangement after Richard Law was promoted to Ivan Gazidis’ excutive team following a successful interview for the post during pre-season.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Wojciech Szczęsny made his full international debut this evening as Poland beat Canada 1-0 in a friendly.

Midfielder Maciej Rybus scored for the hosts in the 19th minute to end a miserable winless streak for the Eastern Europeans. The two teams played out an eventful first half and chances were shared equally between the two teams. The North Americans nearly scored in the 30th minute but Man United’s Tomasz Kuszczak saved from Jaime Peters’ perfectly weighted cross.

As promised by the coach Franciszek Smuda on Saturday, Arsenal’s fourth choice ‘keeper, Szczęsny, entered the fray in the second half and did his credentials a wealth of good. The 19-year-old made two desitive catches on two tricky long balls. The son of a former Polish legend Maciej Szczęsny, Wojciech kept a clean sheet and this will surely enhance his chances of being first-choice for the mouth-watering Carling Cup clash against Manchester City.

Article By – Abdi Ali

The FIFA Under 17 World Cup took place recently where Arsenal’s Sead Hajrovic helped lead a strong Swiss side to victory against the hosts, Nigeria.

Due to popular demand, we’ve compiled a list of 10 players to watch out for in the future. The players are those who competed in the actual tournament not those who featured during the qualifying period.

Read more →