Arsenal Set To Release Under 18 Trio

Arsenal’s Head of Youth Development chief Liam Brady has decided against offering new contracts to Under 18 trio Sam Byles, Rhema Obed and James Dunn. All three are now free to find new club’s ahead of next season.

Byles and Obed are both graduates of the Hale End Academy, with the former being associated with the club since he was eight years old. The latter may have joined a little later, but a large part of the defenders careers have been spent with the Gunners. They were part of the London Colney intake from the summer of 2008, penning two year scholarships with the option for a two year professional contract if they impressed. After a series of ups and downs, Brady has decided against awarding the chance for them to become pro footballers with Arsenal.

Powerful right back Obed has already been busy in his search for new employment. Trials with Queens Park Rangers and Norwich City have seen him impress while a spell most recently with Leeds United brought a contract offer. He is yet to make up his mind and returned from Elland Road to play against Milton Keynes Dons a fortnight ago. Versatile defender or midfielder Byles will start to look at new outfits shortly.

Goalkeeper James Dunn is the third player to be released, but the least surprising. He was drafted in from Fulham on an emergency loan in October following a collection of injuries to Sean McDermott and James Shea, before Young Guns announced that he would be offered a short term deal to provide extra cover. A longer term stay never looked to be a feasible option despite some FA Youth Cup penalty saving heroics and some fine performances in the Premier Academy League.

The blow of losing all three players will be cushioned by the new 2010 scholars who are already making an impact in the Under 18’s.

18 thoughts on “Arsenal Set To Release Under 18 Trio

  • March 23, 2010 at 6:43 am
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    If they’re not upto it then its better for them to find a club where they have a chance of making it.
    The education they got at arsenal will surely make them the a hot property for other clubs
    I wish them a wonderful future and lets hope they become great players in future and increase the prestige of our academy.

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  • March 23, 2010 at 6:55 am
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    A little surprising about Byles. I thought he’d done well last season, but really didn’t hear much from him this year.

    Obed has always looked more suited for a lesser club.

    Good luck to all three. Hope they build professional careers and grow into top professionals.

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  • March 23, 2010 at 7:17 am
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    Sad they didn’t make it, but for the sake of the quality of our program the cut has to be made somewhere.

    But then again your chances of becoming a pro are still not out the window, being from Arsenal’s training ground. It’s just that your readiness might be later in life.

    Maybe if our youth system had a longer cycle for ROI (Return of Investment) there would be more surprise blossoms. But I think we are still in a phase of building the Arsenal Acadamy as a world brand. And the best promotion for our way of education is pushing sparkling students through the ranks, as young as they come.

    Perhaps that moment of forceable progress comes too early for these guys.

    Wish you well. Stay focused. You have already beaten so many potentials by earning a place at our Acadamy. Believe you can hold that spirit till ‘the spark’ comes and you turn into a blazing fire.

    (Hope that we may welcome you back if that happens for you.)

    Cheers,

    DutchGooner10

    Reply
  • March 23, 2010 at 7:55 am
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    @DutchGooner10,

    You sound like an experienced administrator, those words of wisdom will strengthen those quality young men who cant make it Arsenal. but the quality of Arsenal academy will help them find a strong carrier somewhere

    Reply
  • March 23, 2010 at 8:17 am
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    Good luck to those guys, hope they get good careers.

    So that means we will have a reserve team squad of:

    Shea
    Nordtveit
    Hoyte
    Pedro Botelho
    Cruise
    Bartley
    Evina
    Ayling
    Gilbert
    Coquelin
    Eastmond
    Lansbury
    Frimpong
    Henderson
    Watt
    JET
    Barazite
    Randall
    Deacon
    Sunu
    Murphy
    Freeman
    Simpson

    That’s 23 players.

    And our U18 squad for next year will be:
    McDermott
    Charles-Cook
    Miquel
    Hajrovic
    Boateng
    Brislen-Hall
    Bihmoutine
    Angha
    Monteiro
    Campbell
    Glasgow
    Wynter
    Smith
    Edge
    Ozyakup
    Yennaris
    Aneke
    Rees
    Webb
    Meade
    Bunjaku
    Afobe
    Monokana
    Neita
    Ansah

    That’s 25 players.
    So 48 players for in the U18 and reserve teams. That seems a bit too much. Think we will see a few more players leave, like Gilbert, Simpson and Randall. And maybe some players will be promoted to the first team squad (a few of Lansbury, JET, Bartley, Botelho,Nordtveit).

    Should be intresting to see.

    Reply
    • March 23, 2010 at 6:16 pm
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      Bothelo will be released so will GIlbert
      Simpsons, Randall, Hoyte will be sold or released
      And most of the reserve will go out on loan – Cruise, Bartley, Shea, Evina, Ayling, Eastmond, Coquelin, Frimpong, Henderson, Watt, Deacon, Sunu, Murphy, Freeman
      These players with either move to the first team (if not then sold) – Barazite, JET, Norvedit and Lansbury

    • March 23, 2010 at 7:56 pm
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      i dont understand why u feel simpson should leave he has all the attributes to be a top striker and i fell he is the one who shold be promoted to the first team with the right guidence he could be our drogba

    • March 23, 2010 at 8:41 pm
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      SImpson has better players in front of him e.g vela and Eduardo
      and how can Simpson be the next Drogba he has none of Drogba attributes the closest player we have to Drogba is JET even though he’s not a striker.

  • March 23, 2010 at 11:27 am
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    Good luck for the future to all three of them!!!

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  • March 23, 2010 at 5:20 pm
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    What about jones? Didn’t he get re-offered a scholarship with arsenal

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  • March 23, 2010 at 6:17 pm
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    well, better release them then tied them to bench forever

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  • March 23, 2010 at 8:04 pm
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    Here’s something for you list-makers. Best XI out of the 48 players mentioned for Reserves and U-18’s. Go nuts.

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  • March 23, 2010 at 10:44 pm
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    Not every young player can make it. Especially at a club like Arsenal that is constantly scouring the world to find top-flight prospects to bring in and develop. Places have to be found for new arrivals annually. And, as a result, some players who have not progressed as far or as quickly as expected must be let go.

    There is no disgrace, however, in being one of those players. Some simply take more time to develop their skills, while others simply reach a plateau in the development of their skills that they have difficulty moving forward from, and others discover that their skills are not well-suited to the style of game that the club wants them to play.

    What’s important for each of these young men to keep in mind is that they had enough talent to be invited to be a part of the Arsenal Academy and that there is still a chance for them to continue to develop their talents at another club where the expectations may be lower, the demands for quick development less, or they will be a better fit.

    I hope that each of these young men finds such a club. I would like to thank them for their contributions to the Arsenal Academy on and off the pitch and wish them well. I hope that they will leave Arsenal with a good feeling about the club and at least an open mind about perhaps returning if their careers should blossom at some point in the future.

    Good luck and stay healthy lads!

    Reply
  • March 24, 2010 at 3:14 am
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    Bothelo wont be released. Next year is his ones I am sure of that!! He was on loan to get work permit but now all is sorted. Same like we did with Vela!!!

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    • March 24, 2010 at 6:17 am
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      I can bet that he will be released.
      He has not improved one bit in his second year and he’s making headline for all the wrong reasons with going out with his club president daughter and his partys.

  • March 24, 2010 at 6:20 am
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    Nice pic of boots being hung up!

    Reply
  • March 24, 2010 at 9:22 pm
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    YG
    any idea if Wellington is injured? haven’t seen him play last 2 games for Fluminense

    Reply
  • March 31, 2010 at 3:04 am
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    My cousin recommended this blog and she was totally right keep up the fantastic work!

    Reply

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