Arsenal have completed the signing of Norwich City striker Philip Roberts. The Republic of Ireland Under 17 international has moved to North London on scholarship terms after his deal at Carrow Road expired. Roberts impressed during a trial spell towards the end of last season.
Arsenal’s collection of Irish talent is on the increase. Conor Henderson, Sean McDermott, Callum Webb, Ben Glasgow and Steven Smith are all young Gunners who have turned out in the Green shirt at youth level, and Roberts’ signing continues the tradition the club have with The Emerald Isle. That said, Roberts leads a new wave of different and exciting Irish talent.
Philip has only been part of the Norwich City Academy for a few years, yet he’s earned a solid reputation during his time in Norfolk. A quick, powerful, strong and skillful striker who can play either down the middle as a target man, versatility in a variety of formations is a key tick in the box.
The youngster has been hitting large numbers of goals for Norwich’s Under 15’s but it was the step up into the Under 16’s last year where he really impressed. His frightening pace has run teams ragged, including Arsenal. Roberts fired home an injury time winner at Norwich’s Colney training centre, and went on to bag a number of goals throughout the campaign. Although born in England, he chose to represent the Republic of Ireland and was soon selected at Under 16 level.
In late 2009, Phil was selected and handed a start against the Czech Republic in a friendly. With the scores at 1-1, he broke clear of the strong Czech back line and showed great composure to fire into the corner. A dream debut with what proved to be the winner.
Liam Brady soon heard about his blossoming talent and he joined Arsenal on trial for the closing stages of the season. A brace on his debut was impressive, he then went on to bang in the goals before being invited to Italy for the Ferolli Cup. Another double was chalked up against Juventus in the opening group game, but a very young side went crashing out early.
Comparisons in playing style with Aston Villa’s Gabriel Agbonlahor are very easy to make, but with the ability to hold the ball up and be dominant in the air, Philip Roberts is added to the collection of promising strikers within the Academy.
How old is he? Will he play for the reserves or the youths?
He is 16 and will play for the Under 18’s next season. But we’ve seen, if he settles quickly and scores goals there is no reason why he can’t play Reserves.
How tall is he ?
Does he have the touch of Bergkamp or touch of Bendtner ?
how can a 16 year old have the touch of bergkamp?
Whos number 16, 9 and 2?
Is number 5 chuks aneke?
Steve Smith is he a centre back?
5 = Elton Montiero
16 = Lewis Kinsella
9 = Roberts
2 = Joe Jones
is it right to suggest that arsenal have turned their focus in the search for young talent more inward toward the home nations in the past couple of years? there’s still the odd wellington, but not too many i think…
Wow Elton Montiero looks a giant.
Elton Montiero was he the same guy Man Utd were after? Or was that Luis conte?
Lewis Kinsella is he mark kinsella’s son?
I’ve never heard of him…sounds like we’ve missed out! I can only hope he flops.
nice to still see arsenal doing what they do best- stealing other peoples players a year or so before they break into the first team and claiming they are home grown players. :-)
you mean likw Tottenham with Bostock and United with King macheda, rooney andPogba? Yeh that is usually how it is done. Nobody should come here and say Bostock is a product of Totenham. or Macheda a product of United. They are just like Cesc, has their dna from somewhere else :)
Yeah, because it’s not like developing a player between 16 and 20 is hard or anything.
That’s why Norwich City is full of homegrown English prospects and are one of the best teams in country
Nah I can’t accept that Matt. That’s just sour grapes on your side. He was out of contract at Norwich and he came to Arsenal on trial with their blessing. I don’t think you did enough to keep him, so you can’t blame him.
Carlos Vela scored against Italy today. Great for the lad, hope he does well this WC. He has amazing potential.
All these Irish lads remind me of growing up in the 70’s. Jamie, do you think this something to do with Liam Brady i.e. are the boys feeling it is the best way of growing as an international player ? By the way if there is another Brady, O’Leary, Rice, Stapleton, Jennings and co I’ll be a happy gooner.
Well all the Irish boys at Arsenal are all born outside of Ireland. Also, only McDermott and Roberts have been brought in, the rest have come through the Academy. So Brady is certainly a pull for them, but if I’m honest, most of the kids don’t have a clue about how big a player he was.
I think there’s a selection of good Irish internationals around, but how many of them would stay loyal to Ireland if they become stars? I don’t know.
“A quick, powerful, strong and skillful striker who can play EITHER down the middle as a target man, versatility in a variety of formations is a key tick in the box.”
so he can play either down the middle or as??
I’ve been keeping an eye on the youth signings and hype for 8-10 years now, and it’s clear that very, very few make it. So I guess the hype of another talent is diminished.
Once one of Deacon, Freeman, JET, Simpson, Afobe, etc actually turns it on for Arsenal, I guess these kinds of signings will be more exciting, although to be fair I should include Bendtner or even Walcott in that list.
To expect even 2 players from each 2-3 year group is asking too much. Not every group of youth players is going to be like United’s Golden Generation. To get 1 good talent for every age we have now is phenomenal and will set up the team for success for years to come.
I think last year WIlshere group was probably the group that has the biggest chance of making it (Our golden Generation)
Players who looks destined to make it
Wilshere
Lansbury
Eastmond
Bartley
Man he’s gotta be around 6 ft. already right?? He’s only a bit shorter than Monteiro.
But with the new rule to come I am sure more than 1 every year will be given a chance. This year a lot of our FA youth cup squad did get a chance. Sunu, Watt and wilshere, maybe even lansbury will be given a chance in the flanks next season over Walcott.
I saw the the game with Vela today and he was sooo good. He will play a lot more next season. He have the football brain which Walcott doesn’t have.
good walcott has more football brain that most its just his progression has been hampered by injuries.
I hope his exclusion from WC squad fires him to greatness as it did with Rio
Pity he doesn’t show his brain when playing for the club
Anyone know Roberts official birthday?
J
Its reported that Arsenal have made a 2 million bid for Boruc to match Sevilla’s bid and are now the front runners for his signature.
I like him
He is a good goalkeeper he needs a new challenge. I think he needs to move and hes crazy so he would be a great character in the dressing room.
Andrew mate i agree walcott has been hampered with injuries and he doesnt lack technically its just his decision making and tactical awarenss he needs to improve.
The boy can run, pass, great touch, good control, sheilding the ball better its just his final ball and when having the ball with time on the ball he struggles to think what to do next.
But that will come with age
Walcott only needs to learn how to cross in the right position when running at 100km/h and how to conserve his energy for the entire game.
He’s got more talent than SWP and Lennon put together and is faster too but it will take him time to learn these things and this might be just the kick in the butt he needs to get his act together and become the winger that Wenger knows he can be. I BELIEVE IN THEO COMPLETELY
I like Boruc because he reminds of Lehman – not the greatest of keepers but he has a presence in the box and he’s a nut a true goalkeeper nut.
Walcott is bad when he is at full speed mate. He is bad when he has time to think. That is usually when he does something random.
You have to admit that youth managers must feel like whats the point sometimes. You work hard and finally get a good young talent and folks are snatching the up at 15. Why even have a youth team and a lower club. Some times you get comp but still. Could amagine being a youth coach at a small club.
they get the money from compensation which helps
J
any truth that we will give FC Lorient Coquelin and Traore plus 7 million cash for Laurent Koscielny I know he’s good but he’s not that good
I wont mind if it was loans but if its a permanent transfer then he aint that good.
what’s your take on it
no way we will get rid of Coquelin. Unless he is having issues living in england, that kid has a bright future. You could see Troare being involved because although i think he has all the physical qualities to be a great leftback, he is just so far away from the finished article, that it might not be worth the time considering we have to young leftbacks in clichy and Gibbs.
No sour grapes at all, I couldnt give a damn whether he signed for you or not, and yes Tottenham are EXACTLY the same, if not worse.
But not with Bostock, everyone knows where he came from, and he made a HUGE mistake leaving Crystal Palace. Tottenham seem to ruin young talent.
Just if he ever does break into the first team, it will be claimed hes a product of your youth system, when he only spent a fraction of that there.
Its wrong when ‘big clubs’ like you and tottenham are aloud to get away with it, it really is.
If we train him for 4 years, then yes he is a product of our system.
matt go crunch some you carrots you sour grape worzel.
every club steals young players. we do actaully have proper home grown ones aswell though, like wilshere and JET, they came when they were 9.
He wont make it
Gents, I am gutted that he was allowed to run his contract down with a promise of a scholarship at the Gunners. How can a football league club compete against a premiership club? Unfortunately this is life, those who have money can offer better contracts than those who haven’t got it. The other thing that I had heard is that he was from near London anyways, so maybe he wanted to go to a club nearer to home rather than staying away from home.
That being that I wish the lad all the best for the future and hope that he ends up making it. Now if we could have him back on loan in maybe two-three years time then that would be great.
No sour grapes, just realism!
i used 2 go to school with phil in east london. i remember in yr 5 everyone was getting skinned in the playground by him and his friend, sandeep. he was very good in yr 5.
lool hi peeps, Phil’s ma lil cuz & we go/went same school, just by coincedence i found this page lol,
His contract was up, was offered a contract, but he lives in east london so arsenal was closer anyway. He’s bout 6ft an growing stil lol, tryna be taller than me. and he plays on both wings, upfront, and attacking midfield…all questions answered..lol?