Should Arsenal Loan Players Together?

Benik Afobe has made a positive start to life at Huddersfield Town, with glowing reports surfacing from both fans and critics alike. With Afobe gone, Chuks Aneke will now miss his partner in crime over the coming month and possibly longer if Huddersfield and Arsenal agree to extend Afobe’s loan. However, with Wenger keen to fast track both the young England internationals, Aneke may be joining Afobe sooner rather than later on loan at another club.

With Aneke taking to reserves football like a duck to water and the likelihood that he will not be featuring in the Carling Cup this year, surely a loan move would be a good option for the youngster. Aneke would join the likes of Afobe, Freeman, Evina, Cruise, Watt and Coquelin who have all joint separate clubs respectively. Both Aneke and Afobe have the potential to make it at Arsenal in the years to come, which makes it all the more fulfilling that the pair have played with each other since they were 7 years old. Afobe recently mentioned that his partnership with Aneke ‘comes naturally’, begging the question; in future should Arsenal send their promising youngsters on loan together?

Perhaps the best example of this concept is Barcelona. The Spanish giants make sure that their youngsters are constantly playing and progressing with each other, creating a loyalty to the club and their team mates. After the youth team they are placed in Barcelona B who play in the Spanish Segunda League playing competitive football week in, week out with each other , developing as a team, as footballers and as human beings. The rewards are there for all to see, with the majority of the Barcelona first team consisting of previous youth and B team players.

Arsenal are certainly able to compete with the tactical consistency of Barcelona throughout the youth, reserves and first team with every team playing the ‘Arsenal way’. From the U9’s to the first team Arsenal play with quick movement and passing in a 4-5-1 formation. This continuity is vital in keeping a consistency throughout the club so that youngsters who do progress to the first team already understand the philosophy of Wengers side.

The only thing lacking compared to Barcelona, is the ability to offer competitive football in an English league. Instead the youngsters are sent out on loan to a variety of clubs to gain valuable experience, but they may not necessarily play the ‘Arsenal Way’. If they were sent on loan together they would be able to continue their rapport with each other in a competitive league.

Although it could be argued that the main purpose of a loan move is to experience the vigorous demands of competitive football and to try and find a way to combat this alone, the support of a fellow Arsenal loanee could help promote a vital attribute in football: camaraderie. It would also help players from abroad such as Wellington who is yet to appreciate the English game. If he was loaned out with a fellow Arsenal youngster it would help the player feel much more part of the Arsenal set up, rather than a fish out of water.

Arsenal have certainly profited from loan moves in the past, with Jack Wilshere the most recent example. Yet with the possibility of sending two or three youngsters on loan together it could certainly help them understand each other’s game that little bit more, which could only be a good thing in the long term for Arsenal football club. It is not guaranteed that every youngster who goes on loan will become a first team regular, but for the few that do make it, if they have continued to play with each other in competitive football the integration in to the first team may be much more comfortable.

What harm could it do if Afobe, Aneke and future acquisition Wellington went on loan together for a couple of months? I’m sure Huddersfield Town fans wouldn’t be complaining.

51 thoughts on “Should Arsenal Loan Players Together?

  • November 11, 2010 at 2:15 pm
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    I know I’ve touted this before, but what about Arsenal buying a lower league club (Portsmouth was the first to spring to mind in light of their financial difficulties) and make that their ‘feeder’ club, aka Arsenal B? Would that be allowed in the rules of the FA? Would it be better than constantly loaning players out to other clubs. At least that way they could grow together in a team that plays the same style as the first team instead of sometimes radically different styles.

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    • November 11, 2010 at 3:30 pm
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      FA rules do not allow for clubs to own smaller clubs, in fact even an individual can not have major say in two clubs covered by the FA,

    • November 12, 2010 at 1:09 am
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      I love your idea but it is such a typical arrogant gooner comment i had to laugh lmao

    • November 12, 2010 at 5:34 am
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      What happens if and when that club we buy is promoted to the epl?

  • November 11, 2010 at 2:17 pm
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    I agree with you.But it has also got a down side to it. If 2 to 3 arsenal youth go together, The club which takes them might think that they will play the arsenal way rather than their club brand of football. Also, They might stick together and might not move with other members of the team

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  • November 11, 2010 at 2:32 pm
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    Hi Nick,

    Can you get in touch with me please bud.

    Regards

    D

    Reply
    • November 11, 2010 at 5:50 pm
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      Hello David,

      How can I help you mate?

      Nick

  • November 11, 2010 at 2:33 pm
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    Fair point. But a lot depends on if a club wants all of them or only only on of them…

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  • November 11, 2010 at 2:35 pm
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    Any News on the Wojo contract J??

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  • November 11, 2010 at 2:35 pm
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    Karl Henry’s tackle on Arshavin:

    bit.ly/afBakz (Youtube video)

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  • November 11, 2010 at 2:54 pm
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    You may be right but when they get to the first team they will have to get used to playing with different players weekly, its all part of the learning process and taking them out of their comfort zone

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  • November 11, 2010 at 2:54 pm
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    Good debate. However, you are supposing that lower league clubs have the need for an attacking midfielder and striker at the same time. It may not be the case. Maybe they only require one position to be filled. Also, living away from home comforts, including existing social relationships, can also serve to make teenagers grow up. The football is one side to a loan, whilst the socialisation is another.

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  • November 11, 2010 at 3:14 pm
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    can u pls post up Afobe’s 2 goals for Huddersfield

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  • November 11, 2010 at 3:16 pm
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    Totally agree. It would allow quicker transition to there new surroundings and allow continuity in there development. Huddersfield would be lucky to have aneke, wellington and afobe. do we have any videos of the afobe goals yet?

    what arsenal need to do is petition the fa to allow their reserves to joing the football league. Im not being funny but our young lads would tear up even the championship. it can only be good for english football.

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    • November 11, 2010 at 3:28 pm
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      There on the bbc website

  • November 11, 2010 at 3:24 pm
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    I think the club needs to be very careful how players progress from “young talent” to capable to play for a top team like Arsenal.

    Looking back over the last 5 odd years, I think you would struggle to find many examples where the loan system has fully worked. Many players seem to be signed as “squad” players and spend large chunks of it on the loan clubs bench. When they do play the people around them dont play “the Arsenal way” so apart from playing time they dont really get a chance to show there full skills.

    Loaning players together would help, but only if the are either contracted to play or the loan club are in desperate need. I believe we did it with Bentner when he Larson and Muamba went to Birmingham and got them promotion.

    We now have a very young first team squad and lots of even younger talent coming through. IMO we should create agreements with lower league teams (prob L2 or L1) in the same way as we do in spain and use those clubs to blood a batch of our players each season. This could be win win for both sides and they are more likely to play “our” football and if the kids are as good as we think the loan clubs chances of promotion must be greater.

    Looking at the current first 11 squad only Song, Jack and Bentner had loans (I think)but the vast numbers we have sent out, including Lupoli the next big thing, got very little benefit (for arsenal)

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    • November 11, 2010 at 6:34 pm
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      Song
      Wilshere
      Bendtner
      Djourou
      Gibbs
      Vela

      And others close to the first team breakthrough will be…
      Lansbury
      Nordtveit.
      N

  • November 11, 2010 at 3:26 pm
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    Great points. Bendtner, Muamba and Larsson basically helped Birmingham win promotion one year.

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  • November 11, 2010 at 3:30 pm
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    Re:guy. It’s a great idea {therefore it’ll never happen!}.

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  • November 11, 2010 at 3:32 pm
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    Aneke has made a big impact on reserve football at only 17 years! I wonder what wengers plans are for him as i truly believe he could turn into a great player!

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  • November 11, 2010 at 3:34 pm
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    I believe that the rules will mean Wellington can not go out on loan to another english or welsh club, something to do with special talent visa or work permit rules, not FA rules, the visa or work permit is for one club only and with a young player if he seeks a new permit or visa to go on loan to another club he would run risk of having all taken off him and have to leave the UK, especially with the special talent visa

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  • November 11, 2010 at 3:41 pm
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    Arsenal fans should kick up a storm with the club if the mooted loan of Vela & Ramsey to Fulham appears to be a realistic prospect. Under no circumstances should arsenal deal with Fulham whilst the vile turd Hughes is manager. No doubt though the typically apathetic Arsenal fans will be silent & do nothing !

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    • November 11, 2010 at 10:35 pm
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      I think going to fulham on loan would be a great opportunity for those two players. To help with ramseys rehabilitation and give vela the playing time he needs. I think this is more important than what we think of the manager. Fulham play decent football and being in London is even better very little adjustment needed for the players.

  • November 11, 2010 at 4:18 pm
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    Good point on Birmingham City.

    On the B team, as mentioned disallowed by FA rules – didn’t we try that recently with the Belgian club Beveran (sic) (also the source of Eboue) – a few youths sent there together and African prospects fed there from the IC. Not sure it was all quite kosher though.

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  • November 11, 2010 at 4:34 pm
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    a good thing with going on loan to different clubs is that they learn to play when the other partner-in-crime is not around.

    surely in arsenal they won’t always be playing alongside each other in the first team and it would be good then if they already knew how to play without each other.

    I mean, if they are already known to play with their friends, what will happen when they reach the first team and have to adapt to playing with completely new players – without their friend? Better to learn this aspect of the game before they experience it in Arsenal

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  • November 11, 2010 at 4:39 pm
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    Every so often a dual loan might make a lot of sense given the individual circumstances.

    But I was thinking this morning that it’s probably great for English football in the long run that these young prospects get exposure in (rather than exposed to) all manner of footballing environments. I mean, if Afobe has a great showing over the next few weeks how inspirational would that be for one or ten young Hudderfield kids?! They might train harder, focus more on technique, etc., spreading and embedding the current arsenal philosophy deeper into English football. Then again, a lot more clubs are playing attractive football this year so it’s not like Arsenal are some sort of exception any more.

    Not sure what our club specifically gets from what I just outlined, other than perhaps a few more supports across the land who choose Arsenal for their Big Club to support.

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  • November 11, 2010 at 4:44 pm
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    what Arsenal needs is a B team in the lower leagues

    we seriously need this

    Reply
    • November 11, 2010 at 4:55 pm
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      That whole concept has actually been discussed on this site if im not mistaken. the following point(s) were brought up

      – Its just not a plausible option, with the FA and Carling Cup containing lower leagued teams it would b inevitable that Arsenal “A” and Arsenal “B” would meet in the same game. Which i think is illegal by some statute or someshit by either the FA or FIFA.

      so yeh, just one point i can remember (Colorado Medicinal Marijuana is pretty damn good haha) as it happened a while back,

      Its not a bad idea at all on paper, but there are too many possible problems that make it not worth the time or effort.

      Also, with the new homegrown rule will prove to benefit us GREATLY in the next couple of seasons, so the need of a B team is kinda pointless as more and more of the youngsters are going to become integral parts of the squad in a little while.

      Good idea though

    • November 11, 2010 at 5:34 pm
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      @ Jdilla

      in Spain B teams are not allowed to enter the National Cup for same reason

      so why can`t it be

  • November 11, 2010 at 7:33 pm
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    Great article.

    The best thing would be for us to have an Arsenal ‘B’ team in the lower leagues, funneling our youngsters from the U18s straight into competitive football.

    It wouldn’t just be good for us, I believe it would be hugely beneficial for the development of all young British players. There is so much talent all around the country lying stagnant in Reserve teams. Some clubs have even removed themselves from having a Reserve system for this reason.

    It’s unlikely that B teams will ever come to fruition, so this suggestion of sending loan players in pairs or in ‘threes’ is the next best thing. Setting up partnerships with lower league clubs very open to taking some of our brood every season would be fantastic.

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  • November 11, 2010 at 9:36 pm
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    or Arsenal could have a joint deal with a Lower league side and send players on loan there..maybe a League 2 side..would do alott

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    • November 12, 2010 at 2:25 am
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      I believe there is a rule that teams can only name up to 4 loan players in a matchday squad. So that’s the absolute limit – but in reality it would be lower. Say we had a feeder club in League Two. Sure, they could loan 4 of our players, but then what happens if they have an injury crisis and need to loan a 5th player? So really they would only loan 2 or 3 at most, and keep a spot open in case they need an emergency loan.

      The other problem is, what happens if we want to loan out, say, a center back, but the team already has 4 good ones? And of course, no manager likes to rely on loan players year after year. They’d essentially have to leave 2 or 3 starting spots open every year for Arsenal players, who are unlikely to stay for more than one year – a lot of those clubs have a high turnover rate to begin with, so they won’t want even more instability.

  • November 11, 2010 at 9:47 pm
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    Hey J!

    You not put out an article about Szczesny signing his new deal mate???

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  • November 12, 2010 at 1:19 am
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    a one year or 2 year loan spell wont change the understanding of the game that has been feed into these players since they were 7-9 yrs old

    A loan spell is suppose to turn these players from boys to men and teach them how hard it really is in competitive football

    I like the way these loans work at the moment and the rewards are their for everyone to see
    the best make it others dont

    Afobe, Bartley, Coquelin, Bothelo have all been brilliant in their respective loans so far and all four of these will surely try and break in the future

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  • November 12, 2010 at 2:20 am
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    Chuks aneke has been terrific in my opinion. Hes ready for the first team in my opinion the kid is so mature beyond his years picks the right option time , time again hes 6ft 4 as well we could with some height in the team

    Its a shame we only see highlights cause i imagine chuks aneke is involved in everything for 90mins whilst jay thomas who probably has a 20min spell gets all the headlines.

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  • November 12, 2010 at 2:57 am
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    The last English club I can think of that did this that you are speaking of is Manchester united who sent a group of players to belgium. Some worked out and some didn’t so i don’t think it really matters. Obviously the best situation is the system in spain and it is not just barcelona that have this. That system allows you to have your youngsters playing your style of football.

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  • November 12, 2010 at 8:20 am
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    this is why England can never win WC like spain. sighh…

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  • November 12, 2010 at 9:25 am
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    Nick,

    I’m a photographer and follow Town, i’m happy to contribute a coupe of pics of Benik and a brief report of how he’s doing if you like?

    david@dcwhittaker.com

    Reply
    • November 13, 2010 at 11:03 am
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      Yeh that sounds good David. Ive passed your e-mail on to Jamie who runs the site.

  • November 12, 2010 at 4:12 pm
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    Hi J,

    Thanks for a great piece! This is an excellent question. As some have noted it seems to be a dilemma between giving our best youngsters the chance to continue to develop a deeper and deeper understanding together (even while on loan) and sending them off on thier own to experience (and survive) the rigors of professional football without the protective support of the club, and in this case, a long-time teammate who’s a footballing peer and personal friend.

    Considering that so many of our best youngsters have been together for luxuriously long periods of time already, I lean slightly toward the idea of loaning them out individually rather than as a pair. I mean, the likes of Wilshere, JET, and Lansbury have been together since they were 9 or 10, no? And with Afobe and Aneke, they’ve been playing together since 12 or 13 I believe, haven’t they?

    I feel like in some respects this fantasticly long period of time they’ve trained together has alredy provided them an iron-clad understanding they can take with them for the rest of their careers.

    The other piece though is how does that understanding hold up against better and better competition. And, I suppose that is the question that would be best answered with a dual loan spell. It’s a very interesting discussion. Thanks again for the great insight!

    On a side note JS, it sounds like Coqueline and Botelho are really doing well out on loan. From what you’ve observed is Coquelin back to his best form at the d-mid spot…the form he showed during the cup run with the U-18’s? If so, that’s great news and I think it could really be interesting what happens at that position. AW seemed to think Frimpong was ready this year, and if Coquelin is settling well back into that spot there could be a great battle at the clube to support Song in that role. And don’t forget about Yennaris, a player who I think has massive, massive potential. IMO, he has the potential to inject himself right into the middle of the battle with Frimpong and Coquelin.

    I never completely understood the attempt to convert Coq to the right back role. I know we need cover there, but at his best,he buzzed all over midfield and looked a truly promising D-mid.

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    • November 12, 2010 at 9:08 pm
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      Great comment KC.

      Regarding Aneke and Afobe, I remember reading that they have been playing together since the age of 7!

      I agree completely on Yennaris, and also on Coquelin. Those two, plus Frimpong; we will have some incredible competition there soon. Although I do feel that in the long run, their size could prove a stumbling block. Song’s power and size will make it difficult for him to be displaced. Having said that, in the Emirates Cup Frimpong seemed unfeasibly strong for his size!

  • November 12, 2010 at 6:26 pm
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    KC, completely agree with the coquelin point! Im really hopeful he can make it at Arsenal as a holding midfielder! Think his a real makelele in the making!

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    • November 12, 2010 at 9:16 pm
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      He’s looked decent so far, very alert and confident. And I believe he got a touch on a low shot that diverted it onto the foot of the post, so a great save. I hope he keeps the no.1 spot for Hull, a run of games could do wonders for him.

  • November 13, 2010 at 12:23 am
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    Good article Nick. But as far as I know, Wenger has been against loaning his young players out in recent seasons. Perhaps I should say he prefers to let them develop at the club, where he can monitor their progress more and offer them first team opportunities if he sees fit. Even this and last year, loans have been reluctant – Wilshere’s move was of course beneficial but Wenger wanted someone of that quality to grow at Arsenal and push first team players. Coquelin I believe was a makeweight for Lorient, rather than a new belief in loaning out youngsters. Having said that, Randall, Bartley, Afobe and Watt are all on loan – The first of which is simply because he doesn’t seem to have any place within the club anymore. (Pedro and Galindo are only on loan for settling reasons no?).
    If we’re going to loan out players though, then I agree some should be loaned out together, but will this prevent a forced maturity of a player who will presumably spend most of his time with an older, more experienced first team/reserves rather than his 18 year old flat mate.. Just a thought.

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  • November 13, 2010 at 12:47 pm
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    An Arsenal ‘B’ team would be a great idea; not only for Arsenal but for the lower leagues as well.

    Imagine legions of gooners going to watch conference games. The Arsenal brand makes it a much better proposition than just having a feeder club.

    It only requires a few rules to implement too:

    1. B teams can’t enter a cup which the A team competes in. (cant enter FA or carling cup)

    2. B team can’t play in the same league as the A team.

    Arsenal should be able to enter the Reserves in the conference or lower if need be.

    It won’t happen because the FA are xenophobic dinosaurs though.

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  • November 13, 2010 at 4:48 pm
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    r u watching Bartley on PPlive? he has very impressive, loan 2 prem team after this current 1 then integration 2 1st team

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  • November 14, 2010 at 5:55 pm
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    If Arsenal can’t enter a B team in the lower leagues of England, why not do it on the continent? In Spain, Germany or…France?

    Reply

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