Arsenal’s loanees are some of the most talked about and debated players at the club, with thousands of fans using websites, blogs and social media to put their points across on potential stars of the future.
However, few truly know the daily goings on of players at their loan clubs like the actual supporters of that particular outfit. To get the full perspective on another crop of exciting youngsters, Young Guns’ Loanee Analysis sees me catch up with journalists who follow their club closely.
To get the low-down on Henri Lansbury, I caught up with Michael Bailey, a sports journalist who works for the Eastern Daily Press and PinkUn.com. He gave me the Norwich perspective on Lansbury’s time in Norfolk.
What was the feeling when Henri signed for Norwich?
“I think initially there was a little surprise, given City were flushed with midfielders. But his debut came in the 4-1 home win over Ipswich, which he started, and Lansbury’s performance whetted the appetite perfectly. His energy and quality on the ball shone through that day, and consistently after.”
How has the season been, and what part did Lansbury played in it?
“As you can imagine, the season has been magical for all Norwich fans. From the depths of League One football, then going on to complete back-to-back promotions without the need for the play-offs. It’s a rare achievement for any club, let alone Norwich.”
“As for Lansbury, he contributed a great deal to it: Four goals in 23 appearances, including the winner against Millwall with the final kick of the game that was really special. An equaliser at Leeds, followed by his now cult Dougie dance, and a substitute appearace for the final nine minutes against Bristol City at home that turned one point into three. There have been plenty of star performers for Norwich this season, but Lansbury is definitely up there with them.”
What would you consider his highlights this season?
“His appearance against Bristol City was probably key, having such a dramatic effect on the game, at a time when a win took Norwich second in the Championship on a Monday night, after their promotion rivals had all slipped up. It was a big moment in the season.”
What would you consider his low-lights this season?
“Nothing really. Maybe the fact that later in his spell, he wasn’t getting in the starting XI due to how settled City were. I’m sure that was a little frustrating for him. But still, when he came on he looked the part. He always seemed committed to the cause, and the opposition would have almost certainly looked at having someone like him to come on from the bench as a sign of City’s strength in depth.”
What does the future hold and do you think he’ll make the grade at Arsenal?
“It’s difficult to say. He is still young and at Premier League level, there are things you just cannot get away with. He does like the odd Hollywood pass, and they don’t always come off. That said, he has fantastic quality on the ball, some serious commitment and, for me, I think Arsenal could have done with him at times this season, let alone in the future. I would be surprised if he didn’t feature more at the Emirates next season.”
Any other stats, facts or little pieces of extra information?
“It’s worth noting that the Norwich fans at the open top bus parade were chanting for Lansbury to sign for another year on loan. I personally believe Paul Lambert will have an eye on permanent signings first, but most would welcome him back here with open arms in the Premier League next season.”
You can read all the articles in this series in our loanees area.
Do you think he’s got a future at Arsenal Jamie? Seen a few journalists today that dont think he has a shot.
Oh, and what journalists are they, eh? Some old tossers down at the pub?
Not sure I am with this whole ‘Like’ and ‘Dislike’ thing…
Was there really anything that wrong with what Chris was asking Jamie?
Heres the video of Ricky Alvarez some of you guys asked about – the new Argentine signing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrxSV5MeyE0
if they can promise him some PL action, then hopefully we’ll loan him out to them asap!
he knows the team, they know him and he wud get some PL action , more than he’d get at arsenal
Any thoughts on best position in a 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2, or 4-1-2-3?
i think AM central in allof those
but could play right side too
There is no way he could ever supplant Cesc or Nasri, (or eventually, Jack) so there is no point even discussing his playing attacking CM. I think Shane is closer to the mark a couple of posts down, with the Parlour comparison.
If Darren Gibson gets games for Man U there is absolutely no reason why Henri shouldn’t be able to get games for Arsenal. Love this guy and his attitude.
Lansbury is not an attacking midfielder at this level. I just don’t see it. To me he will need to become a Ray Parlour type midfielder if he wants to succeed here. Definitely a player I am rooting for though.
he’s been on loan 3 seasons in a row, he deserves his chance. he’s got quality but he has heart as well and pride when he wears the arsenal shirt. we’re crying out for these kinda players.
Yeah 3 seasons in a row, where he has excelled, deserves his chance. people like Denilson/Diaby have blown theres.
Henri Lansbury should have broken through at 15 but had that illness.
He did say he feels back to his best and the illness effect has gone completely. Says he’s got his running ability and power back.
I am a big big fan of Lansbury. He’s got quality but he’s also hard working!
His style of play Is very exciting can’t wait to see him at arsenal. The kid is a specialist in one two touch football!
If Denilson can get a game for Arsenal, then so can Lansbury.
Ray Parlour was a cult hero for Arsenal and a great squad player but I honestly think Henri could be better than the Romford Pele. A few seasons ago he was likened to Steven Gerrard at the same age if he continues to develop in the same way he’ll be a very special and key player for us. In spite of our recent lows the future does look very bright.
If Lansbury doesn’t get his chance then Wenger can go hang himself. This lad is all about what is missing from our side, guts, determination, pride in the club and the ability. More English players = more bottle and fightfor the cause!!! And that is not me being an Anglophobe, it’s the reality of the EPL!
I tend to lean towards the school of thought that states that Lansbury is more technically gifted than Ray Parlour…although if you look at some of Ray’s goals, especially the ones against Bayer Leverkusen in Europe, you will see a technical side to him that not many give him credit for. I still think that he can be a force that is hard to compare him to. When I say that, it means that he is not readily comparable with a well known player in football as of now. That’s the way it should be!! Let’s watch him make a career for himself as HENRI LANSBURY and throw all these pre-conceptions of him being a Ray Parlour type player out the window!!! IF he is given the chance, in his proper position in the middle he might surprise a few of us!!! I hope he does!!! This is coming from a guy who thought Craig Eastmond had a future here so make of it what you will!! hahahahahaha
To me lansbury looks like more of a passer, while parlour had better close control. Overall I do think lansbury can play a similar role for the club, however.
Milo, I did not mean that he plays like Parlour or resembles Parlour at all. I am talking about him filling the hard worker type midfield role. In my opinion, he is not good enough to be a play maker for us and he is not strictly a defensive midfielder so what does that leave you with?
Lansbury is an efficient player he always make an impact in the game when called up either when he start or as substitude so if you look at most of the games he played at norwich he either score or make an assist and some of the goals he scored where key goals that help in getting three point and those who compare him to parlour might be right because of those key goal he scores, looking at the day he made his debut for arsenal against tottenham in the carling cup which he scored on his debut, in which the the ball was cross into the penarity area he just came from nowhere and touch the ball and it went into the net also there are rumour and new that denison said he will leave in the summer and that wenger is ready to let him leave.
sounds more like a dirk kuyt type of player with no obvious technique.
kuyt has been good since kenny came in. really good. we need a grafter like henri. personally i think henri has much better technique as well. should be a squad player in my opinion next season, time for his chance
Henri Lansbury technically he’s pretty good. He’s got a great first touch and can pass straight away in one movement.
He’s got skills as well and he’s a really good shooter from far range
Lansbury has the kind of heart and desire that Jack has. He gives you the feeling he will not wear the shirt lightly. Him and Coquelin stepping up will give us better strength in depth and a combative spirit we sorely need.
We need a few Ray Parlours in our team. Players who may not be Cesc Fabregas but have some ability and the desire to play for us. He shouldn’t be loaned out.
I’m a huge Henri Lansbury fan, so i hope he pushes into the first team as a starter and i also think he is already a solid premiership squad player.
Finally looking back at our season it was naive that Henri (and others) were loaned out in the second half of the season when i squad was crying out for more depth. If you look at the deficiencies within the first team this season we were crying out for a hard working technical playmaker {Henri Lansbury}, creative player that also offers a Plan B {Jay Emmanuel –Thomas, he also a good leader}, no nonsense combative central midfielder {Coquelin}, pacey winger in the Theirry Herny mould {Sunu} and finally an aerially strong defender with physical presence {Kyle Barkley}.
All of these players would have added our squad and assisted the campaign in the final months of the season, but despite they we sent them on loan to increase their monetary transfer value, while despite this Arsenal choose not to dip into the transfer market in January.
Lansbury has the right attitude that we have missed these last few years. I don’t care whether he’s the best technically or not. You need characters like him to haul a team over the finishing line.
I’ll make a prediction right now. He will become an Arsenal legend and will win more than one title playing for us. The guy has that written all over him, unlike the crybaby loser, Denilson.
With Denilson’s imminent departure, I can see no reason why Henri would be his replacement. It’d fit into Wenger’s plan: it’s evolution and not revoultion.
This is simple Lansbury in Denilson out. I don’t think any Arsenal fan can tell me what Denilson brings over Lansbury.
Lans is not an AM or DM; he’s a classic CM (box-to-box).
This is so strange. The current first team lacks players with heart and passion, and we’re trying to find answers from older experiences heads (who probably don’t have the passion for arsenal anyway), yet youngsters like wilshere, coquelin, lansbury and bartley have it in spades. They have the character of a strong will this team is lacking.
Is it a coincidence, that these are the guys from the famous academy team of previous season? The double winners?
We need more guys like lansbury.
Agreed on the box-to-box:
Ray Parlour was our Ji-Sun Park – ran hard, made it difficult for the opposition down the flank, popped up with a big goal every now and then, reliable in big games, not afraid to be see trying hard, not likely to get many crosses in from the by-line; Lansbury is more of an Edu actually – box to box player, not overly fast so defensively needs to rely on positioning, but has a silky long pass, creative vision, and some decent foot skills and quick thinking to get himself a bit of space in the thick of it. If you put Lansbury down the right flank then he can really only give you what Parlour could (although he seems a bit slow for the flanks of the premier league – so no crosses from the by-line and fast left backs will run right past him). So he is only comparable to Parlour if you stick him wide right. But actually, he is better suited to the CM, and promises more than Parlour delivered when AW moved to the middle on occasion due to injuries or substitutions.
He should get a good run in the first team, Especially as Denilson has just announced his departure.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/921566/denilson-to-quit-arsenal-after-%27shameful%27-season?cc=3888
He is exactly the player we need. Man Utd have many of them.
academy players who want to win stuff for the club. Puts in lots of effort and can play in many positions.
Every successful team needs these players: For example when man utd need a player to fill in at the back they turn to O shea or Brown. In midfield they have Park and Gibson who can do a reasonable job.
The invicibles had Edu, and Parlour. Our team this year lacked this type of player, it should have been the likes of denilson but he does not have the drive to succeed at arsenal.
Now that Denilson’s pissed off, there is now space for Lansbury!!Denilson going is a blessing in disguise, some of the comments that guy made were outrageous coming from him. Lansbury’s a winner so he’ll come in and play like one and try and influence games, not just talk rubbish about it, good midfield improvement in my opinion
I’d like to the youngsters to show some character. Wilshere has plenty of character and Lansbury doesn’t seem to be lacking at that department as well.
Hopeful that he will get a place in the first team next season.
Some games for the first team in the premiere league next season is just what he needs.Only then can we know if he has it in him to make it at Arsenal.
the kid was hot shit when he played v. spurs in the carling cup. he should be given his chance.
Hey guys is it true that we have bought some dude called Ricky Alvarez?
hopefully the romour is true..looks like a very good player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeSIgyfG1sc&feature=watch_response
This guy is exactly what we need; fair play to wenger he cud see tht we need an english contingent, but hes took th flak while givin these guys loan time.
lansbury will get his chance
But I also agree with Milo and Charlie that he has more technique than Ray.
A Midfield of Lansbury – Wilshere – Ramsey would be good in small matches, you know, three hardworking Midfielders who can tackle and pass…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeSIgyfG1sc&feature=watch_response
-arsenal new signing..reported in goal.com
I was one of Denilson’s staunchest defenders when he was at his worst, but this year he has taken it way too far!!! I hope Wenger gets rid of him and fits Lansbury in there somehow!!! I usually try not to bash our own players but Densilson has been shit this past year and a half. Absolute shit. And his attitude doesn’t seem to be a whole lot better either!!! Can’t wait to see what happens now that he might be leaving!!! We will deffinitely see change wether it be Henri or someone else!!! This will be a good thing for the club!!!
Just watched Wellington Silva play for Levante. Look, there is know way I can know about his attitude but as far as talent goes, he is quality. For a kid that has barely gotten to play at all, he came on and was the brightest player for Levante. He did over dribble a few times but can you blame him for being a little over exuberant considering the circumstances. I can tell you, with the right attitude, this kid will be brilliant for us.
Also watched a half of Velez vs Estudiantes to see the Ricky guy. He played at center mid in a 3 central midfield set up. He played like a tall Jack Wilshere to give you a mental picture. He was very elegant on the ball and constantly tried to carry it forward. He did seem to dribble into trouble a lot though instead of releasing the ball. I obviously have not seen a lot of him but for a free signing, you can tell he is a good pick up. I will watch more of him later on.
Heard from a reliable source that the ricky alvarez deal is true. Just very under the radar. Which is basically how all our deals are done.
I’ve worked out how the summer will pan out for us,almunia will be sold to sainsburys to be a trolley pusher,squillaci will join him but work behind the tills,denilsons off to teach samba dancing,rosickys retiring and will be turning to marijuana as a way of life and bendtner will leave and live off that Danish princess for the rest if his life.They will be replaced in true arsene wenger fashion,he states we need experience,English mentality,cheap and of course his secret love-injury proned,this all leads to the obvious signings with all positions covered of mark schwarzer for £2million,wenger will be delighted at finally getting his man at the right price and will feel he’s won a personal duel with mark Hughes,add to that johnathan woodgate,kieran dyer,owen Hargreaves and michael owen,all free and unlikely to stifle any of our promising youngsters development as they won’t actually set foot on the pitch.So we’ll be relying on the unknown Argentinian ricky Alvarez to set the league alight then!Who’s looking forward to next season?!
Álvarez has signed a pre-contract with Arsenal F.C, he will sign for them on July 1st 2011.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Gabriel_%C3%81lvarez
Hope it is true….Let’s wait and see!
Yeah i hear some of you guys talking about Ricky Alvarez.
heres a video of him:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrxSV5MeyE0
I thought that Alvarez has signed with the Arsenal in South America rather than the Arsenal FC of London.
We all knew that Wellington was quality, the question was and is still can he adapt to a different environment. How will he cope when things do not go his way?
For sure Levante would have been a good experience in this sense.
Regarding Lansbury IMHO he has more technique than Ray Parlour however he can fulfill the same role.
In game when we need more grafters and runner than passers.
hi Jamie. Am the winner of the GT & YG League fantasy football. my team is WALEX FC by damilola amosun. check it out :)! Am contacting you to see if their is any prize or reward for me? :).
sorry to say but the only englishman to improve asrenal is not gary cahill but is michael owen not only would he the perfect partner 4 RVP he could defo help both afobe and walcott aswell and he will be free so we can spend big on a CB or jus get samba (leader & deals with crosses)
how is he suppose to help us when he is mainly injured? We need a big strong striker like Benzema. Not an old slow and injured player. We are suppose to strenghten our side not make it weaker.
Why do people keep suggesting we “need” these super expensive players? I think some people need a reality check and learn to appreciate what you have. I am glad that Wenger has finally stood up for himself a little a dropped to hints about the financial situation. He said something on the lines of, “We must be reasonable, we can not afford 50 million pound players like some of our rivals can” and “If a player is just after money, than yes other clubs are much more attractive”. This is not to say that we should not strengthen but people need some perspective. It is just silly that people automatically say “buy, buy, buy” and assume it is just Wenger that does not want to spend money. Look, if we did not have Wenger, we would never be able to have players like Fabregas, Nasri, RVP or even hold on to guys like Wilshere because financially they always could get more money in the current market. Wenger is the only reason we attract players like this and are able to fight off other clubs to keep them. One day people will hopefully realize what we have but my guess is it will not be until Wenger is gone. By the way, thats why it all comes back to the building of the new stadium. That was the only way we could keep up with the money clubs and push our club forward but that takes sacrifices now which people need to understand.
J.Saunderson:
Any truth to the Ricardo Alvarez pre-contract signing?