Author: Staff Writer

Arsenal’s Luke Freeman is fighting to rescue his potential as one of the most promising young forwards in the country, after the Gunners coaching staff switched his position to help him maintain certain development targets.

Freeman made the switch to North London just over a year ago, and despite a strong start, Luke’s performances have deteriorated in recent weeks, even leading to his complete omission from the Youth Cup run this campaign.

Steve Bould has opted to include Roarie Deacon and Sunderland super sub Benik Afobe instead of Freeman, despite the duo being younger and less experienced. His League form has also been erratic, and now Liam Brady hopes a switch to the left wing will help kick start the Datford born forwards career.

Tomorrow’s Academy clash with Crystal Palace has been postponed, meaning the former Gillingham man will not get a further chance to prove himself before linking up with the England Under 17 squad in Portugal for the Algarve Tournament.

Club colleague Afobe has been pushing him for a place in the Under 18’s all season, and after Benik’s strike against Sunderland, the 15-year-old could find himself in the starting lineup at Freeman’s expense.

Nicknamed ‘Owen’ when he first arrived, Luke must find some of Michael’s resolve and character to bounce back and show his true potential.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Henri Lansbury has revealed how he rejected offers from Premiership and Championship club’s to sign for Scunthorpe United on loan.

The 18-year-old was penciled in for a place on United’s bench last night, after spending just a few hours getting to know his new team mates. However, a late pitch inspection saw the fixture called off, leaving the midfielder frustrated.

“I was looking forward to watching the team and see how they play tonight, but hopefully I’ll get in the team for the next game.”

Many were surprised that one of the country’s biggest prospects will ply his trade in League One – for the next month at least – and Henri admits he did have offers higher up the football spectrum, but chose the Iron after talking with international colleague Krystian Pearce and the manager Nigel Adkins.

“I had an offer to play in the Championship and with a Premiership club.”

“But I spoke to the manager at Scunthorpe and he said ‘Come down here and you’ll play football.’ I also spoke to Krystian and he told me they play good football and it’s a good club.”

“Krystian sold it to me. He put in a good word, so I wanted to come here.”

Henri is well aware that their is a competitive squad of experienced players already at Glanford Park, but should he force his way into the team, the Enfield born youngster has already set firm targets.

“I just want to get some games, I’ve come here to get some experience. I hope to get Scunthorpe promoted, and to get to Wembley.”

Lansbury’s new side have a 2-0 advantage over Rotherham from the first leg of the Johnson’s Paint Trophy Northern area final, and should they see of the Millers in the second leg, they would take on the winners of Brighton V Luton at Wembley. That’s the type of experience Henri could only dream of getting at such a young age.

Article By – J.Sanderson

James Dunne has now returned to Arsenal after Nottingham Forest decided against turning his loan deal into a permanent contract.

19-year-old Dunne was joined by Paul Rodgers and Abu Ogogo at the City Ground in October, as then boss Colin Calderwood put the trio through their paces over a week long trial.

Rodgers and Steer were sent back to London, and have now sealed temporary switches to Northampton and Gillingham respectively. However, James was signed on loan until the end of January, where a review would take place, and Claderwood would then decide whether to make the deal a permanent one, or not.

But Calderwood was sacked in November and since replaced with former Derby chief Billy Davies. Dunne made a handful of appearances for Nottingham’s Reserves, yet failed to do enough to convince the management that he is worth spending some of their already tight budget on.

The former Wimbledon youngster is out of contract in the summer, but will continue training with Arsenal until a new club can be found.

Article By – J.Sanderson

It’s common knowledge that Arsène Wenger believes that top class players are ones who are also versatile, and whilst Hale End boy Josh Rees can play across the midfield, the 14-year-old hopes to be recognised for showing a different type of versatility.

Rees – who started England Under 16’s romp over Northern Ireland in the SkySports Victory Shield in October – has been put forward by local newspaper ‘The Southend Echo’ as a candidate for their ‘Junior Sports Personality of the Year Award’.

Josh’s cross-country running prowess helped steer the Southend High athletics team to the national Track and Field title in 2008. The young midfielder plays football for Southend High school, for whom he also turns out on a regular basis for their Cricket and Basketball teams.

After school Josh attends Arsenal’s Hale End Academy, where under the stewardship of Liam Brady, David Court and Roy Massey, he hones his trade as a promising central midfielder. The prospect got his big break in the Nike Cup side of 2008, where he took the opportunities given to him and repaid the trust with a goal. However, he couldn’t prevent the Gunners from crashing out in the group stages.

If you would like to vote for Josh as the Junior Sports Personality of the Year, then select the first link below, and fill out the short form. If you wish to also add a vote for Rees’  athletics team, then select link two and chose the ‘Southend High Athletics Team’.

Vote For Junior Sports Personality – Vote For Team

Article By – J.Sanderson

Atlético Madrid midfielder Jorge ‘Koke’ Resurrección claims he is only interested in playing and developing for Los Colchoneros, as reports in several British tabloids suggest Arsène Wenger is closing in on his signature.

Young Guns revealed that Arsenal scout Francis Cagigao had been making checks on the Spanish Under 17 skipper in November, but no official contact has been made regarding a possible transfer.

Resurrección, now 17, told Spanish daily Elmundo Deportivo last week that he is only concentrating on playing for Atlético, and isn’t worried about not moving into the first team straight away.

“For me, I’m only interested in playing for my team, working hard, and improving. If the season ends with a first team call up, then it’s bonus and I’ll try and learn everything I can.”

Koke is a box-to-box central midfielder who focuses on the defensive side of the game. He has shared rooms with current Gunner Ignasi Miquel-Pons when playing for his country, but the dedicated starlet seems destined to stay with Madrid.

Keeping with the España theme, Arsenal defender Pedro Botelho played the full 90 minutes at left back as UD Salamanca lost further ground in their push for promotion, after losing a 1-0 lead against Deportivo Alaves.

The Brazilian put in one of his most impressive performances, mixing his usual tricks and flicks with several good crosses from the left. On the pitch, Salamanca battered at the Alaves door all evening, but only found a way through in 75th minute.

Miku’s strike looked set to keep the Union in the hunt for promotion, until Alaves rescued a point in the final minute.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Scunthorpe United boss Nigel Adkins will no doubt be patting himself on the back this morning, 24 hours after agreeing to bring Arsenal starlet Henri Lansbury in on loan.

Henri will make the trip to Lincolnshire on Monday morning where he will, subject to a medical, wrap up the final details of the transfer. Contrary to some reports, the 18-year-old will only be at Glanford Park for the short term – until the 28th of February to be precise.

The move came after Adkins spoke of his desire to bring in versatile and promising youngsters to bolster his promotion chasing squad. Speaking to the Scunthorpe Telegraph – a paper Young Guns has close links with – on Thursday, the Iron boss said:

“We have got a youngster lined up to come in”

“It has all been agreed – but he has to play one more game for that club and who knows what can happen during that. “

“He has to navigate his way through that game and not get injured. But alll being well he will be joining us on Monday.”

“We are trying to have that flexibility and that is definitely what this youngster can provide us with.”

Scunthorpe have a strong tradition of developing young players, from the early days to where they nurtured former England international Kevin Keegan, to the present where Birmingham’s England Under 19 centre half Krystian Pearce is currently thriving.

Adkins also took Chelsea’s Jack Cork on loan last term, where he helped transform Cork from a player with flashes of potential, into a consistent performer for club and country.

The experience will no doubt mature young Lansbury, who has a reputation of being some what of a ‘party boy’. The majority of his new team mates are family orientated people, and a spell away from his friends and family in a promotion chasing outfit should do him no end of good.

Henri will pull on the Claret & Blue for the first time on Tuesday evening.

Article By – J.Sanderson

As regular Young Guns readers will know, Jay Simpson opened his Premier League account this afternoon – scoring the first equaliser as West Brom drew 2-2 with Hull City at the KC Stadium.

The strike – his second since joining Tony Mowbray’s men – was an instintive, crisp and well placed effort, which helped galvanise the Baggies in their fight against a solid City side. You can watch the goal, and full highlights of the game, below.

Click Here To Watch

Article By – J.Sanderson

Welcome to this weekends Loanees Watch – Young Guns’ analysis, reports and updates on the progress of the young starlets currently plying their trade away from the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal currently have twelve Reserve team players gaining experience elsewhere. Armand Traoré and Jay Simpson remain in the top flight with Portsmouth and West Brom respectively, whilst Gavin Hoyte, Nacer Barazite and Rui Fonte are playing Championship football for Watford, Derby County and Crystal Palace.

Further down the divisions, League One sides Leicester City and Northampton Town have Kerrea Gilbert and Paul Rodgers, while fellow defenders Abu Ogogo and Rene Steer will ply their trade with League Two Barnet and Gillingham. Two prospects are cutting their teeth aboard – Vincent van den Berg at Dutch minnows FC Zwolle, and Pedro Botelho with Spanish link club UD Salamanca.

In this update you can read about the following players in the following games.

Reports:

Jay Simpson – West Brom 2-2 Hull City – (90 Minutes)
Armand Traoré – Portsmouth 0-1 Fulham – (63 Minutes)
Gavin Hoyte – Watford 1-3 Wolves – (58 Minutes)
Rui Fonte – Crystal Palace 0-1 Blackpool – (45 Minutes)
Nacer Barazite – Derby County 2-1 Coventry – (62 Minutes)
Kerrea Gilbert & Paul Rodgers – Leicester 2-1 Northampton – (90 Minutes)
Abu Ogogo – Barnet 1-2 Exeter – (Unused)
Rene Steer – Gillingham Town 1-0 Chester City – (Unused)

Read more →

Steve Bould’s Arsenal youngsters breezed into the quarter-finals of the E.ON sponsored F.A Youth Cup this evening, after smashing an unfortunate Sunderland for four.

A duo of penalties from Henri Lansbury set the Gunners on their way, before Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Benik Afobe sealed a fantastic win in the North.

Francis Coquelin passed a late fitness test, so Oguzhan Ozyakup had to make do with a place on the bench. Harry Lee came in for his Cup debut between the sticks, whilst Gilles Sunu replaced the injured Rhys Murphy in attack.

Starting XI

Lee
Eastmond – Bartley – Ayling – Cruise
Lansbury – Coquelin – Frimpong – Thomas
Wilshere
Sunu

Arsenal set about their task with spirit, energy and a will to win. The pressure was rewarded within 4 minutes when slick passing presented Gilles Sunu the opportunity to score, until Black Cats stopper Michal Misiewicz stopped the Frenchman in his tracks, and a penalty was given.

Henri Lansbury proved spot on from 12 yards – sending the unfortunate Misiewicz the wrong way. But not to be undone, Sunderland hit back working the Cup debutant Lee with a mini barrage of attacks.

Up the other end, Sunu was again put through, but this time Misiewicz opted to stay in his goal – and saved well to keep his side in the fixture. However, the Canadian stopper was having an evening from hell.

33 minutes after conceding his first spot kick, Lansbury had the opportunity to double his tally after being tripped in the area by Misiewicz. Henri dusted himself down, and made no mistake with another well placed effort.

At 2-0 Sunderland were rocking. Andrew Galer was dismissed for a terrible lunge at Craig Eastmond, and as the hosts lost their heads, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas thumped home number three in the 66th minute.

The icing was added to the Gunners’ cake on 79 minutes when Benik Afobe crashed home Emmanuel-Thomas’ cross from the left. It finished 4-0, Arsenal progress to the quarter-finals where a potential clash with Tottenham is being lined up.

Article By – J.Sanderson