Author: Staff Writer

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 ten 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 and Nacer Barazite are playing Championship football for Watford and Derby County.

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 Burnley – (90 Minutes)
Gavin Hoyte – Watford 4-3 Crystal Palace – (90 Minutes)
Paul Rodgers – Northampton Town 5-1 Crewe – (90 Minutes)
Nacer Barazite – Derby County 1-1 Nottingham Forest – (89 Minutes)
Armand Traoré – Portsmouth 0-2  Swansea City – (45 Minutes)
Kerrea Gilbert – Leicester City 4-2 Huddersfield Town – (45 Minutes)
Abu Ogogo – Barnet 1-1 Accrington Stanley – (Injured)
Rene Steer – Gillingham Town 1-0 Exeter City – (Unused)

Read more →

He’s one of Arsenal’s lesser known talents, but without doubt midfielder Jonas Rasmussen is one of the most technically gifted prospects at the club.

The 17-year-old signed a three year professional contract before the start of the season, but is currently struggling for fitness. However, 2009 should see him push on in Steve Bould’s Under 18’s, with the eventual goal being a place in the Reserves.

To get a taster of what Jonas is all about, friend of the blog ‘DKGooner’ sent us the following video of the Dane strutting his stuff. Enjoy!

Click Here To Watch

Article By – J.Sanderson

Contrary to reports on several websites over the past two days, Arsenal are yet to make a decision on whether to sign Brazilian forward Wellington. Furthermore, the 15-year-old has now returned to parent club Fluminense.

The diminutive striker recently completed a 7 day trial with Arsenal, and showed his quality with a quadruple of strikes against Norwich City in a 8-4 romp. However, despite tentative enquiries, Liam Brady and his staff are yet to give the green light to push through a deal.

Reports emerged yesterday that the Brazilian was still at Hale End, and scored a double as the Under 16’s brushed aside Ipswich Town. This was completely unfounded – as it was Jernade Meade and two Under 14 players who secured the win for Steve Gatting’s side.

You can keep up-to-date with all the latest transfer dealings surrounding the young Gunners in our updated Transfer Centre.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Arsenal’s Under 18’s edged past their Ipswich Town counterparts this afternoon – but only after skipper Jay Emmanuel-Thomas came from the bench to secure the first three points of 2009.

Like Young Guns told you yesterday, Steve Bould rotated his side after Youth Cup commitments, but made a couple of surprise adjustments. In came Under 16 starlets Daniel Boateng at centre back, and leggy midfielder Chuks Aneke in the middle.

Oğuzhan Özyakup started in an advanced role behind lone striker Benik Afobe, but with Sanchez Watt and Luke Freeman on either flank, the Gunners possessed plenty of fire power.

Mann
Obed – Blackwood – Boateng – Evina
Byles – Aneke
Watt (c) – Özyakup – Freeman
Afobe

Subs – Ayling, Thomas, Frimpong, Sunu, Deacon

It was a typical January Saturday morning at London Colney – blustery and icy conditions greeted both sides ahead of the first Academy League fixture of the New Year.

Bould’s boys began a little tentative, but the stylish Özyakup soon shot into life, smashing a powerful effort inches wide.

Rhema Obed’s drilled cross was then clipped off the Colney cross bar by Luke Freeman, before the left footed winger lashed over after some wizardry from the aforementioned Özyakup.

Both sides would then go onto exchange goalscoring opportunities – Arsenal through Watt and Afobe, and Ipswich via Wickham and little live-wire Lambe. In truth the hosts were lucky to be level going into the break, as Anton Blackwood was caught cold yet again this campaign – only Wickham’s lazy finish prevented the opener.

Chuks Aneke looked composed and elegant on his debut, the midfielder even went to bed especially early to prepare for this one. His efforts could have been rewarded when Afobe’s shot was swiped off the line, and the rebound fell straight to the powerhouse, but he failed to snaffle the ball home.

Deacon and Emmanuel-Thomas were summoned off the bench to add the killer instinct – it proved to be a master stroke. Late on Özyakup’s perfect corner fell kindly for Thomas who smashed home to claim all three points.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Arsenal’s table topping Under 18’s return to League action tomorrow morning following the winter break.

Third place Ipswich Town are the opponents at London Colney, as the Gunners look to start the New Year in style against the hard working and well organised Tractor Boys.

It’s been well over a month since Bould’s youngsters last had a League game, and after the manager rotated due to Cup commitments, subsequently Arsenal ended 2008 with a set back at the hands of Norwich City.

That defeat brought to an end a 7 game unbeaten run – which included a 2-0 win over Ipswich at the start of November. Rhys Murphy was the hero that morning, but following a serious knee injury sustained in midweek, Steve Bould has lost the services of his leading scorer for what looks like quite a while.

Indeed, injuries have torn a huge hole in the squad this campaign, but slowly but surely they are returning to action. Just Wojciech Szczęsny (Broken Arms), Conor Henderson and Ignasi Miquel (Knees) are left on the sidelines, and of course striker Rhys Murphy.

With the Youth Cup win  on Tuesday, and a Reserves fixture coming up on Wednesday, the rotation policy should be adapted, meaning it will be the first action in over a month for many of the boys.

Predicted Starting XI

Mann
Obed – Bartley – Blackwood – Evina
Rasmussen – Özyakup  – Watt
Deacon – Afobe – Freeman

Ipswich are considered a dangerous force in this League, and currently sit in a respectable 3rd place in Group A. 7 wins and 6 defeats means they’re not exactly a form side, but tomorrow’s visitors will still be a tough proposition for Arsenal’s young team.

Prediction – Arsenal 1-1 Ipswich Town

Article By – J.Sanderson

Jay Simpson‘s first goal for West Brom proved to be an important one on two fronts for the Baggies. Not only was it key to helping his new employers through to the fourth round of the FA Cup, but it also proved to be a money spinning one for Tony Mowbray’s men.

The prize money for booking a place in the fourth round is £7,500 – meaning Simpson’s effort was worth £3,750, as was Paul Robinson’s well taken second – which safely saw the Albion past a defiant Peterborough United.

You can watch the Arsenal loanees goal below, along with the best highlights of the 3rd round replay. Note that the commentator is the same man as Arsenal TV’s Academy League Highlight show.

Link One – Link Two

Article By – J.Sanderson

Just a quick news round up today before a return to our in depth coverage tomorrow, including highlights of Jay Simpson’s strike for West Brom against Peterborough.

Whilst Arsenal have no fixtures in midweek, the Under 18’s win over Wolves in the FA Youth Cup dominates all the headlines today. The fall out from the game takes over the official site, where Steve Bould starts by praises the young charges and suggests that there is still a lot more to come from this side.

It was an evening of ‘bests’ for many of the young Gunners. Gilles Sunu’s three goals capped off his most emphatic performance in the Red & White, and Henri Lansbury claims the Wolves win was his most impressive encounter since recovering from Glandular Fever. The hat-trick of eye catching players is completed by Emmanuel Frimpong, who drew praise from Bould after his rapid development this term.

Jack Wilshere’s surprise start proved to be more than just another 90 minutes of action, as Bould was quick to point out that the man marking policy adapted by the visitors will help Jack in the future.

Away from Arsenal, former winger Quincy Owusu-Abeyie is currently having a trial with arch rivals Tottenham. The Dutchman left London in January 2006 amid allegations of drunken antics and drug use. He has since moved onto Celta Vigo and Birmingham on loan, but should Spurs chose to make his deal a permanent one, his current employers Spartak Moscow would forward some of Daniel Levy’s pennies straight into Arsène Wenger’s transfer fund.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Jay Simpson’s second away game with West Brom was an incredibly fruitful one as the Arsenal loanee bagged his first goal for the Albion on his second start.

Simpson was superb during Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at the hands of local rivals Aston Villa, and Young Guns tipped him to get of the mark soon earlier in the week.

This evening, League One outfit Peterborough United stood in the visitors way of a place in the 4th round. Starting alongside Roman Bednar in a much changed side by Tony Mowbray, Jay had the best chance of the opening stages with a fierce drive from the edge of the box.

A spell of end-to-end football was ended when the 20-year-old collected Bednar’s knock down, skipped over a sliding challenge and smashed the ball beyond a helpless Joe Lewis from 25 yards.

Hoefkens and Bednar has further opportunities to double the advantage, but it was through left back Paul Robinson where the Baggies all but sealed the win. Kim’s pull back picked out the arriving Robinson who crashed home a rare goal.

Two spells of Peterborough pressure were sandwiched between Simpson working Lewis after being put through, but the third goal was illusive. It finished 2-0 in the end, meaning West Brom go into round with their new signing bang in form.

After having the weekend clash with Manchester City frozen out by the terrible weather, Portsmouth returned to action this evening with a tricky trip to Bristol City in the FA Cup.

The finalists switched the side around, meaning Armand Traoré finally got off the bench and started on the left of midfield.

A tentative start by both sides was ended when Traoré’s rasping 20 yard pile driver was flapped away by Basso. The Frenchman was having a fantastic tussle with Bradley Orr, with both players using their attacking and defensive talents.

However, on 38 minutes Pompey pushed home their advantage and grabbed the opener. Traoré released Crouch through the middle, and after surviving a handball appeal, he finished well to put his side in front.

Both outfits could have had more goals, but it took a late Niko Krancjar effort to finish off a brave City fight back. On 85 minutes Armand was withdrawn in a very impressive nights work.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Gilles Sunu’s emphatic hat-trick proved the difference between Arsenal and Wolves this evening, as the Gunners cruised through to round 5 of the FA Youth Cup.

A nasty looking injury to Rhys Murphy handed Sunu his chance, and he took the baton and ran with it. But the early stages were rather even – that was until the Gunners settled and took charge.

Henri Lansbury, Emmanuel Frimpong and Murphy all had cracks, before the latter had his evening ended early. A rash challenge saw the Arsenal youth leading scorer in agony – it took several minutes before he was finally taken off the pitch.

Sunu’s impact was almost instant. Lansbury’s corner picked out the arriving Frenchman who crashed home the opener. The half time whistle came and went with more pressure, but further goals had eluded them.

Mistakes at the back showed that maybe Bould’s boys were wavering, until another Lansbury cross was finished well by Gilles. He went on to complete his hat-trick before Wolves pulled one back, but in truth there was only going to be one winner.

Arsenal roll on and will face Sunderland in the next round.

Article By – J.Sanderson