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.

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

Reports:

Pedro Botelho – UD Salamanca 3-0 Levante (90 Minutes)
Armand Traoré – Portsmouth 0-3 Newcastle  (32 Minutes)
Kerrea Gilbert – Leicester City 2-1 Carlisle United (90 Minutes)
Abu Ogogo – Barnet 2-2 Gillingham (Suspended)

Previews:

Nacer Barazite – Derby County V Charlton (Monday)

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Arsenal’s Under 18’s lost their 8 game unbeaten run this morning after being edged out by Norwich in a dreary clash at London Colney.

The rain had lashed down for most of the night, and continued to do so ahead of kick off, meaning awful conditions greeted the two teams. Norwich took a mixture of their best talents and trialists to face the Gunners, in an experimental lineup.

Steve Bould opted to rotate his table top side following Wednesday’s Youth Cup exploits. An injury to James Shea saw Charlie Mann made his Academy League debut, whilst Benik Afobe, Sanchez Watt and Oğuzhan Özyakup all started.

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

City settled quicker to the task, and within 6 minutes they had a prize to show for their endeavour. Johnbull Omeregie’s lashed cross from the right was volleyed into the roof of the net by the arriving Nick Davey. Bould will no doubt have been furious with the slack marking.

Moments later Afobe worked Rudd up the other end, before Mann earned his corn with a reaction stop to deny Davey a second. The half time whistle came at a perfect time for Arsenal, who were on the ropes.

Half Time – Norwich 1-0 Arsenal

The restart brought a chance to regroup, but again it was the visitors who began the half better. On 54 minutes Josh Dawkin tore apart Bould’s carefully constructed defence with a deadly ball through, Danny Kelly latched onto it and although Mann saved initially, Kelly made no mistake with the rebound.

Afobe thrived as Arsenal went longer at time ticked down, Rudd was forced into action on three occasions to preserve the lead.

As the referee was telling the crowd how much stoppage time there was to be, Damien Lathrope tangled with Afobe and a penalty was awarded. Benik stepped up and coolly converted from 12 yards.

It proved to be the final action of the game. Norwich won 2-1, the Norfolk outfit also win 2-1 out of 3 encounters with the Gunners this season.

Article By – J.Sanderson

League Two outfit Barnet have extended Abu Ogogo’s loan spell for a second month, despite manager Paul Fairclough accusing the 19-year-old of lacking discipline.

Ogogo will sit out Saturday’s home game with Gillingham after being dismissed during last weeks 3-1 defeat to Luton Town. The fixture saw Abu score his first professional goal, but just as Barnet threatened a comeback, the defender was given his marching orders following a petulant clash – resulting in a second bookable offence.

His boss was less than impressed.

“I’m a believer in the FA’s respect campaign and the boy [Ogogo] has let himself and the team down.

“There was provocation but I can’t condone getting sent off for a lack of discipline.”

Fairclough was obviously frustrated as he is already missing first choice right back Joe Devera, and after receiving news that his ligament damage is worse than initially feared, problems are mounting for the Bees.

However, with money tight across North London, Arsène Wenger was more than happy to help out the Gunners’ link side, with Ogogo expected to be the first of many now making the short move.

Young Guns will of course be continually keeping you updated with the progress of both Abu, and all the other loanees currently plying their trade away from the Emirates.

Article By – J.Sanderson

After manager Arsène Wenger refused to sanction the loan of Mexico International Carlos Vela, Hull City, Wigan Athletic and West Bromwich Albion have changed targets, and will now go head-to-head to sign versatile forward Jay Simpson.

Simpson is now the new target for the Premiership trio who have all been rocked with problems to their usual front-men. Hull marksman Marlon King has been in and out of trouble with the police this campaign, although he very much remains a favourite with the Humberside fans.

West Brom’s Ishmael Miller sustained cruciate knee ligament damage during Sunday’s draw with Armand Traorè’s Portsmouth, but manager Tony Mowbray was already on the look out for a new forward in January anyway. However, that chase has now been significantly stepped up.

Wigan – who were the victims of Simpson’s talents during the Carling Cup clash at the Emirates in November – have fitness and contract doubts over Emile Heskey, Henri Camara and Amr Zaki. Steve Bruce will hope that the good relationship he has with Wenger can tip the balance.

Jay turns 20 shortly after Christmas, but only has one professional start to his name with Arsenal. His form over pre-season was promising after a season long loan with Millwall, where he won the League One Player Of The Year award, operating in an unfamiliar right wing role.

Arsène will be sure to stress to all three interested parties that any deal would be for the short term, and would come after Simpson puts pen-to-paper on a new and improved contract.

Negotiations on the deal are believed to be in the closing stages, and with inpatient clubs waiting for an answer, Jay’s long term future should be settled shortly.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Arsenal’s FA Youth Cup campaign got under way this evening with a mouth watering clash against last season’s semi-finalists Aston Villa.

The Gunners have a poor record against the Midlands side but have consistently progressed from the third round in recent years. Villa boasted the much talked about Nathan Delfouneso in attack, whilst Steve Bould welcomed back versatile winger Sanchez Watt after three months out injured.

Shea
Eastmond – Ayling – Bartley – Cruise
Lansbury – Coquelin – Frimpong – Sunu
Thomas (c)
Murphy

Subs – Mann, Blackwood, Evina, Deacon, Watt

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Following 5 weeks of stop-start playing for Arsenal’s Reserves and Youth teams, Gooners can look forward to a double header of fixtures this evening featuring some of the finest young talent in the world.

Whilst several of the promising Carling Cup youngsters will take to the field in the Champions League clash with Porto, nearly 1000 miles away in Birmingham Steve Bould will watch over another batch of starlets are they go head-to-head with Aston Villa in the FA Youth Cup. The Gunners are regarded as one of the favourites to collect the trophy every year, but frequently come up short despite so much promise.

Last year’s run came to a close at the hands of Liverpool, after thrashing Burnley on route to Anfield. It’s usually the way that Arsenal get an easier opening game before tougher encounters later on, yet this campaign begins with a game against a hugely impressive Villa outfit who themselves are among the favourites to win. They boast class, experience and have an abundance of quality – all vital ingredients in the hunt for the trophy.

The class of 2008-2009 is arguably as weak as it’s ever been in terms of experience, but their form in the Academy League means the Gunners are feared up and down the country. However, progression to the League final was again halted this season, at the hands of guess who, Aston Villa. They will have the much talked about Nathan Delfouneso at their disposal, but Arsenal will put out a team filled to the brim with internationals.

French Under 19 duo Francis Coquelin and Gilles Sunu should start, but the majority of the team will be English. Under 19 regulars Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Rhys Murphy and Henri Lansbury are also in contention, whilst Under 16 strikers Luke Freeman and Benik Afobe will be on the bench. Dutchman Oğuzhan Özyakup will offer foreign flair to proceedings if selected. Sanchez Watt is fit enough for a place on the bench, but Conor Henderson is definitely out.

Kick off is at Villa Park at 7pm. If you can’t get down and watch the fixture, a full Match Report will be available shortly after full time.

Best of luck to both our young squads tonight.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Arsenal’s audacious Spanish link club UD Salamanca admit they are keen to leap frog West Bromwich Albion and capture the loan signing of teenage Mexico international Carlos Vela.

Vela netted 8 times in 31 Segunda fixtures during a season long loan spell with the Union in 2006, and instantly became a legend among Salamanca’s supporters.

Back then times were difficult, but now they are top of the table and heading for promotion to La Liga. However, despite adding two strikers to their ranks over the summer, goals from the duo have been few and far between.

Speaking in yesterday’s Tribuna de Salamanca newspaper, chairman Juanjo Pascual spoke about his January transfer plans, which include signing a young South American striker from Arsenal.

Almost tongue-in-cheek, the reporter put it to the chief that they will be re-signing Vela, and Pascual quipped that whilst they are interested, convincing the Gunners to let him go would be a tough prospect.

West Brom manager Tony Mowbray today admitted that he will be keen to acquire the services of a new centre forward on loan, but Carlos himself moved to quash that speculation this morning.

Having spend two and a half years cutting his teeth away from the Emirates, it seems very unlikely that Arsène Wenger would let the 19-year-old out again, even to a Premier League club.

But what do you think? should we keep Carlos at the Emirates as back up? or let him get more minutes on loan?

Article By – J.Sanderson

After Arsenal’s disappointing exit from the Carling Cup last week at the hands of Burnley, manager Arsène Wenger is busy making arrangements to secure temporary loan deals for several of his promising young charges.

Wenger has already confirmed four of the squad that reached the quarter-finals will be made available for a 3 month placement, those include defenders Gavin Hoyte and Kieran Gibbs, midfielder Mark Randall and striker Jay Simpson. The latter trio all experienced the trials and tribulations of life further down the English League structure last season, but will be hoping for bigger challenges in the forthcoming transfer window.

Wigan Athletic – dumped out on rout to the quarters – are reportedly interested in Jay Simpson and Kieran Gibbs, whilst Norwich City boss Glenn Roeder will throw his hat into the ring for Kieran’s services after a mixed loan last season. Gavin Hoyte and Mark Randall should find themselves with Championship clubs, but wherever they end up, the most important thing is they gain valuable minutes.

Simpson proves that logic. He may have spent the season in League One, but he was a regular in a struggling team and came back a much better player than say Mark Randall, who only made a handful of appearances in the Championship. Carlos Vela has been tentatively talked about as a potential loanee, yet this seems extremely unlikely.

Whatever happens in the January market, you can keep up to date with the latest speculation and done deals surrounding the young Gunners right here on Young Guns.

Article By – J.Sanderson

After both Arsenal and Salamanca mutually agreed to end Håvard Nordtveit’s loan spell early last month, confusion has rained down regarding his playing situation.

The Norwegian centre back had an unhappy time in Spain, where he was frequently left on the bench and had to make do with operating as a make shift holding midfielder on the rare occasions he was deployed. But it wasn’t through a lack of effort on his part, indeed Håvard took time to learn the language and adapt to the Spanish culture, but even that didn’t help in his fight for vital match minutes.

Salamanca are now on the look out for another defender in January, and although he had a difficult time, Nordtveit has recommended The Union as a fantastic club to gain experience. Now back in London, the 19-year-old is unable to play for the Gunners due to a registration problem. He was not registered as a member of the Arsenal team at the start of the campaign, as his impending loan with UDS was in the pipeline.

Technically he is still on the books of Salamanca, who hold his rights until January 1st. On that date his deal expires and he can again play for Arsenal. Nordtveit’s only football since his return has been with Norway’s Under 19’s, where he is an established member and very much regarded as one of the most exciting Nordic players of his generation.

The contract issue has really hampered Håvard’s development, and with the winter transfer window closing in, Arsenal are sure to be on the look out for a suitable destination to gain the experience he missed out on.

Article By – J.Sanderson