Author: Staff Writer

Arsenal are in talks with the FA in a bid to get Benik Afobe deselected from the England setup ahead of the forthcoming Under 20 World Cup.

Afobe was named in Brian Eastick’s 21-man squad last week, but Arsène Wenger wants to take a closer at the 18-year-old following a series of impressive performances on loan with Huddersfield Town. As things stand, Benik would have report to the training camp in Columbia on July 18th.

It’s not yet clear whether Afobe will be included in the travelling party that jets off to Asia on Sunday, but he may be considered for the friendly with FC Cologne and then the Emirates Cup.

A decision on whether the FA agree to release the player is expected in the next few days.

Jérémie Aliadière is back in football with Ligue One side Lorient, but only after once again receiving the help of Arsène Wenger.

Aliadière returned to London Coleny in the closing stages of last season, after being granted permission by Wenger to work on his fitness following a series of injuries. The 28-year-old also turned out a handful of times for the Reserves, but struggled to attract potential suitors.

However, a deal with Lorient emerged over the weekend, after Wenger used Arsenal’s good relationship with the club to get the ball rolling. Jérémie confirmed his former managers help in an interview with the Lorient website, saying:

“I think Arsène Wenger had called and requested some information from me since I was there the last four months. That’s how it started and it always helps when there are relationships like between Lorient and Arsenal.”

Aliadière has signed a one year deal with the option for a further three years if he proves his fitness. He may yet be joined by Gilles Sunu and Francis Coquelin, both of whom are still wanted on loan again by the Brittany outfit.

Liam Brady is putting the finishing touches to Arsenal’s Under 18 squad for next season, with Steve Bould set to boast one of his most exciting crops of talent ever.

Young Guns can confirm Hale End products Isaac Hayden, Anthony Jeffrey and Zak Fagan have all penned scholarship contracts, as have summer recruits Jon Toral, Héctor Bellerín, Serge Gnabry, Leander Siemann and Kristoffer Olsson.

Bould’s Under 18’s will also be boosted by the promotion of several of Steve Gatting’s promising Under 16’s. Brady has personally asked the head teachers of Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill, Jack Jebb and Joshua Vickers if they can leave school a year early to move to London Colney full time. All have accepted.

The club are still waiting on answers from strikers Austin Lipman and Chuba Akpom.

All Under 18’s are due back for pre-season next week.

Cesc Fàbregas was present at London Colney this morning, as the majority of Arsenal’s first-team and Reserve players returned for pre-season training.

The captain made a surprise early appearance, as he wasn’t due back until tomorrow. A number of other first-team players who were involved in post-season internationals were missing, including Samir Nasri, while Gael Clichy was in the North ahead of his medical with Manchester City. This meant the early focus is on some of the fringe youngsters, including those who have returned from loan spells.

Ryo Miyaichi and Wellington Silva were both present, and could be a part of the squad that jets off on the Asian early next week.

This week will be a mixture of gym, fitness and general medical work, all designed to assess the players after their summer break.

 

 

Arsenal formally completed the signings of Jon Toral and Héctor Bellerín today, with their Barcelona contracts expiring last night. The deals were done months ago, and with the dust now settled after their difficult departure from La Masia, attention starts to turn to their debut campaigns in London.

The two Spanish Under 16 midfielders both come with good reputations, but not much else is known about the duo Arsène Wenger caused a row with Barça in signing. On top of that, what part can we expect they’ll play in the short term?

Jon Toral
Toral is seen as the best equipped to settle quickly. His English connection through his mother and good physique mean there won’t be too many surprises, which should allow him to blossom earlier. On top of that, Jon has always admitted his desire to play in England, despite his parents and coaches trying to put him off. A move to Arsenal came naturally, despite Spanish media claims of the club poaching him.

A tall, strong and physical midfielder, Toral can play pretty much anywhere in the middle, but some have already suggested he may take up the holding role in front of the back four. His good vision and ability to pick accurate and incisive short and long range passes will make Toral a solid asset, but both Steve Bould and Neil Banfield like balance, and being left footed, a place in the ‘Jack Wilshere role’ seems more likely.

Héctor Bellerín
Bellerín is perhaps the most exciting signing. A fast winger who can play in a variety of forward positions, his excellent delivery, skillful approach and superb technique make him a real danger. Héctor turned down a new contract in Catalunya to join Arsenal, and after some brilliant performances in the Caspian Cup with Spain’s Under 16’s, he’s arrives in top form.

The 16-year-old can play as an out-and-out centre forward, where he has a reputation for being a goal poacher. Héctor has also filled in at right back, but it seems a role on the wing will be his true home.

Both players are expected to start off with Steve Bould’s Under 18’s, then move into Neil Banfield’s Reserve team as the season progresses. Toral already arrives with a slight ankle injury, but he’s expected to shake that off and begin pre-season as normal.

All in all, Arsenal’s latest Barcelona recruits look set for a promising debut campaign.

Héctor Bellerín has admitted his ‘pride’ in joining Arsenal, as he prepares to fly to London ahead of his debut campaign with the club.

Bellerín used his page on social networking site Twitter to confirm the transfer, and then posted a photo of himself at London Colney. The 16-year-old joins fellow midfielder Jon Toral in moving from Barcelona, for a combined compensation fee of €750,000.

The pacy winger told his followers:

“Starting today, I’m an Arsenal FC player. It gives pride to play for this great club!”

That comment may help to restore an already difficult relationship he has with some fans, after admitting just after signing for Arsenal he would like to return to Barcelona one day.

Héctor is expected to move between the Reserves and Under 18’s next season.

Benik Afobe is poised to miss the business end of Arsenal’s pre-season, after being selected for the England Under 20 squad for next months Under 20 World Cup in Colombia.

Afobe is still expected to join Arsène Wenger’s first-team when training gets underway on Monday, but he won’t have the opportunity to impress in a game situation, as England have told him to be ready for their July 14th meet up.

The 18-year-old was expected to be offered the opportunity to earn a place in Wenger’s squad for the next campaign, after impressing during a loan spell with League One Huddersfield Town last season. However, his inclusion means he’ll only have just over a week of training to leave an impression.

One option the Frenchman does have, is asking the FA to re-consider their stance on Benik, just like he did with Jack Wilshere and the Under 21 European Championships. This seems unlikely, so a second loan spell away from the club looks inevitable, with Millwall already making inquires over his services.

Francis Coquelin, Gilles Sunu and Ignasi Miquel are all in the same boat, as they’ll be featuring for France and Spain respectively.

Elsewhere, Arsenal have moved pre-season training forward, all first-team and Reserve players will now report for duty on Monday, not Wednesday, as original planned.

Arsène Wenger will run the rule over last years loanees as well as a selection of promising Reserve team players when pre-season kicks off a week on Wednesday.

Neil Banfield’s first-team hopefuls will return to London Colney at the same time as the first-team, on July 6th, instead of earlier, as with previous years, with the rest starting medical tests on the 4th. Wenger is expected to concentrate his early efforts on those who made significant strides on loan last season, with a view to including them in his re-shuffled squad.

Kyle Bartley is the most prominent candidate to make the step up, with Arsène already holding off interest from Rangers until he’s taken a closer look at the 20-year-old. Carlos Vela and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas are two players with a lot prove, or they could both find themselves spending next season at pastures new.

French duo Francis Coquelin and Gilles Sunu, as well as defender Ignasi Miquel, won’t be involved, as they’re preparing for the Under 20 World Cup. Coquelin’s omission will present opportunities to Craig Eastmond and Emmanuel Frimpong, both of whom will hope to become Alexandre Song’s deputy.

Wellington Silva, Ryo Miyaichi and Samuel Galindo are all due back, but it’s not yet clear yet if they’ll start training on July 7th, or will join up later, due to visa issues.

Arsène Wenger is expected to run the rule over Wellington Silva in pre-season, before deciding on the 18-year-old’s short-term future.

Silva is currently holidaying in his native Brazil, but has been told to report to London Colney for pre-season training next month. A number of European clubs, including La Liga outfit Levante, have already been in touch over a loan spell, but the club want to take a closer look at the forward.

Wellington is expected to move between the first-team and Neil Banfield’s Reserves when he returns to training, but its not yet clear whether he will actually play any games. How well he performs will help decide on what happens next, with Arsenal still having a spare application for a work permit for next season.

The most likely scenario is that Silva will go on loan again next term, but Spain may not be the most obvious destination. The Belgian media report Anderlecht have expressed an interest while unofficial link club Feyenoord may also be an option, if they decide against paying a loan fee for Ryo Miyaichi.

Silva will have extra holiday time after not being selected for the Brazil Under 20 side for the Under 20 World Cup.