Author: Staff Writer

The Finnish Football Association have confirmed that Arsenal have signed Carl Jenkinson from Charlton Athletic. A compensation package of around £1 million has been agreed.

Arsenal moved for Jenkinson two months ago, after he rejected a new contract with Charlton. The life-long Gooner quickly agreed terms with the Gunners, but the two clubs have been thrashing out a compensation package, as Carl is under 24.

A fee of around £3 million was initially debated for the right back, who can play anywhere along the back four or in midfield. Both parties agreed on a figure two weeks ago, and now the Finnish FA have confirmed the transfer, listing Jenkinson as a player from ‘Arsenal FC’.

You can catch a full interview with a Charlton youth writer about Carl in the coming days.

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.

Arsène Wenger has confirmed Ryo Miyaichi will battle for a place in Arsenal’s first-team next season. The Frenchman will give hand the youngster an opportunity to impress during pre-season training.

However, Ryo’s involvement would depend on the successful application of a work permit. He wouldn’t be eligible for a conventional permit, due to a lack of senior international caps, but a case for a special talent visa will be lodged in the summer.

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 Mark Randall, I caught up with football writer and passion Rotherham fan Caz Neale, who is the editor of Rotherham’s Vital Football website. She spared some time to give me the Millers’ perspective on Mark’s spell in Yorkshire.

What was the feeling when Mark signed for Rotherham?

“Excited to be honest. I mean an Arsenal player, albeit a youngster, coming to Rotherham. It’s really exciting. Arsenal don’t just sign anyone.”

How has the season been, and what part did Randall played in it?

“Our season has been a disappointment. We really needed to be in the play-offs at least. Young Mark only made a handful of appearances for us and I don’t think he was given much of a chance to be honest. His first game ended after twenty minutes when he got injured and was out for three months.”

What would you consider his highlights this season?

“I suppose his one and only goal for the Millers; on New Years Day in our 5-0 win over Port Vale.”

What would you consider his low-lights this season?

“Not being picked. I can’t really understand why he was left out so much. I’ve heard good things about him when he’s played for our reserve side, but that wasn’t really what he came to do. When he first came he did look a little out of his depth, and needed to be told that he wasn’t playing in the Premier League, and that he needed to fight for balls and not panic when faced with big, strong defenders. However, I’m sure that would have come to him if he’d got more games”

What does the future hold and do you think he’ll make the grade at Arsenal?

“What I saw of him I thought he was okay. He needs a bit of ‘beefing up’ perhaps and I wouldn’t be disappointed to see him get another loan period with us, though we have a new manager in now and he seems to want to ring the changes. I do think Mark needs to go somewhere that will make use of him for at least another season.”

Any other stats, facts or little pieces of extra information?

“Stockport County away. Mark was named in the squad to play. We heard on the grapevine that something had happened and we were one short on the bench because one of the players hadn’t turned up. It was Mr Randall. He was supposed to be staying in a hotel in Rotherham that the club were paying for while he was here, but unbeknown to the club, kept going home to Milton Keynes. We’d probably never have found out if his car hadn’t broken down on the way back to Rotherham.

“He was told to get himself to Stockport for the game, but his car insurance company refused to take him there, saying he only had cover to take him back home, which was listed as Milton Keynes. I understand he not only got a rollocking from Ronnie Moore, but Pat Rice demanded he got himself back to London to explain himself.”

“Of his ten appearances for the Millers, he started three games and came from the bench for seven. He got two yellow cards. His last game was against Oxford in February.”

You can read all the articles in this series in our loanees area.

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 Sanchez Watt, I caught up with Andrew Haigh, a sports journalist for The Sun and an avid Leeds United follower. He kicks the series off by sharing his thoughts on Sanchez’s season.

What was the feeling when Sanchez signed for Leeds?

“I think the vast majority of fans were delighted with the signing. Sanchez was on loan with us for a few months last season in League One and showed glimpses of the energy and skill he could offer so we knew we were getting a good player who could play in a number of attacking positions.”

“Some had even higher hopes for him and I can remember Martin Kelner on BBC FiveLive’s Fighting Talk at the start of the season arguing why Sanchez could be the signing of the season across all leagues.”

How has the season been and what part did Sanchez play in it?

“As a whole, our season has been a good one considering it was our first back in the Championship. We finished seventh, just missing out on the play-offs by three points. We began well, but mental and physical exhaustion culminated in a run of poor performances, meaning we faded away badly.”

“As for Sanchez, I think even he will admit it has been a season of ups and downs. It began well for him and he started the first six league games of the season. He mainly got his chance because Max Gradel was suspended for the first four matches of the season and Robert Snodgrass was injured. When they returned, Sanchez lost his place. He then got injured and the team was settled, so it was difficult for him to get back in.”

“He had a run around the two FA Cup matches against Arsenal in January, but more injuries meant he he didn’t have a real impact in the closing stages.”

What would you consider his highlights this season?

“The match that really sticks out was during his run of starts at the beginning of the season when we played Millwall on August 21st. Sanchez was given a free role behind Becchio and really excelled. He was in his element with the freedom to express himself as well as having the chance show his hard work closing down both Millwall’s midfield and defence. He grew in confidence and even made Soccer AM’s Showboat with this brilliant piece of skill.”

What would you consider his low-lights this season?

“The number of injuries he has had restricted his progress and I think that will have frustrated him. I imagine that failing to properly challenge Gradel and Snodgrass for starting spots will have been personally disappointing for him, but he really should have been given more of a chance to shine in a central role. If I was being ultra-critical, as an attacking player, I would have hoped for him to score more than just the one goal too.”

What does the future hold and do you think he’ll make the grade at Arsenal?

“In all honesty, I don’t believe Sanchez has a long-term future there. At 20, he is not a young player anymore and although he is clearly talented, I can never see him pushing Samir Nasri or Theo Walcott for a spot in your first team. I’d fully expect him to move on this summer in a permanent deal somewhere and it would not surprise me if Leeds made a bid for him. That said, I can see him commanding a decent fee and Leeds haven’t really been known to pay big fees in recent seasons. Without doubt though, Leeds fans would welcome him back with open arms if he did sign.”

Any other stats, facts or little pieces of extra information?

“Twitter has really helped Sanchez connect with Leeds fans. A few of our players have come in for criticism on Twitter but Sanchez keeps talking to his fans and he deserves plenty of credit for that, even if his response is just ‘LOL’ or a ‘TeamYouWatt’ hashtag! In all seriousness, we have seen players throw a strop at the first sign of criticism but Sanchez keeps his cool and has shown a professional side that some of his older team-mates haven’t.”

“As for his stats, they speak for themselves. His 12 starts and 14 sub appearances show what an inconsistent season he has had while his solitary goal and five assists are an unfair reflection on the impact he did have when he was on the pitch. Overall, we just didn’t see enough of his talent on the pitch.”

You can read all the articles in this series in our loanees area.

Arsenal may have completed their Premier Reserve League campaign in April, but it wasn’t until last Monday that their league position was known. Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Wolves meant they edged out the Gunners to win the Southern section by a single point.

Neil Banfield’s boys had lead the way for a large proportion of the season, but a difficult start to 2011 left them needing Chelsea to slip up in their four games in hand to win the division. The Blues did suffer defeats to West Brom, Manchester United and Manchester City, but their final day win over Wolves saw them claim the title, and set up a clash with Northern winners Blackburn Rovers in the grand final.

Despite that late drama, it’s been an impressive season for Arsenal. Here’s how it unfolded.

Season Review:
Arsenal’s season began in August, when a strong Bolton side was thrashed 5-0, thanks to braces from Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Chuks Aneke. Nacer Barazite also grabbed a goal in a comprehensive victory. Nine of that starting XI would end up completing the season away from the club.

September saw Sébastien Squillaci made his first appearance in the red and white, as Banfield’s boys beat Blackburn 4-3. They would also draw 1-1 with Manchester City before a 3-0 win at home to Blackpool completed a solid month. In their only game in October, a crushing 4-1 win against West Ham put Arsenal in pole position for a title push.

November began with a 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa, but that was followed up by a 4-1 win over Everton. An Aaron Ramsey inspired second string then beat Wolves, leading up to a hard fought 1-0 win away to West Brom in December’s only game.

The New Year saw a selection of players leave on loan, and January’s first game was an example of how much it effected the squad. An embarrassing 10-1 defeat away to Aston Villa made the history books, as Arsenal’s biggest defeat at any level in the modern era. A Carlos Vela penalty was the perfect way to bounce back, as Banfield kept his players focused with a 1-0 win at Chelsea’s Cobham training centre.

Yet Febuary was where the title began to slip away. 2-2 draws against both Chelsea and Wolves were not helpful, while an expected win over West Brom failed to materialise, as the Gunners drew 1-1. March defeats to West Ham and Newcastle hit hard, but they showed their character to beat Liverpool 2-1. However, despite the influence of Jens Lehmann, a 2-1 defeat away to Wigan left Arsenal with a lot of work to do.

They finished the season with a 4-2 victory against Sunderland, before a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford completed an impressive campaign.

The Verdict:
Arsenal had led for much of the season, but ultimately, it was the shaky form after Christmas that cost them. Why? Because the likes of Emmanuel-Thomas, who was the top scorer, and Benik Afobe left on loan. That meant the goal threat was all but non-existent. It did improve when Luke Freeman returned from Yeovil and Jérémie Aliadière arrived, but it was too little, too late.

The defence had a few shaky moments, but they dealt with the sale of Håvard Nordtveit well. In fact, dealing with the loss of players was the key. In many other seasons players have left on loan or to pastures new mid-season, and Banfield’s teams have collapsed. This group showed good character to keep going and were only just edged out at the bitter end.

Arsenal used 49 different players during the 20 matches, of which they won 10, drew 5 and lost 5. They scored 41 goals and conceded 34. A good total.

Star Players:
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas had a flying start to the season and grabbed a number of goals and assists before going on loan to Cardiff City. Chuks Aneke also had a good start, but injuries meant he finished the campaign lacking his best form. Ignasi Miquel had a few poor moments, but on the whole he led the side well.

Key mentions also go to James Shea, Luke Freeman, Josh Rees and Roarie Deacon all of whom finished the season strongly.

Next Season:
Banfield will stay in his role as Reserve team manager for next season, and that’s key for the next crop. He will also have some replacing to do, with Oğuzhan Özyakup set to follow Deacon and Brislen-Hall out of the exit door. Miquel, Henderson and Shea are all but certain to go on loan, and they could be followed by Aneke and Frimpong. That would mean Under 18 stars Alban Bunjaku, Martin Angha, Kyle Ebecilio and Jeffrey Monakana push on.

There may also be places for a number of loan players who look to kick on into the first-team, as well as potential new signing Carl Jenkinson. All in all, it’s been a fine season at Reserve team level for Arsenal, and while there might not be any Wilshere-esque talents in this crop, there are a selection of youngsters pushing to be in Arsène Wenger sights next year.

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. You can read all the latest reports below.

Carlos Vela was not included the West Brom team that beat Everton 1-0.

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas played 90 minutes for Cardiff City as they drew 0-0 with Reading in the first leg of their play-off campaign. Emmanuel-Thomas was operating from the left of a five man midfield, but struggled to get involved. However, he did track back on a number of occasions, before being replaced in stoppage time.

Benik Afobe started and played 87 minutes of Huddersfield Town’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth in the first leg of their play off campaign. Afobe was surprisingly named as a lone striker, and lacked service in a tough and tight affair. Benik did have one chance to make it 2-1 late on, but he slipped at the key moment.

Ryo Miyaichi started and played 45 minutes as Feyenoord completed their season with a 1-1 draw against NEC. Miyaichi had a bright start to the game but was withdrawn at half time after picking up an injury. Ryo is expected to recover in time to make his debut with Japan Under 22 against Australia Under 22 next month.

Francis Coquelin played the full 90 minute as Lorient drew 2-2 with Marseille. Coquelin once again impressed with an efficient midfield display. Gilles Sunu was not included in the squad.

Armand Traoré came off the bench to play the final 37 minutes of Juventus’ 1-0 defeat to Parma. Traoré did show some nice touches but couldn’t do anything to prevent the defeat.

Wellington Silva was not included in the Levante squad that drew 0-0 with Valencia.

Pedro Botelho played the full 90 minutes as Cartagena beat Girona 1-0. Botelho was restored to a role on the left of a front three, and he made his impact felt in the opening four minutes. He first had two good chances to score blocked, before he was fouled in the box for a penalty. Victor scored what would prove to be the winner, as four Girona players were sent off in an amazing second half.

Samuel Galindo was an unused substitute as UD Salamanca lost 2-0 to Xerez.

Elsewhere, Kyle Bartley collected his winners medal as Rangers beat Kilmarnock 5-1 to win the Scottish Premier League.

Arsène Wenger has penciled in Conor Henderson and Ignasi Miquel for places in the squad ahead of Arsenal’s final home game of the season against Aston Villa.

The duo made their debuts in the FA Cup replay against Leyton Orient in March, where both started and turned in solid shifts in a 5-0 victory. Wenger has since selected them for a number of training sessions with the first-team, and, following a selection of injuries, the Frenchman has no qualms about rewarding their hard work with places on the bench.

Cesc Fàbregas and Samir Nasri will have late fitness tests, but even if they pass, Henderson and Miquel should still make up the squad.

Anderlecht are hopeful of securing a partnership deal with Arsenal following extensive talks. The Belgian outfit sent Sporting Director Herman van Holsbeeck to London last week, where he discussed a number of ways the two clubs could form a mutually beneficial partnership.

Arsenal already enjoy successful link ups with a number of clubs all over the world, with the main aims being the development of young players. However, deals with Spanish sides Celta Vigo and UD Salamanca have collapsed following poor treatment of loanees, leaving many to question whether such partnerships actually work.

Anderlecht have already put their cards on the table. van Holsbeeck is said to have asked Arsenal for a list of available loan players, with the view to them heading to Belgium next year. The media have since speculated that two players that were discussed are Oğuzhan Özyakup and Wellington Silva, although this is wide of the mark.

However, Anderlecht did make one offer, to take Carlos Vela on loan for next season, but this was rejected by the player. The main agreement would see coaching methods exchanged, as the Pro League outfit have a solid history of developing talents. It would also see the Gunners offering non-EU eligible players on loan.

Any partnership may also help Arsenal’s hunt for Anderlecht’s promising youngsters. Former targets Dennis Praet and Jordan Lukaku are no longer on the radar, but attacking midfielder Charly Musonda is. That deal is complicated, though, with his father saying he wants his son to stay in Belgium.

All in the all, the link up promises to be a fruitful one, should Arsenal go ahead with it. It wouldn’t mean any advantages in signing first-team players like Romelu Lukaku, but it would give the club a firm foot hold in one area of the world that is rapidly producing top quality youngsters.