Author: Staff Writer

Wellington Silva has backed out of plans to play for Brazil’s Under 18’s at next weeks International Mediterranean Cup, after a row with loan club Levante.

Silva was called up by Brazil coach Ney Franco last month, with Levante initially giving the player the green light to feature. However, they have since refused to release the 18-year-old for training ahead of the start of the competition, leading to the frustrated Wellington deciding to drop out.

The training stint was seen as a chance for the players to impress Franco, with starting berths up for grabs. Yet Silva felt he was destined for a place on the bench, as he wouldn’t have the opportunity to earn a place for himself.

Franco has since moved to offer the winger assurances that he will be involved in future squads, including a possible appearance at the Under 20 World Cup in Columbia in July.

You can follow updates on all of Arsenal’s Brazilian players over at Brazil Gunners.

Thomas Vermaelen is set to feature for Arsenal’s Reserve team before the end of the season, according to BBC journalist David Ornstein. Vermaelen has now returned to training following successful surgery on his Achilles.

The 25-year-old was scheduled to play for the second string in February, after turning to surgery to cure a long standing Achilles tendon problem, which has kept him out since September. However, Arsène Wenger later back tracked, and ruled Vermaelen out until the end of the season

Since then, Thomas has been training on his own at London Colney and is said to be making impressive progress. The club are now looking to arrange a selection of ‘behind closed doors’ friendly games to introduce the defender back to action, as there is only one game left in the Premier Reserve League season.

It unlikely that Vermaelen will play for the first-team again this term, but a spell with the Reserves is seen as the ideal opportunity to build up his fitness ahead of pre-season.

In a week which has seen the American influence on Arsenal grow ever stronger, the club are making their final preparations for their first visit to the US in the Arsène Wenger era.

The Gunners have accepted an invite to attend one of the most prestigious youth tournaments in the world, The Dallas Cup. Arsenal will be sending an Under 19 team out to compete in the competitions show piece, the Gordon Jago SuperGroup. They kick off against the Dallas Texans on Sunday, with further fixtures against Chorrillo FC and Club Bolivar set to provide interesting challenges.

Young Guns can confirm the travelling squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers:
Emi Martínez, Sean McDermott.

Defenders:
Ignasi Miquel, Sead Hajrovic, Daniel Boateng, Elton Monterio, Martin Angha, George Brislen-Hall.

Midfielders:
Emmanuel Frimpong, Oğuzhan Özyakup, Jamie Edge, Conor Henderson, Kyle Ebecilio, Roarie Deacon, Samir Bihmoutine, Josh Rees, Callum Webb, Jordan Wynter, Alban Bunjaku.

Strikers:
Luke Freeman, Zak Ansah, Jeffrey Monakana.

Update: Aneke, Roberts, Meade and Neita all injured and replaced by Edge, Bunjaku, Bihmoutine and Monakana.

You can catch an exclusive interview with Dallas Cup Chief Executive Gordon Jago on Young Guns later this week.

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 an unused substitute for West Brom as they beat Sunderland 3-2.

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was not included in the Cardiff City squad that beat Doncaster Rovers 3-1.

Henri Lansbury played the full 90 minutes as Norwich City lost 3-0 to Swansea City. Lansbury was restored to the midfield after being rested last week, and he came as close as anybody to scoring for Norwich. Henri’s second half shot looked dangerous, but it was deflected behind for a corner on a forgettable day for the Canaries.

Vito Mannone missed Hull City’s 2-1 win over Watford through injury.

Sanchez Watt was not included in the Leeds United squad that lost 3-2 to Millwall.

Craig Eastmond was not included in the Millwall squad that beat Leeds United 3-2.

Benik Afobe played the full 90 minutes as Huddersfield Town drew 1-1 with Peterborough United. Afobe had a handful of chances to score, including what would have been a wonder goal, after beating four players in a mazy run.

Mark Randall was not part Rotherham United squad that drew 1-1 with Cheltenham Town. Randall was in Reserve team action for Rotherham in midweek, playing in their clash with Rochdale.

Ryo Miyaichi played the full 90 minutes as Feyenoord beat Utrecht 4-0. Miyaichi  hit in the bar in the first half before providing an assist for the second goal, delivering a deep corner which Kelvin Leerdam crashed home. He then made a darting run to create space for Diego Biseswar’s third. The youngster played the whole game on the left of a front three.

Gilles Sunu came off the bench to play the final 28 minutes of Lorient’s 1-1 draw with Sochaux. Sunu made a notable impact after coming, setting up two chances. The first was wasted by Diarra, but the second was almost converted by Monnet-Paquet, but for a key block. Francis Coquelin was an unused substitute.

Armand Traoré played the full 90 minutes as Juventus beat Genoa 3-2. Traoré turned in a promising shift at left back, showing improved defensive awareness in what proved to be a tight affair.

Wellington Silva was not included the Levante squad that drew 1-1 with Racing Santander.

Pedro Botelho started and played 84 minutes before being sent off, as FC Cartagena lost 3-1 to Recreativo. The Brazilian was restored to left back for the fixture, but in a frustrating game, he was shown a straight red card for head butting an opponent in the closing stages

Samuel Galindo was an unused substitute as UD Salamanca drew 2-2 with Ponferradina

Welcome to another Young Guns web chat, hosted by me, editor Jamie Sanderson. You can put your questions to me over an hour long chat, beginning at 7pm UK time.

House Rules:
You can put your questions to me from 7pm UK time in an hour long chat. I will try to answer them all, as long as they haven’t already been asked, and as long as they’re submitted inside the deadline.

The web chat lasts 60 minutes, but due to the heavy number of questions submitted, all of them must be sent to me within 30 minutes of the start time. So if the chat starts at 7pm, all questions must be submitted by 7.30pm.

To ask a question, simply fill in the form at the bottom of the window once the chat has begun. The window has an auto-fresh function, so you don’t have to leave this page.

Arsenal have agreed to enter the inaugural Youth Champions League, Young Guns has exclusively learnt. The tournament, designed to run alongside the flagship UEFA Championship League, is due to kick off in August.

UEFA have been working with officials from Ajax, Celtic, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Sporting Lisbon to trial the idea, which is seen as an adventurous and exciting move for Under 18’s football. The final plans are yet to be confirmed, but Arsenal will make up one of the first groups, along with Ajax, Bayern Munich, Basel and an unconfirmed Scandinavian team.

In a similar way to its bigger brother, the Youth Champions League will open with a group stage, consisting of four teams per group. Qualification would then lead to progression to a knock out phase, scheduled for January 2012. The initial aims are for matches to be played in the club’s home stadiums, meaning Arsenal would be playing their fixtures at the Emirates. This is seen as a key way of helping clubs make up the costs of their European exploits.

The final details are still to be ironed out, but Young Guns expects Arsenal to make an announcement on the competition in the summer.

You can discuss Arsenal’s entry to the Youth Champions League and much more in a live web chat with editor Jamie Sanderson from 7pm UK time.

Arsenal midfielders Emmanuel Frimpong and Conor Henderson have made decisions on their international future, with both turning their back on England, despite representing the Young Lions’ youth sides.

Ghana-born Frimpong had played for England at both Under 16 and Under 17 level, before revealing last year that he always intended to represent the country of his birth. The 19-year-old has since refused to answer questions on why he turned out for England, but reaffirmed his desire to play for Ghana this week.

The Ghanian Federation have been tracking Emmanuel’s progress for a number of years, leading to regular contact with Chelsea’s Michael Essien, whilst recovering from anterior cruciate ligament damage earlier in the season. Essien has been key in convincing Frimpong to switch to the Black Stars, something he wants, telling Citi FM this week; ‘I will play for Ghana.’

Elsewhere, Conor Henderson has also confirmed he will continue to build on his blossoming international career with the Republic of Ireland. Henderson is currently part of the Under 21 setup, but, like Frimpong, played for England’s Under 16’s.

Conor is eligible to play for Ireland through both parents, and has been part of their youth teams since Under 17 level.

He may have been injured, but you can learn more on Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong in his ESPN Profile, with stats and a biography. Don’t forget, with soccer spread, its not how you win, its how you cover.

Arsenal have opened negotiations with Charlton Athletic over a compensation package for defender Carl Jenkinson. The 19-year-old has all but agreed terms on a contract, leaving only a fee left to be agreed.

Jenkinson turned down a new deal with The Addicks last month, following interest from West Ham, Fulham and crucially, Arsenal. The Finland Under 19 international is thought to be an avid Gooner, and rejected a new contract at The Valley to help seal a move to North London.

The only issue left to be resolved in compensation. As Jenkinson is under 24, Charlton are eligible for a training allowance, but as yet, the two clubs are yet to agree. Arsenal are keen to avoid going to a tribunal, so are willing to part with a fee of up to £1 million. Charlton value their player as upwards of £2 million.

The six foot one inch right back would go straight into Arsène Wenger’s first team, offering the Frenchman his mix of power, pace, and good ability to cross with either foot. However, many in Charlton’s Academy believe Carl’s future is as a centre back.

More to follow.