Author: Staff Writer

Arsenal continued their shaky start to the new Premier Academy League season with a 1-0 defeat against Bristol City. Steve Bould’s side dominated most of the game, but without first choice strikers Philip Roberts and Zak Ansah, the Gunners couldn’t convert their array of chances.

Bould’s selection issues continued as Josh Rees was again at right back while James Campbell, normally a left back, played the holding role. Swiss youngster Martin Angha returned from international duty to take the armband.

Charles-Cook
Rees – Angha (c) – Monteiro – Brislen-Hall
Webb – Edge – Campbell
Ebecilio – Neita – Bihmoutine

With the scores level, a throw from substitute Ben Glasgow was not read by Jamie Edge and City took full advantage, eventually forcing the ball home via Monteiro’s out stretched leg. It finished 1-0.

Samuel Galindo made his debut for UD Salamanca in midweek, scoring in a 2-1 friendly defeat against UD Santa Marta. The fixture was Galindo’s first real run out all summer after visa complications meant he missed all of Salamanca’s pre-season preparations.

However, Samuel started in central midfield against Santa Marta in a bid to build up his fitness. After falling behind, the 6 foot powerhouse showed superb close control and then great technique to volley the equaliser. The Union went on to lose 2-1. You can view full highlights, including Galindo’s goal below.

Click Here For Highlights

Arsenal have confirmed new squad numbers for a host of Reserves and Youth players by submitting their Champions League squad for the new season.

UEFA also include home grown rules in the Champions League, but these are much more loose than those issued by the Premier League. As always, the squad number allocation is based alphabetically. Meaning Benik Afobe and Chuks Aneke took 33 and 34, while James Shea and Nicholas Yennaris claimed 55 and 58.

Wojciech Szczęsny keeps his number 53 shirt, indicating it will be a permanent number for the Polish stopper. There was no place in the squad for Reserve team captain Ignasi Miquel, although that’s believed to to be down to the aforementioned home grown ruling. Emmanuel Frimpong’s long term injury saw him miss out, too.

You can view the full Champions League squad along with their new squad numbers on the UEFA website.

Arsène Wenger’s wise words and his huge desire to complete the deal was the key factors in Ryo Miyaichi agreeing a switch to Arsenal over Ajax, the Japan Under 17 international has revealed.

Miyaichi will sign a five year development contract with the Gunners in December when his scholarship with Chukyo University expires. Ryo is expected in London at the end of the month for further checks on his cracked fibula, sustained during a trial game with Ajax against SVV Scheveningen. The injury initially ended the interest of both club’s but further scans revealed the fibula isn’t as badly damaged as initially thought and the prospect is looking at weeks rather than months out.

Ryo had earlier impressed when he featured in two of Arsenal’s second-string matches during pre-season, playing 60 and 45 minutes against Boreham Wood and AFC Wimbledon. The tricky left winger did enough in those matches to impress, and speaking to press back home in Japan, the youngster revealed a conversation he had with Wenger when the contract was offered;

“Mr Wenger told me that Arsenal is my home and I that should learn some English and come back soon”

“It was difficult to choose between Arsenal and Ajax, but Arsenal wanted me the most”

Miyaichi is a 180cm winger who can play on either flank. Predominantly right footed, the youngster is just at home on his left foot and brings speed, an awesome dribbling ability and a real eye for goal. He’s expected in England at the end of September.

Arsenal have named their squad for the first half of the 2010-2011 season. All players had to registered to the Premier League by 5pm GMT this afternoon. Arsene Wenger has named 20 first team players, and 7 home grown players.

The club haven’t reached the maximum of 25 first-team players, so they were only required to include seven home grown players under the new ruling. They are Nicklas Bendtner, Gael Clichy, Denilson, Johan Djourou, Vito Mannone, Alexandre Song and captain Cesc Fabregas.

First-Team Squad:
Manuel Almunia, Andrey Arshavin, Maroune Chamakh, Abou Diaby, Emmanuel Eboue, Lukasz Fabianski,Laurent Koscielny, Samir Nasri, Tomas Rosicky, Bacary Sagna, Thomas Vermaelen, Robin van Persie, Sebastien Squillaci.

Home Grown:
Nicklas Bendtner, Gael Clichy, Denilson, Johan Djourou, Vito Mannone, Alexandre Song, Cesc Fabregas.

On top of that, Arsenal have submitted the registration for their allowance of Under 21 players. These are counted as young players but have been registered so they can play in the Premier League. These players count as over the 25 man ruling.

Benik Afobe
Chuks Aneke
Martin Angha
Zak Ansah
Nacer Barazite
Kyle Bartley
Samir Bihmoutine
Daniel Boateng
Pedro Botelho
George Birslen-Hall
Alban Bunjaku
James Campbell
Reice Charles-Cook
Francis Coquelin
Thomas Cruise
Roarie Deacon
Craig Eastmond
Kyle Ebecilio
Jamie Edge
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas
Cedric Evina
Luke Freeman
Emmanuel Frimpong
Samuel Galindo
Kieran Gibbs
Ben Glasgow
Sead Hajrovic
Conor Henderson
Gavin Hoyte
Henri Lansbury
Damian Martinez
Sean McDermott
Jernade Meade
Ignasi Miquel-Pons
Jeffrey Monakana
Elton Monteiro
Rhys Murphy
Havard Nordtveit
Nigel Neita
Oguzhan Ozyakup
Aaron Ramsey
Mark Randall
Josh Rees
Philip Roberts
Steven Smith
James Shea
Gilles Sunu
Wojciech Szczesny
Armand Traore
Carlos Vela
Theo Walcott
Sanchez Watt
Jack Wilshere
Callum Webb
Jordan Wynter
Nico Yennaris

Nacer Barazite has revealed he turned down a move to Portuguese giants Benfica before sealing a return to Holland with Vitesse Arnhem. The Dutch Under 21 international, surplus to requirements at Arsenal, has joined Vitesse on a season long loan with the option to buy.

Barazite saw a move to Rangers collapse last week but he had agreed on a move back to the Eredivisie with Heracles Almelo. However, cash rich Vitesse moved to seal an agreement on transfer deadline day. Nacer had a medical and completed the transfer today before telling the media about how the deal came about;

“Two days ago, Vitesse was the first team to contact me, and then it all went really quickly. I see this transfer as a great way for me to play in the spotlight. I could have gone to Heracles, but everyone knows the ambition of Vitesse, which fits well with mine.”

Nacer has the option to make the move permanent in January if both parties agree, otherwise a deal can be done next year. Benfica had also expressed an interest at a similar type of arrangement, but the 19-year-old only ever wanted to do one deal;

“Here I speak the language, for Benfica I think I would have needed to adjust. I consider the chance of playing for Vitesse to far outweigh Benfica. I am really looking forward to showing the Netherlands just who Nacer Barazite is.”

You can follow Nacer’s progress throughout the season in our regular loanees reports.

Arsenal have offered a contract to Japanese winger Ryo Miyaichi, despite the youngster nursing a broken leg. According to sources in Japan, Miyaichi will sign for the Gunners after his contract with Chukyo High School expires at the end of September.

Miyaichi completed a trial spell with Arsenal last month and Arsene Wenger told the youngster his staff would keep tabs on his progress. Ryo then joined Ajax on trial but suffered a broken leg during a behind closed doors game. Ajax released the prospect and Arsenal ended their interest but medical staff ar Chukyo High School have confirmed the injury isn’t as bad as first feared, and now Wenger is ready to do a deal.

Reports in Japan say Ryo will sign a five year professional contract with Arsenal on his 18th birthday in December.

Nacer Barazite has joined Dutch outfit Vitesse Arnhem on loan, according to Voetbal International. The winger signs joins after turning down a move to Heracles Almelo at the last minute.

More to follow.

Juventus have signed Arsenal defender Armand Traoré on loan with a view to a permanent deal. The Italian outfit will pay €500,000 euros for a year-long-loan deal with the option to purchase the Frenchman for a fee of around €4 million euros next year.

Official confirmation is expected shortly. You can follow live text updates of all Arsenal related in’s and out’s here.