Author: Staff Writer

Birmingham City have approached Arsenal in a last minute bid to sign defender Armand Traoré. The Frenchman is currently meeting with officials from Italian outfit Juventus who are close to completing a deal worth up to €4 million euros after a loan.

Traoré was on the cusp of joining Portuguese side Benfica last week but despite passing a medical, the transfer broke down after the 20-year-old refused to take a pay cut. Birmingham City have had a tentative interest for a number of seasons but only made an approach today. City are thought to have matched Arsenal’s valuation of around £3.5 million, but it’s not yet clear whether Armand would be interested in remaining in England.

Arséne Wenger has told Traoré he is free to leave as the French Under 21 international wants to play in midfield, whereas Wenger is only prepared to offer him the role of third choice left back.

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.

Sanchez Watt played 69 minutes as a striker for Leeds United as they beat Watford 1-0. Watt turned in another classy and hard working shift in attack before being replaced by new signing Ross McCormack. Minutes before coming off, Sanchez was booked for showing dissent.

Kyle Bartley racked up another 90 minutes at centre back for Sheffield United against Preston. Bartley had a rather quiet game which was decided by his defensive partner Jean Calve, who scored the only goal. Bartley had the tricky task of marking Man Utd loanee Josh King.

Luke Freeman came off the bench and played the final 10 minutes for Yeovil Town against Oldham Athletic. Freeman, still struggling with a shin injury, did win a free kick late on, but it was headed over by Paul Huntington. It finished 0-0.

Francis Coquelin was an unused substitute for Lorient as they beat Lyon 2-0 at home.

Pedro Botelho played the full 90 minutes at left back on his FC Cartagena debut. The Brazilian made an early mistake to allow Xerez to equalise after Cartagena had took the lead, but the 20-year-old turned in an exciting second half shift. First he won and then took a corner which Pascal Cygan headed over, then after FCC took the lead, Botelho made it 3-1 with a fine left footed finish inside the box.

Samuel Galindo watched from the stands as UD Salamanca drew 1-1 with Cordoba. The Bolivian midfielder only had his work permit granted on Thursday, so is not yet match fit.

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere was arrested by police in the early hours of this morning in an incident where a woman was assaulted. Wilshere has since been released on bail and the agency who work for the youngster confirmed Jack is ‘unlikely’ to face charges.

Wilshere was arrested along with four men in a car following the incident where a woman suffered a broken elbow, and a man serious facial injuries. However, the Wasserman Media Group released a short statement confirming their client is ‘unlikely’ to face charges.

The statement went on to confirm that Jack is an important witness to the incident as he tried to play the role of peacemaker shortly before the assult.

Arsenal have accepted a plethora of loan offers for midfielder Henri Lansbury, but the England Under 21 international is yet to decide on his future.

Lansbury has been named in the Arsenal first-team for the new season but Arsène Wenger has given the youngster the opportunity to leave again on loan, should he wish. Former loan club’s Scunthorpe United and Watford have all asked whether they could have the prospect for a second spell, but Wenger rebuffed their advances. Instead, offers from Championship rivals Swansea City and Leeds United have been accepted, while Premier League outfit Newcastle United have made their interest known.

However, Henri is hoping he could still play a part for Arsenal, notably in the Carling Cup. Recent injuries to Craig Eastmond and Emmanuel Frimpong have opened the door for match minutes in the holding midfield role, but Wenger remains uncertain. Newcastle would offer the perfect opportunity for top flight action but they’ve only had a tentative interest as yet, but could make a firm offer if they fail to land other targets before the window closes.

Henri is poised to make his decision on Monday.

UD Salamanca presented Arsenal loanee Samuel Galindo at their El Helmántico stadium this afternoon. The Bolivian midfielder only completed his move to the Gunners in July, but after failing to win a work permit, he has been loaned to the Spanish Segunda outfit for the season.

Galindo agreed on the loan move over a month ago but problems getting the correct paper work to gain a Spanish visa have held up the official signing. Samuel flew into Salamanca yesterday and was presented to the media at lunch time. He will wear the number 16 shirt for the new campaign.

The youngster, who has been compared to Inter Milan midfielder Thiago Motta by Spanish football opinionista Marcos Lopez, was quizzed by the media after posing for pictures. Samuel began by admitting his relief now the transfer had finally gone through;

“It’s been very hard work with all the issues with the paperwork. It is difficult for a player out of South America because there are many bureaucratic problems. It took a lot but I’m here. Now I’m really looking forward to working with all my new team-mates.”

Galindo now faces a prolonged spell in Spain as he bids to gain the criteria needed for an E.U visa, meaning he can finally move to Arsenal. When asked about the Gunners, the rangy midfielder gave a determined response;

“Arsenal? it is a dream. The truth is that I didn’t expect it. When they announced their interest, it really touched me. Now it is a reality and I have to prove they made the right decision to sign me.”

Samuel’s father confirmed last month that if the player can earn enough international caps, he would win a work permit outright by early next year.

Arsenal are among one of the most creative and dangerous teams in the world while in possession, but without it, Arsène Wenger’s side have suffered from well documented defensive mistakes. Not always explainable with the lack of quality at the back, Wenger has spent much of the summer plotting a plan to make the sure up his back-line.

Barcelona are widely regarded as the best team in the world, and their masterclass at the Emirates last season showed their perfect balance of creative and fluid attacking, plus a firm defensive plan. The key? well Barça employ fierce pressing tactics. Whenever they lose the ball, they all bunch up and press high up the pitch to win back possession as quickly as possible. Arsenal’s first-team have began the season with the same plan, and it’s being passed through the ranks.

To show you the plus points and to highlight the issues without the pressing plan, we’ve gathered these screen shots. We start off with the Under 18’s who didn’t play a pressing game and were thrashed by Manchester City. Arsenal weren’t ruthless enough with the ball, but their defending put the score beyond their reach before they began taking their chances.

Highlighted here. Callum Webb gave away the ball in midfield and City worked it back to their centre back. Philip Roberts drops off and allows the defender to pick a ball out from the back which needed last ditch defending from Martin Angha. If Roberts presses and gets tight, he cuts out the ball forward.

The Reserves did press, and in a similar position, the ball forward is stopped because Afobe presses the Bolton defence and forces them back. He gives away a free kick, but it stops pressure on the defence.

That’s an example of forwards tracking back. Yet real defending comes down to the mentality and performance of the centre backs. Here’s a Bolton chance below. Danny Shittu bursts out from the back with the ball after Eastmond gives it away, but Miquel presses up. The ball is shifted out wide, but this time Nordtveit is the one who presses and the danger is snuffed out.

The Under 18’s didn’t press from the back, and were punished. The City midfielder runs at Elton Montiero, he doesn’t push up and allows the ball to slipped inside. Instead of another centre half coming across and pressing, like Nordtveit did, Angha backs off and Harry Bunn smashes home number three.

All we’re simple defensive scenarios, but dealt with in different ways and with different results.

Pressing isn’t always an easy option for every team, but one with the work rate and energy that Arsenal have, it is a simple and realistic tactic to close up those defensive mistakes.

A new season always brings excitement, but Neil Banfield’s Reserves have extra reasons to be feeling that new term buzz. The Reserves League has been revamped and in it’s place the fresh and exciting Premier Reserve League, which will offer an interesting challenge to Arsenal’s second string this campaign.

The Gunners will now play everybody in the league at least once, meaning trips to face Manchester United and City while Liverpool and Newcastle will offer new and exciting skirmishes. The initial setup is still based on regionalised setups, but now three open groups will provide three winners who will battle to be Champions. Full explanation of how it will work is here.

Banfield has one of his strongest squads ever at his disposal for the opener. Ignasi Miquel will be the captain again this season and he’s been joined in the squad by first-teamers Havard Nordtveit, Craig Eastmond and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas. Nacer Barazite is back from his trial with Rangers, and he will go straight into the starting lineup.

Predicted Starting XI

Shea
Nordtveit – Hoyte – Miquel – Cruise
Randall – Eastmond – Henderson
Barazite – Afobe – Emmanuel-Thomas

Kick off is at 7pm GMT at Bolton’s County training Ground. The game is a behind-closed-doors fixture although match highlights will be available via Arsenal TV Online tomorrow. Young Guns will have live text updates on our Twitter from 6.55 onwards and a full Match Report on the full time whistle.