Author: Staff Writer

Arsenal have beaten Manchester United to Icelandic midfielder Ingólfur Sigurðsson. The left-footed central midfielder has rejected the advances of the Premier League Champions to link up with the Gunners for a trial next month.

Sigurðsson has been subject of intense interest from club’s all over Europe after breaking through and turning in a handful of eye-catching performances in the Úrvalsdeild League. Officials from Everton and Arsenal were present at the weekend as the exciting 16-year-old scored a fantastic brace for Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur’s senior team.

Ingólfur joined KR – Iceland’s oldest and most prestigious club – after a season In Holland with Heerenveen. Last term he played three times in the first-team and showed enough promise to be named in the squad for the current campaign. Manchester United were previously in contact and they have since asked him to trial on the 15th of February, which clashes with the date that Arsenal have suggested. He has since turned down Sir Alex Ferguson and will be in London later this month.

Outfits from Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Germany have also made enquiries but the Iceland Under 17 international is keen on a move to England. Sigurðsson can play in any attacking position, but he is most at home as a left-sided central midfielder or on the wing.

He will stay for five days before returning to KR, although it is widely regarded he will not remain in the Úrvalsdeild for much longer. You can view a video of Ingólfur scoring for Iceland’s Under 16’s below.

Click Here To Watch The Video

Article By – J.Sanderson

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.

In The Premier League, Jack Wilshere was an unused substitute for Bolton Wanderers as they lost 2-0 to Liverpool. Wilshere did go and warm up shortly after half time but Owen Coyle opted for Man City loanee Vladimir Weiss to come on out wide. Jack will wear the number 32 whilst with the Trotters. Loanee Rating – 0.

In the Championship, Jay Simpson played the full game for Queens Park Rangers as they lost 1-0 to Scunthorpe United. Simpson started alongside Rowan Vine and struggled to get involved in the first half in an end-to-end fixture. The second half brought chances for the powerful hitman and it took a superb reaction save from United’s Joe Murphy to keep things level. Moments later he had a further chance, but yet again Murphy was on hand to block. Loanee Rating – 6.

Kerrea Gilbert racked up another 90 minutes for Peterborough United at right back in a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace. Gilbert turned in a typically bullish shift but United struggled to really create anything in a difficult game. Loanee Rating – 6

In League One, Mark Randall played the final 19 minutes for MK Dons as they drew 1-1 with Exeter. The central midfielder is yet to impose himself on the Dons team but he turned in a decent shift despite being subjected to a handful of poor tackles. Loanee Rating – 5

Elsewhere, Henri Lansbury‘s Watford had their game called off due to an icy pitch, while Håvard Nordtveit was a substitute for Nuremberg but he didn’t get off the bench.

For more news like this plus opinions and news that might not make the website, make sure you follow us on Twitter@YoungGunsBlog.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Arsenal’s Under 18’s continued their good form by dispatching of Southampton at London Colney this morning. In a cold and physical encounter, a brace from Luke Freeman plus one from Conor Henderson sealed the win.

Steve Gatting’s Under 16’s drew 1-1 with the same opposition.

More to follow.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Arsenal youngster Pedro Botelho was in action for loan club Celta Vigo this evening as they took on Atlético Madrid in the second leg of their Copa Del Rey quarter-final. The Brazilian winger, on loan with the Spanish outfit until the summer, played 80 minutes in the first game after winning the decisive penalty which knocked out Villareal in the last round.

In front of 32,000 people at Celta’s Balaído stadium, the ‘Celtinhas’ went into the fixture with the knowledge that a 0-0 draw would be enough to earn them a shock place in the semi’s. Pedro began the game in his new role as a left forward in a 4-3-3 formation.

The Segunda outfit began at a frantic pace but struggled to really create anything. After the opening 15 minutes Pedro had barley had a touch as Atlético contained the pressure that was thrust upon them. Everything was looking bright for the hosts.

Botelho was then presented with two almost identical chances to open the scoring. Lovely passing across the pitch saw the ball go out wide to Abalo who drilled crosses to the back post, where Pedro arrived with two flying volleys but he couldn’t keep them down. Celta would be punished for not taking their chances moments after as Diego Forlan put Atlético in front.

The goal settled the visitors who looked to step up the pressure and bag the crucial second. Alvaro Dominguez looked to bring the ball forward down the flank but he was tracked all the by Botelho who was unlucky to concede a free-kick after miss-timing his slide tackle. Yet less than 60 seconds later he won a set-piece of his own after being crunched into by Tomas Ujfalusi.

Half time came and went and with no real sign in the tides changing, 19-year-old Toni replaced the ineffective Botelho. The Brazilian was tightly marked by Ujfalusi and he came off with 35 minutes left. He may have recently turned 20, yet Pedro once more showed his petulant side by first snatching the training jacket from the Celta staff and then punching the seats on the bench as he showed his frustration.

A flurry of late chances from the hosts including one which smashed the bar should have brought an equalizer and sent the tie to extra time, but Madrid stood firm and held out to progress into the semi-finals 2-1 on aggregate.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Jack Wilshere is expected to complete the formalities on a 6 month loan move to Bolton Wanderers this afternoon. The 18-year-old has had offers from Burnley, Celtic, FC Twente and West Brom but has elected to work under The Trotters new coach Owen Coyle.

Wilshere has been used sparingly this term after a phenomenal break through campaign last year and Arsène Wenger believes some games in the Premier League will be the finishing touches to his development. Following his return from loan, Jack will be assessed as to whether he needs a second spell or he is indeed ready to realistically fight for a regular spot in the first-team. The winger also harbours international ambitions and although he started the season in the Reserves, some consistent performances would put him in an outside position to earn a call up to Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad.

Arsenal will also monitor Wilshere’s treatment with Bolton in the aim of sending players to Lancashire in the future. They may be one of the Premier League’s least fashionable teams, but Wenger is believed to be keen to sending players there to learn the physical style of the game instead of enhancing their ‘total football’ mentality. News on the deal will be confirmed later today.

In other news, Young Guns is going through some changes as we celebrate our second anniversary today. It was two years ago that we began our coverage of the Arsenal Reserves & Youth teams and we’d like to use today to extend our massive thanks to all readers, commenters and fellow bloggers who have all assisted in making the website so popular.

We’ve had over 9,300,000 hits and well over 40,000 comments and the feedback and response as been amazing. To celebrate we’re planning on making things bigger and better for the coming year. You may have noticed we’ve moved to a brand new domain name at younggunsblog.co.uk and a new design is also being planned. So while we enjoy today and offer thanks, we’d like to ask you for your imput and ideas on what you’d like to see added to the site.

This would include colours for the new design, features and article suggestions. Feel free to leave them in the comment section and once more, a massive thank you and we look forward to your continued support.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Arsenal are now believed to be back in the race for Fulham defender Chris Smalling after having a bid accepted by the Cottagers.

Manchester United have been in talks with the England Under 21 international since this morning and they’ve announced on their website that they had signed the player and that all but a medical is needed for the deal to be done. However, Fulham say nothing has been signed. Smalling is due at their Carrington training complex tomorrow where he will have those tests but Arsenal have now stepped in and reportedly matched the fee of around £8 million.

Life long Gooner Smalling now looks to have the final decision on any move.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Arsenal look set to miss out on highly rated central defender Chris Smalling after Fulham reportedly turned down a bid from the Gunners and have instead accepted an offer from cash-strapped Manchester United.

The club have been making regular checks on the former Maidstone United defender after he broke into the Fulham first-team, and news emerged last week that Ivan Gazidis had approached the Cottagers and were readying a bid. Arsène Wenger refused to speak about the potential deal and suggested it would be better for both sides if they kept everything quiet until a deal was done.

Manchester United have now been alerted to his availability and this morning two formal offers were made for the England Under 21 international. Arsenal’s – believed to be around £7 million – was rejected while United’s was accepted and they have now been given permission to talk to the player. There is no news as yet to whether the club will return with a second offer.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Bolivian midfielder Samuel Galindo remains on trial with Arsenal as the Gunners are still undecided on whether to offer him a contract following allegations over irregularities with age.

Young Guns covered the story last week which was run by El Deportivo TV who published copies of both a passport and trial documentation from Samuel. The two articles were apparently signed by the midfielder who gave his year of birth as 1989, making him 20-years-old not 17 as is common knowledge. The news agency alleges that the Bolivian Football Association allowed Galindo to register as an Under 17 for the recent South American Youth Championships.

This news broke after the left-footed maestro was reported to have signed for Arsenal after a trial with Everton. This was proved to be false but Arsène Wenger did suggest they were close to bringing him in and that he would be sent out on loan. An application for a FIFA Special Talent work permit looks out of the question and as the club look into the reports, Samuel is training on his own at London Colney.

The Bolivia Under 20 captain is still on the radar of a handful of European clubs including Fiorentina who claimed to have signed him earlier in the year.

With 2010 almost a month old and with many facing the crunch after the Christmas and January sales periods, Young Guns is here to help. We’ve teamed up with our good friends at SoccerPro to offer 10% of anything in their Arsenal range. From offical home jerseys to training tops and jackets, you can use this exclusive voucher to get a discount.

Just enter the code “Young Guns” on the Shopping Cart before progressing to the checkout. This is valid all the way to the 15th of February 2010. It can only be used on Arsenal related goods, however.

For more news like this plus opinions and news that might not make the website, make sure you follow us @YoungGunsBlog.

Article By – J.Sanderson