Author: Staff Writer

Welcome to this Boxing Day 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 Championship Jay Simpson ended his mini baron run with the opener as QPR edged Bristol City 2-1. Simpson’s 9th of the season came after 31 minutes where his smart finish sent the R’s on their way. Former Gunner Matthew Connolly played the final minutes. Henri Lansbury played every minute of Watford’s 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest. The England midfielder turned in a solid shift in an overall dull game.

Gavin Hoyte completed a rare 90 minutes for Brighton as they shut out Leyton Orient in a 0-0 draw. Elsewhere, Rhys Murphy played the 2 minutes of second half stoppage time in place of goalscorer Ben Strevens as Brentford beat Gillingham 1-0. Wojciech Szczesny was absent from the squad.

Pedro Botelho and Havard Nordtveit are both enjoying the winter break with the latter losing his manager earlier in the week.

Article By – J.Sanderson

The big day is here. If you’ve been a good boy, girl, or David Bentley, Santa Claus may have brought you a reward. Some of you may be reading this message on a brand new laptop, desktop, or phone. Whatever you’ve got or done today, Young Guns would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and an even better 2010.

The past 12 months have brought a whole array of ups, downs and dramas, but as we begin the assent to the New Year, it’s important to remember those who may not be as fortunate. Those who are down on their luck, homeless and have nobody to care for them or look after them. So are you raise your glass this St Nicholas day, spare a thought for the Tottenham Hotspur fans.

Merry Christmas Gooners!

Article By – J.Sanderson

Wojciech Szczęsny’s outstanding performances whilst on loan at Brentford have caught the eye of many, but his rise to fame with the Bees has not surprised manager Arsène Wenger who lauded the Poland international in an exclusive web chat with Arsenal fans.

Szczęsny recently penned an extension beyond the inital month he was supposed to spent on loan, despite admitting he had other more ‘interesting offers’. The thinking behind the deal is to get Wojciech as much experience as early as possible, something his French boss says is key;

“My plan is to continue to develop him. The problem with a goalkeeper is it is a little bit special, because in a big club like Arsenal, we need very good goalkeepers. You know that the experience is a big part, it’s maybe something that starts a little bit later, so we will give him as much experience as we can as soon as we can”

Szczęsny still trains three times a week at London Colney with Gerry Peyton, Mart Poom and David Seaman all assisting the prospect in his development. Talk among the coaching staff has been rife for a long time that they have a potential star on their hands, something the manager also let out.

“We [the coaching staff] have identified Wojciech as a future great, great goalkeeper”

Whether his loan gets extended beyond the 20th of January is unknown, but it’s thought bigger and better things lay ahead of the 6’5 glovesman, with development the name of the game in his quest to live up to his potential.

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 Championship, Henri Lansbury played 90 minutes before being subbed off in stoppage time as Watford lost 2-1 to struggling Peterborough United. Lansbury had two good chances to score, one via a free kick and one from open play, but he couldn’t stop the Hornets from slipping to defeat.

Elsewhere Jay Simpson played 58 minutes of QPR’s 1-1 draw with Sheffield United. New manager Paul Hart subbed off Simpson with half an hour left after a decent performance from the striker. In League One, Gavin Hoyte was an unused sub in Brighton’s defeat against Swindon while Wojciech Szczesny completed his loan spell with Brentford by turning in a superb performance in a 1-0 win over MK Dons. Rhys Murphy didn’t get off the bench in that game.

Turning the attention to overseas, Pedro Botelho didn’t get off the Celta Vigo bench in their 1-1 draw with Las Palmas, and Havard Nordtveit should start once more in the right of midfield for Nuremberg as they face Cologne later today.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Weeks of meticulous planning, rehearsing and training was finally put into practice at Arsenal’s London Colney training centre on Thursday afternoon. No it wasn’t a new set piece routine or anything footballing, it was the club’s official Christmas lunch, with entertainment being provided by the newly signed scholars.

In a tradition going back years, Arsenal’s all singing all dancing starlets interrupted the eating of turkey, gravy and the trimmings to deliver their own bit of Christmas cheer – their own rendition of the festive hit – jingle bells. Thirteen of the most exciting youngsters in the country belted out the classic in front of the likes of Andrey Arshavin, Cesc Fabregas, William Gallas and of course chief Arsène Wenger.

The verdict was clear. The voices, which included Benik Afobe, Chuks Aneke, George Brislen-Hall, Sean McDermott, Jernade Meade, Jamie Edge, Danny Boateng, Luke Freeman, Oguzhan Ozyakup, Sead Hajrovic and Ignasi Miquel, we’re good enough to match those who have followed them. Including Nicklas Bendtner, Kieran Gibbs, Ashley Cole and club captain Cesc Fabregas.

Tradition is something which is often lost in football, but certainly not at Arsenal.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Arsène Wenger has confirmed that Burnley manager Owen Coyle did ask about the availability of Jack Wilshere ahead of the January transfer window. The Frenchman also admitted he would be keen to send the prospect to Turf Moor.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Hull City, Wenger was quizzed about Coyle’s comments that he had asked about Wilshere in the tunnel before kick off. The Arsenal boss shied away from his usual closed approach and revealed all.

“Yes [Coyle asked about Jack] and I said it is possible, as long as he plays. Burnley is a very good club, they play good football. First of all we need to ask Jack to want to go there, and we need some assurances from them that he will play. I like the idea, but we are a bit short at the moment – Jack has been in nearly every squad this year.”

Newcastle, West Brom and Celtic have all had tentative enquiries with the Gunners but it appears the club have put the ball firmly into Burnley’s court, with them needing to firm up their interest with an offer.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Arsenal will send scouts to Saturday’s Coca Cola Championship clash between Sheffield United and Queens Park Rangers after news that sought after youngster Raheem Sterling could feature.

The Gunners made checks on Sterling during QPR Reserves’ 2-2 draw with Aldershot last week where Sterling played the final 30 minutes and impressed. Since then caretaker manager Steve Gallen has had the 15-year-old training with Jay Simpson and the rest of the R’s first-team and has run through several match routines involving the live wire prospect. Gallen has also spoken to the media about the starlet.

“He has loads of natural ability. This boy can pass, shoot, head it, score goals, tackle, defend, anything”

Raheem only celebrated his 15th birthday recently but already the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United are on his trail after he starred for England’s Under 16’s. Sterling made an impact mostly as a substitute as Kenny Swain’s boys claimed the Victory Shield live on SkySports. Arsenal striker Zak Ansah played and scored in the same team.

Should Gallen hand the skilful winger a debut, he would surpass Frank Sibley’s record of being the club’s youngest-ever player. A record like that would add to Sterling’s already impressive CV and with a host of Premier League clubs ready to swoop, QPR would struggle to hang onto one of the most talked about prospects in the country.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Arsenal required penalties to dispatch of Crewe Alexandra this evening in the third round of the F.A Youth Cup. In an entertaining affair at Barnet’s Underhill Stadium, goals from Benik Afobe, Luke Freeman and Chuks Aneke kept the tie alive before goalkeeper James Dunn saved a penalty in the shoot out to secure the win.

Dunn
Hajrovic – Boateng – Miquel – Evina (c)
Aneke – Frimpong – Henderson
Deacon – Afobe – Freeman

Subs: McDermott, Byles, Özyakup, Meade, Yennaris.

Arsenal conceded an early penalty but equalised through Benik Afobe. Crewe then put themselves back in front only for Luke Freeman to again level the scores. At 2-2 the game went into extra time where the visitors thought they’d knocked out the Cup holders only for Chuks Aneke to crash home a header with 5 minutes left. It meant penalties would decide the tie.

Oğuzhan Özyakup missed but Freeman, Evina and Afobe were all spot on from 12 yards. James Dunn then made himself the hero with a stunning save allowing Ignasi Miquel the chance to win it. He scored and the Gunners edged themselves into round four.

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Article By – J.Sanderson

As Arsenal prepare to kick off the defence of their F.A Youth Cup title with a 3rd Round tie against Crewe Alexandra, Young Guns have put together a little teaser of what is to come by giving a guide as to who will be Arsenals 5 key youngsters in this year’s push for success.

Arsenal were unstoppable last season, thumping Liverpool 6-2 on aggregate in the final as well as defeating the likes of Tottenham and Manchester City along the way to help bring the trophy back to North London for the seventh time.

It will be a new look side hoping to retain the cup this year as many of last season’s players are now too old for youth football, plying their trade in the Reserves, or out on loan. Jack Wilshere is still eligible to play this season but it is very unlikely that Arsene Wenger will want to reverse his progress and play him in the youth team.

One of last year’s success stories, Emmanuel Frimpong is available and should play alongside Cedric Evina, Benik Afobe and Conor Henderson, who amongst them clocked up a few minutes in last year’s run. However, it is mainly a new batch of youngsters who will be hoping to make their name, posing the question; can they compete with last year’s success?

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