Author: Staff Writer

Craig Eastmond’s impressive start to the season has been rewarded with his first taste of Carling Cup action against Liverpool in which the Wandsworth born midfielder put in an eye catching display. Yet one young guns gain means another’s loss and despite Francis Coquelin’s frustration at being left out of the side, the young French maestro will have further opportunities, but for Mark Randall it could be the end of the road.

Mark is one of Wenger’s longest serving young guns featuring in both the Premier and Champions League, but in truth has been unable to make a real impact in the first team. The beginning of last season seemed as though Mark was finally going to make his break through after returning from Burnley, where he spent time on loan. Making his Champions League debut and featuring regularly in Arsenal’s Carling Cup side, he was given an opportunity to impress the watching eye of Mr Wenger. However, Mark failed to shine and his form began to spiral after Christmas, rarely showing signs of true first team ability in the reserves. This wasn’t aided by the ever impressive U18s side sweeping the board with constant impressive performances from Coquelin, Frimpong and Lansbury.

Mark has put in a few good performances for the reserves this season, but at times has clearly looked disheartened with his lack of progress over the past three years and at 20 years old should really be looking to push on. Despite an impressive cameo performance against West Brom in the Carling Cup, including a sublime chip to set up Carlos Vela, it is obvious that Wenger has turned his attentions to Coquelin and Eastmond in the middle of the park. With fellow youngsters Merida and Vela both being offered new long term contracts the signs seem pretty ominous for Mark who may have to look elsewhere for first team opportunities.

Championship teams will be more than willing to take a punt on the young midfielder who come January may well be taking a similar route to either Steve Sidwell or Paolo Vernazza. Either way there is a good chance Randall’s Arsenal journey could well be coming to an end and may have to search for pastures new in the next transfer window.

Article By – Nick Love

In a bid to build international relations during the tire-some break from Arsenal, Young Guns caught up with the number one Russian Arsenal blog – The Gun Diary. The site offers a round-up of all the latest news and happenings from the Emirates Stadium, all delivered with a Russian twang.

Andrey Arshavin’s signing has notably boosted the amount of Eastern Europeans who are following the Gunners and Mike’s analysis is delivered in the Russian language allowing easier accessibility. During the week Young Guns’ Jamie Sanderson was interviewed by the Gun Diary with a whole host of Arsenal-related goodness discussed. You can view the Russian translation Here.

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Arsenal are within days of completing a deal to sign Cruz Azul’s 16-year-old Martín Luis Galván Romo in what looks to be a notable coup for the club, according to reports in South America.

The Mexico Under 17 international is being lauded in his homeland as the one of the most promising youngsters to have been developed in recent years with some already comparing him to Brazilian legend Romario. Galván was promoted to Azul’s first-team at just 13 and he made his competitive debut just a year later as an 85th-minute substitute against Monterrey to become the youngest professional player in Mexican football history.

Barcelona and Real Madrid have previously asked Martín for trials but Azul have rebuffed their advances on numerous occasions. A quick an instinctive striker who plays with his heart on his sleeve, many believe the Valentine’s day born prospect will become the darling of Mexico in years to come.

His record of 6 goals from 7 Under 17 games is fantastic yet he missed out on the recent Under 17 World Cup after reportedly being caught with a prostitute in his hotel room. The official line from the Mexican Federation was that ‘poor discipline’ caused his omission.

A loan spell to Salamanca has been mooted but after Arsenal ended their partnership and instead re-ignited their bond with Celta Vigo, a move to the Pontevedra province of Spain looks the most likely. More news is expecting in the coming days.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Carlos Vela will commit his long-term future to Arsenal in the coming weeks after his agent, Eduardo Hernández, successfully negotiated fresh terms on a new deal with Chief executive Ivan Gazidis. Vela has agreed in principle and all that remains is for the formalities to be completed and for the Mexican to ink his name on the paper.

The news comes just days after Arsène Wenger confirmed that the 20-year-old is on the comeback trail following a knee injury sustained in training just hours before the Carling Cup tie with Liverpool. Ironically Vela’s first game back should be the same competition as the young Gunners make the trip to Eastlands where Manchester City stand in their way of a place in the semi-finals.

Carlos’ current contract is due to expire in July 2011 and with a handful of Spanish clubs already inquiring about his availability, Wenger has continued his trend of tieing down his most promising youngsters to long-term deals. The official line from the club will be that it’s a ‘long-term’ contract which is expected to be around 4-5 years in length.

Hernández originally sat down with Gazidis in September where tentative talks were held but both parties have significantly stepped things up in recent weeks and an announcement is set to be imminent.

More to follow.

Article By – J.Sanderson

FC Lucerne left back Stefan Marinkovic will fly in with Arsenal duo Martin Angha and Elton Monteiro for a second trial with the club next week.

The 6 foot 1 inch full back has already played for the Gunners having turned out for the Under 16’s at the Emirates Stadium in a pre-season friendly with Chelsea. Like Angha, Monterio and Hajrovic, Marinkovic is Swiss-born but he can claim Serbian nationality through his parents.

Stefan’s explosive performances in the Nike Cup promoted Arsenal scouts to invite him to London Colney for a closer look. Four days later Liam Brady was still undecided and despite interest from Chelsea, the cultured defender has earned himself a make or break chance to prove his worth in North London with a second training stint.

Marinkovic is a tall yet skilful Swiss Under 15 international who loves to get forward – very much like Brazilian wing-back Pedro Botelho. Despite possessing a gaunt looking frame, he’s willing to put himself into challenges and is especially noted for having a scrappy tenacious nature. It appears Arsenal’s traditional mould of having diminutive and rapid left backs is changing in favour of more aggressive and tall ones.

Keep up to date with all the latest comings and goings in our updated Transfer Centre.

Article By – J.Sanderson

As the international break arrives and handfuls of Arsenal players depart London Colney to be with their respective national teams, two of the clubs summer signings who aren’t due to complete their transfers until January will jet in for training ahead of their switches in the new year.

FC Zürich’s Switzerland Under 16’s captain Martin Angha is joined by fellow centre back Elton Montiero who will join from FC Sion. The Swiss pair are due to touch down with their families on the 18th of November for a week-long stay before returning to their home land for a final stint with their respective clubs before becoming Arsenal players properly in January.

Angha, a life-long Gooner, is one of the most eagerly anticipated youth signings for a while after captaining Zürich to glory in the Nike Cup where they beat teams such as Monterio’s Sion and Sead Hajrovic’s Grasshoppers. The pacy 6 foot 1 inch centre half has had a fine campaign so far with goals from corners and set pieces coming in their plenty, he even found the net last week against FC Winterthur. A defender who loves to play beautiful football but who is not afraid to get stuck in and perform the ‘dirty work’, he’ll no doubt prove to be a very welcome addition.

Monterio, a 6 foot 2 inch left footed centre back who can also play in midfield, is oner of the lesser known lights in his homeland but one that the Arsenal coaching staff are notably excited about. His aggressive and powerful approach to the game will no doubt fit that of the competitive Academy League although both are expected to begin their Arsenal careers with Steve Gatting in the Under 16’s.

Young Guns will have more on the progress of the boys in the run up to their permanent switch.

Article By – J.Sanderson

After bagging his 17th goal of the season for Arsenal’s Under 16’s on Saturday, striker Zak Ansah is building a growing reputation as one of the most exciting young talents in England at the moment.

His fantastic goal scoring record for Steve Gatting’s boys combined with a exiguous number appearances for the double winning Under 18’s has earned him a place in the England squad where he has one goal from two games. The name ‘Ansah’ will be a familiar one for regular followers of English football after Zak’s Dad, Andy, had a playing career where he notably made 157 appearances for Southend United.

Andy has since gone on to acting in the fictional football drama ‘Dream Team’ where he was player coach for Harchester United. He’s also appeared in the ‘Goal’ films and is currently working with Wayne Rooney on a programme for Sky called ‘Wayne Rooney’s Street Striker’. Ansah senior takes the role of judge in the show which tests the talents and skills of potential forwards from around the country. On Friday Andy was invited on the Hawksbee & Jacobs show on talkSPORT radio to promote the programme where he was also asked about his promising young son.

After briefly talking about Rooney’s son, Kai, Paul Hawksbee asked about his son and his England call-up.

“Thats right, young Zak Ansah. He played against Northern Ireland and I was over at Chester in the week.”

Andy was then asked about his first hand experience of the Arsenal youth system and whether it is really as good as the club and media portray. To which the unequivocal answer was:

“Arsenal have a fantastic setup. Just to have the education first and fore most is important. Whether they go on and play for them, thats great if they do, but the education stands them in good stead if they want to go on and be footballers.”

Zak is yet to find out if he’ll be included in the England Under 16’s squad for the final Victory Shield clash with Scotland, but his rapid goal scoring rate should see him claim a place in the squad as they, minus any major upsets, retain the Shield.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Arsenal’s Under 18’s ended their poor recent form with a 6-0 demolition of Charlton Athletic this morning at London Colney. Steve Bould’s outfit secured their win thanks to braces from Roarie Deacon and Luke Freeman while Conor Henderson and Nicholas Yennaris completed the rout.

Steve Bould welcomed back Benik Afobe who operated as the spearhead of an exciting front three which included Roarie Deacon and Luke Freeman. A midfield of Chuks Aneke, Nico Yennaris and Conor Henderson meant Bould had opted for an attacking approach. On loan ‘keeper Dunn continued.

Dunn
Obed – Boateng – Miquel – Brislen-Hall
Aneke – Yennaris – Henderson
Deacon – Afobe – Freeman

Charlton were exposed for their poor start after just three minutes. Deacon took full advantage of slack defending and bagged his 6th of the season. Arsenal continued to apply pressure and 10 minutes later the Addicks crumbled again, Freeman this time on target.

The Gunners continued to press and could have been comfortably out of sight by half time. Freeman did get another before the break to make it 3-0 but some of Arsenal’s performances recently have meant that wasn’t an all together safe lead.

However, they completed the job in the second half. Within 60 seconds of the restart Deacon made it 4-0 with his second and three minutes after that Henderson was on target with his second of the campaign. Holding midfielder Yennaris completed the rout in the 85th minute with his first Academy League goal.

An impressive performance from the Under 18’s who now face consecutive trips to the South Coast with Southampton and Portsmouth looking to claim notable scalps.

Article By – J.Sanderson