Author: Staff Writer

Arsenal kicked off their Carling Cup campaign this evening with a third round clash against Championship leaders West Brom. In front of a bouncing crowd at the new ‘Arsenalised’ Emirates, the fans, who only paid £10 each to get in, created a welcoming red blaze for Wenger’s young Gunners.

In terms of team news, Wenger handed starts to two players who appeared to be on their way out of the club this summer in the form of Kerrea Gilbert and Philippe Senderos. The Swiss powerhouse was joined by another experienced centre back – Mikaël Silvestre. Between the sticks Wojciech Szczęsny was handed the gloves and a chance to impress while James Shea made the bench. Carlos Vela and Nacer Barazite were other notable subs.

Szczęsny
Gilbert – Senderos – Silvestre – Gibbs
Wilshere – Coquelin – Ramsey
Sunu – Watt – Traore

Subs: Shea – Bartley – Eastmond – Randall – Frimpong – Barazite – Vela

Read more →

t’s that time of year again when Arsenal fans eagerly await the youngsters on show at the Emirates and if any of the previous seasons are anything to go by they never disappoint!

Last season’s 6-0 romp of Sheffield United was a superb example of Arsenal’s young guns and hopefully tonights clash with West Brom will bring another promising display from Arsenal’s younger generation.

However Roberto Di Matteo’s side will certainly provide a big test for Arsenal. Sitting at the top of the Championship, undefeated and confidence extremely high after a 5-0 away win against title challengers Middlesbrough, West Brom will certainly believe they can nick a result against Wenger’s protege’s.

As for Arsenal’s team news, the Carling Cup often brings some surprises and the starting line up is anyone’s guess, yet Wenger has already stated some of the players that will be featuring in the game;

“You will see Wojciech Szczesny, Ramsey, Gibbs, Wilshere and certainly Vela,” said Wenger. “Traore will play.

“Some experienced players will guide the team like Senderos and Silvestre. But overall it will be a very, very young team as usual.”

Silvestre and Senderos will be making their first appearance of the season, whilst other fringe first teamers Traore, Ramsey, Wilshere, Gibbs and Vela will also start. Szczesny will be making his debut and it is likely that Gilbert will be making his first first-team appearance since February 2006.

Coquelin, Sunu and Merida are all on international duty, whilst Frimpong has only just returned from injury and it may be a little too soon for him to feature. This opens up possible debuts for Murphy, Eastmond, Deacon, Freeman and Watt who have all impressed early in the season for both reserves and U18s. Not all will feature but one or two may claim a memorable debut. Walcott, Arshavin and Rosicky could be possible first team faces as they are all in need of playing time but with Wenger not mentioning them in his press conference it is likely they will be rested.

The Carling Cup always brings a wave of interest and hopefully Arsenal young guns will once again be able to show the rest of the world what their really made of!

Predicted Starting XI

Szczesny
Gilbert – Senderos –  Silvestre – Gibbs
Wilshere – Ramsey – Randall – Traore
Watt – Vela

Subs…. Shea, Bartley, Murphy, Deacon, Barazite, Eastmond, Freeman

Predicted score….. Arsenal 2-1 West Brom

Arsenal TV will be showing this fixture but only after the full-time whistle. However, if you check back at full time Young Guns will have a full Match Report ready – with player ratings and analysis to follow tomorrow.

Article By – Nick Love

Young Guns’ J.Sanderson is live this evening on Deaje’s Deadly Football show from 10pm.

To get involved visit the link below at 10pm UK time and enjoy an hour of the hottest football debate around. If you have any questions you want answered or points to raise with either me or Deaje, then use the chat section on the side of the media player, leave a comment below, or send an e-mail to – youngguns.wordpress@googlemail.com

For more information on the show – Click Here.

Link One To Watch Live – Link Two To Watch live

Article By – J.Sanderson

Arsène Wenger has confirmed eight of the eleven names he will field against West Brom in the Carling Cup tomorrow evening. The competition is frequently used as a chance to play some of the younger players in the Frenchman’s squad and this year looks like being no different.

Speaking to Arsenal TV Online this morning, Wenger revealed a handful of the names that will face the Baggies at the Emirates Stadium.

“You will see Wojciech Szczęsny, [Aaron] Ramsey, [Kieran] Gibbs, [Jack] Wilshere and certainly [Carlos] Vela. [Armand] Traoré will also play”.

The boss has a larger squad that last year so there will be some older players in the XI. They will be in defence in the form of potential captain Philippe Senderos and 32-year-old Mikaël Silvestre.

“Some experienced players will guide the team like Senderos and Silvestre. But overall it will be a very, very young team as usual.”

The bench has not been revealed yet but already there has been a few surprises hinted at. The full squad should be announced tomorrow.

Article By – J.Sanderson

With Arsenal’s Carling Cup clash against West Brom fast approaching, Arsenal fans often wonder what new young wannabes will be taking to the Emirates turf. Wenger uses the competition to give fringe first teamers some competitive action, but what excites fans the most is witnessing the next up and coming Cesc Fabregas or Theo Walcott make their mark. And in Roarie Deacon there is a new hopeful who is eager to be the next young Englishman on the Arsenal fans lips.

Over the past few years Wenger has used the Carling Cup to educate and nurture some of the young players in Arsenal’s squad. Most of Arsenal’s current first eleven have used the competition as a stepping stone in to the limelight and with this in mind it gives some of the young guns a realistic chance to make the squad, with Deacon’s early performances placing him in pole position.

Although Deacon’s main priority this season is to gain a professional contract, he will be keeping a keen eye on a Carling Cup call up. Last season Deacon gave glimpses of his undoubted talent, scoring 8 goals for the Under 18’s but this season’s early form has certainly caught the eye, scoring 5 goals in 5 appearances for both Under 18’s and reserves. After coming on as a second half substitute against Fulham reserves, Deacon scored a sublime goal which was followed up with a fine double against Leeds Under 18’s five days later. Deacon’s performances were rewarded with his first second string start against Stoke in which he gave a man of the match performance, which didn’t go unnoticed form the watching eye of Wenger who was able to witness Deacon’s ability first hand. Despite a niggling injury picked up during the Stoke game, Deacon was back amongst the subs for the Under 18’s game against Bristol City and is fully fit after training regularly with the first team.

While it may be a little early for a starting place against West Brom, a squad call up remains a realistic target for the young striker and come Tuesday night there could be a new face on the Arsenal bench.

Article By – Nick Love

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.

Arsenal currently have five Reserves & Youth players gaining experience elsewhere. Striker Jay Simpson is taking part in his third loan spell in as many years with West London outfit Queens Park Rangers. He is joined in the Championship by Henri Lansbury and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas who are with Watford and Blackpool respectively.

The Gunners currently have two youngsters cutting their teeth abroad. Pedro Botelho is spending his third successive loan spell in the Spanish Segunda, but this time with Celta de Vigo, while Håvard Nordtveit is spending the campaign in Germany with Nuremberg.

Read all the latest reports below.

Read more →

After the news of the new home-grown regulation, Arsene Wenger was quick to criticise the rule, stating;

“I feel that when you want to see the best players in the best league in the world, you have to be open. To accept competition – and we live for competition.”

Arsene’s point is certainly warranted and as a football fan I too take pleasure in watching the very best, whether they’re English, Brazilian or Madagascan. However, a selfish part of me can’t help but see the positive ramifications that Arsenal will gain from the new rule.

Wenger’s policy over the past years has been to nurture young talent from home and abroad and integrate the players in to Arsenal’s style of football, compared to many clubs who spend mega bucks on new signings. It is a plan that could pay dividends, but the home-grown rule will certainly throw a spanner in the works.

Wenger’s focus on youth and development has witnessed numerous amounts of talent breaking in to the Arsenal ranks over the years; Cesc Fabregas, Gael Clichy and Nicklas Bendtner to name a few. But perhaps the key component in Arsenal’s armour is the consistency of which wave after wave of young, home-grown talent is making its way through the academy, and consistently being given a chance to shine. Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs and Fran Merida have all been given first team opportunities with the likes of Coquelin, Lansbury and Nordtveit all ready to step up to the plate. The success of Arsenal’s all conquering U18’s side last year furthermore conveys the wealth of talent at Mr Wenger’s disposal. Arsenal have been able to coach young players the ‘Arsenal way’, similar to Ajax and Barcelona; they are educated in the teams style of play and ready for first team football.

Financially there are huge positives for Arsenal as well. Unlike other Premiership clubs, it is not a necessity for Arsenal to spend endless amounts of money on home-grown talent due to the youngsters already breaking through in to the first team. Also Arsenal are renowned around the world for their development of youngsters enabling Arsenal to demand extra fees from other Premiership clubs who are interested in buying an Arsenal home-grown youngster due to their demand.

Although other Premiership clubs meet the home-grown quota at the present time, in the future they will have to rely heavily on academy graduates or major spending on the top home-grown talent out there. Arsenal are streets ahead of many of their rivals as the foundations have already have been set for some time. So despite Wenger’s pessimism towards the new regulation, don’t be surprised if somewhere he is secretly rubbing his hands together as his master plan takes shape.

Article By – Nick Love

Arsenal have invited Hoàng Anh Gia Lai midfielder Lee Nguyễn to train with Arsenal’s Reserve team for the next month as part of the Vietnamese club’s partnership with the Gunners. Nguyễn’s team-mate Datsakorn Thonglao was also offered the chance to come to London but stayed behind due to an illness with one of his children.

Nguyễn was born in Texas, America, to Vietnamese parents and was one of the youngest players ever to turn out for his country at Under 18 level. To date he has three caps for both the Under 23’s and full national team. A diminutive winger who can play up front, Lee was signed by PSV Eindhoven from Indiana University after Guus Hiddink scouted him at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championships. Lee had rejected a move to the MLS a year before.

Despite becoming a favourite amongst the fans, he only made one appearance in the Eredivisie. Hiddink’s decision to quit PSV and Ronald Koemans appointment saw Nguyễn slip down into the Reserves. In January 2008 he quit Holland and signed for Danish Superliga club Randers FC. He had more success there, featuring 22 times but he failed to score.

Last season he returned to his family’s roots in Vietnam. A hat-trick on his first competitive appearance set to the tone as Lee finished his first season with 9 league goals, 4 cup goals, and 16 assists in 24 appearances. HAGL finished sixth in the League.

Having played in the 2007 Copa America, Lee’s move to Vietnam has seen his international chances dry up but the publicity behind his trial at Arsenal is sure to raise his profile. The 22-year-old will spend a month in London and could even turn out for Neil Banfield’s second-string.

Article By – J.Sanderson

This coming Monday, the 21st of September, Young Guns’ J.Sanderson will be appearing as a co-host live on Deaje’s Deadly Football show from 10pm UK time. As readers, you’ll be able to e-mail in your questions for me on all things football.

For those of you who don’t know about Deaje, he’s a tough talking Gooner who pulls no punches when it comes to discussing football’s hottest topics. An avid England fan with connections to West Brom, Deaje’s off the cuff show was inspired after his rants over on YouTube. Check out some of his opinions Here.

The show is pretty much unique as there is a chat section next to the live player where you can add real time questions and discuss with other listeners. We’ll try and get through all the messages but the best way to guarantee your questions and views are heard is to drop an e-mail to the address below.

Discretion is advised as Deaje’s show does contain some strong language – especially if the subject of Emmanuel Adebayor crops up – but if you can try and tune in and get involved in some proper football debate. No subject raised will be skipped. More details will be released later in the week.

Send your e-mails to – youngguns.wordpress@googlemail.com with the subject – Young Guns.

Article By – J.Sanderson