Young Guns – Arsenal Reserves & Youth News

DC United Threaten Legal Action Over Najar Trial

Arsenal have been warned off any attempts to try and take DC United midfielder Andy Najar on trial. President Kevin Payne has threatened legal action against the Gunners if any officials make contact without his say so.

Najar was poised to arrive in North London for a three week training period, according to the players personal coach in his home land of Honduras. He told the local media a deal was in place, but when quizzed by Steven Goff of the Washington Post, United’s Present Payne reacted furiously to the news;

“They can talk to him if they would like to get sued. But I don’t think it will come to that. We have no intention to have Andy Najar come to Arsenal for a trial. He’s under contract and if anybody tries to talk to him, we are prepared to file a lawsuit. This is America. It’s American contract law that applies here. Local law prevails.”

Payne has been ridiculed among DCU fans for his public relations attitude but will no doubt have won favour with his defensive stance on the potential trial. Najar is regarded as one of the most promising players in the MLS and has been the shining light in a woeful season.

Andy has a personal coach in his native Honduras with whom he meets on a regular basis. Ismael Reyes has been a close advisor to the player and he announced the trial had been agreed with him in an interview with Diez.hn. The saga looks set to rumble on.

Dagenham 1-2 Arsenal: Scouts Swarm After Deacon’s Winner

Neil Banfield returned to the Reserve team helm last night to guide an Arsenal XI to a notable 2-1 win over Dagenham and Redbridge. Roarie Deacon’s 84th minute strike proved decisive after Romain Vincelot had cancelled out Sanchez Watt’s opener.

Banfield had only been back in the country for a matter of hours after taking in pre-season training with the first-team, and another staff member from Austria, goalkeeping coach Tony Roberts, lined up in the Dagenham goal. Banfield made four changes on his return, bringing the more experienced Jay Simpson and Nacer Barazite while Ignasi Miquel and Cedric Evina also started in front of swarms of watching scouts.

Shea
Boateng – Hoyte – Miquel – Evina
Ozyakup – Randall – Barazite
Murphy – Simpson – Watt

Arsenal’s Reserve pre-season has been mixed under the tutelage of Liam Brady, but with Banfield at the helm, the Gunners had menace and rose to the challenge against the newly promoted League One side. The opening goal came after just 19 minutes when Simpson burst inside and slipped Sanchez Watt away through the middle, he raced clear of the back-line, rounded Roberts and scored. 1-0, It was a perfect start.

Miquel was the captain for the night and he was on hand to stab Mark Arber’s re-bound off the line after a sloppy punch from James Shea. It was a warning. Danny Green was next to have Shea scrambling as he worked a yard of space and just slid his low effort wide of the post. Murphy could have made it 2-0, but Arsenal went down the tunnel in front at the break.

The second half was just four minutes old when The Daggers grabbed themselves a surprise equaliser. Vincelot beat Hoyte in the air to head home Damien McCrory’s cross after a good move started by former Gunner Abu Ogogo. The fixture began to get stale as the half wore on, so in search of the winner, Banfield made two positive changes. Afobe and Deacon were introduced in what would prove to be an inspired double switch.

Afobe first stung the palms of Roberts before he was finally beaten. Deacon exploded inside and from all of 20 yards, he snapped a left footed effort which gently rolled into the corner. Shea was on hand to save from goal hero Vincelot in the final moments, but the win was Arsenal’s.

Austria 2010: Arsenal’s Winners & Losers

Arsenal fly back from their Austrian base today following nine days of intensive training ahead of the new season. The camp is traditionally where Arsène Wenger begins to mould his first-team squad, and as usual he took a selection of the club’s most promising youngsters.

Wenger will now make plans ahead of the Emirates Cup, but what does the future hold for those who were handed chances to become first-team players? Jack Wilshere, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Havard Nordtveit, Henri Lansbury, Emmanuel Frimpong, Craig Eastmond and Conor Henderson are all awaiting their fate, but who are the real winners from Austria 2010 and positives can they take from their experiences?

The Positive

Jack Wilshere is the big name youngster of the bunch and he is all but certain to begin the season in Wenger’s first-team. He shone against Barnet and was one of the few players who stood out in all of Arsenal’s games in Austria. He appears to be taller, stronger and full of energy.

Elsewhere, Havard Nordtveit and Emmanuel Frimpong are the other big winners. The duo featured prominently and although they both had one poor game each, star performances against Sturm Graz (Nordtveit) and SC Neusiedl 1919 (Frimpong) left the feeling that they’re genuinely ready to compete. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was typically mixed, as he looked hugely impressive from the bench against Graz but wasn’t really at the races against Neusiedl. That said, he did score against the latter, leaving a firm impression he could be a useful forward option.

The Negative

It’s certainly cut throat being with the first-team. The training is harder and it’s made even more difficult for those with young legs. Conor Henderson and Craig Eastmond were both left exhausted and carrying knocks after their first experience of Austria. Henderson didn’t feature at all while Eastmond played second fiddle as Frimpong looked to have jumped the queue in the race to be Alexandre Song’s back up.

Henri Lansbury’s chances to impress and take a first-team role in the absence of Aaron Ramsey were dealt a blow as he too bowed out early with an injury. It leaves pretty much everybody in this category looking at loan football instead of a place in the squad. Lansbury could still turn it around if he can shake off his injury before the Emirates Cup.

So overall it proved to be another great work out. Wilshere, Nordtveit and Frimpong are the clear winners with impressive performances in areas that most fans agree need strengthening. Lansbury and Emmanuel-Thomas still need to do a bit more to press their cause while Henderson and Eastmond look destined for the loan market.

Reserve Midfielders Fly Home From Austria

Arsène Wenger has allowed three of Arsenal’s Reserve team midfielders to return home early from the first-team training camp in Austria. The trio are all nursing injuries.

Henri Lansbury, Craig Eastmond and Conor Henderson are all carrying minor knocks while Armand Traoré has also flown back as he’s surplus to requirements. Lansbury and Eastmond both sustained injuries after Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Sturm Graz and they’ve struggled to train since. Henderson was the surprise inclusion in the travelling party, and he’s been nursing a problem first picked up during the opening pre-season game at Barnet.

Lansbury is being head hunted by Championship and a scattering of Premier League club’s for a potential loan spell, although Henri remains hopeful the little action he’s had so far can convince Wenger he’s worthy of a first-team place.

Eastmond and Henderson are both poised for loan spells later on in the campaign.

With thanks to SuperMac in Austria.

Arsenal & Sheffield Utd Frustrated Over Bartley Injury

Arsenal and Sheffield United have been left frustrated with the news that Kyle Bartley has actually broken his collar bone, not just cracked it as was first feared. It leaves the centre back with an uncertain immediate future.

Bartley made 12 appearances on loan in the Championship with Sheffield United last season, and a deal was in place for him to return to Yorkshire for the full campaign after completing pre-season with Arsenal. However, during the holidays he suffered an injury to his collar bone, which was first believed to only be a crack, but is now confirmed as a break.

Kyle was hoping to win a first-team place during pre-season and instead be a part of Arsène Wenger’s plans for the new season, something The Blades were content with. However, the injury saw Ignasi Miquel jump the queue, even featuring against Barnet in pre-season. It leaves Kevin Blackwell short of re-inforcements, with the former Leeds boss already turning to former Gunner Kerrea Gilbert.

Bartley is expected to return to training in two to three months.