Young Guns | Arsenal News

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.

Carlos Vela was not in action this weekend, as West Brom played on Monday.

Kyle Bartley played the full 90 minutes as Rangers beat St Johnstone 4-0. Bartley played alongside Majid Bougherra at centre back in a 4-4-2 formation. The youngster did concede a handful of free-kicks but made some key blocks as Rangers claimed an important win in their hunt for the title.

Aaron Ramsey played the full 90 minutes for Cardiff City as they beat Hull City 2-0. Ramsey, making his final appearance for the Bluebirds before returning to Arsenal, had one of his quietest games, in an end-to-end affair. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas came off the bench with 10 minutes left and scored the second, with a superb volleyed finish.

Henri Lansbury played the full 90 minutes as Norwich City beat Barnsley 2-0. Lansbury delivered a number of excellent crosses, but did look tired towards the end of the game.

Sanchez Watt came off the bench to play the final 29 minutes of Leeds United’s 3-0 defeat to Swansea City. Watt struggled for service as Swansea won comfortably.

Vito Mannone was an unused substitute as Hull City lost 2-0 to Cardiff City.

Craig Eastmond was an unused substitute as Millwall drew 0-0 with Nottingham Forest.

Benik Afobe started and played 84 minutes for Huddersfield Town as they drew 2-2 with Leyton Orient. Afobe was dangerous right from the off. His right wing cross was turned in by strike partner Jordan Rhodes after just 3 minutes for the perfect start. Afobe turned in one of his best shifts yet, winning the Man of the Match award.

James Shea was an unused substitute for Southampton as they beat Swindon Town 4-1.

Mark Randall was an unused substitute for Rotherham as they lost 4-2 to Burton Albion.

Gavin Hoyte missed Lincoln City’s 4-2 defeat to Barnet through injury.

Ryo Miyaichi started and played 86 minutes for Feyenoord as they beat FC Groningen 5-1. Miyaichi kept his place on the left of the front three and again turned in an impressive display, despite nursing a rib injury. He set up Georginio Wijnaldum’s second goal, cutting the ball back from the touchline. Ryo then helped Wijnaldum get his hat-trick, by winning a penalty which was converted.

Francis Coquelin started and played 51 minutes for Lorient against Valenciennes before being sent off. The Frenchman returned to the Lorient team following injury, and was unlucky to receive the second yellow card for a sloppy foul. Gilles Sunu came off the bench with only stoppage time left.

Armand Traoré was an unused substitute as Juventus lost 2-0 to Bologna.

Wellington Silva was an unused substitute as Levante beat Osasuna 2-1.

Pedro Botelho played the full 90 minutes for Cartagena as they lost 2-0 to Córdoba. Despite previously keeping clean sheets when at left back, Botelho was moved to a role in the front three. He received little service as Córdoba cruised to victory.

Samuel Galindo missed UD Salamanca’s 4-0 defeat to Alcorcon through injury.

Ignasi Miquel has revealed how he rejected a return to former club Barcelona in 2008; to sign for Arsenal. The Catalan club offered the centre back a return to La Masia after previously releasing him.

Miquel was speaking to AS.com in the week he made his debut for the Arsenal first-team, but the 18-year-old began by discussing his difficult journey to North London, and the offers he received.

“You learn to fight. When you get kicked out of Barcelona, you go down a bit because you think ‘a team like that says you can’t make it’. Then you think ‘you will not be able to continue in football’. I continued because I like it, and in the end I was lucky.”

“At 16 I was at UD Cornellà. Then came another offer from Barcelona, they wanted me again. I didn’t know what to do. My parents said I should stay at Barcelona, as this meant staying at home. But then Arsenal’s offer came and I said I wanted to go. They fully supported me.”

Ignasi then went to discuss his debut, admitting he felt he was ready to play, but that ultimately Arsène Wenger knows when the right time is to give an opportunity to a young player.

“I really wanted to play in the first-team, but those decisions are down to the manager. He knows more than you do about yourself. But I’m very happy anyway. A debut is debut, its amazing.”

The cultured defender is expected to have an experience building loan move next season.

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas is making a habit of scoring goals that turn out to be YouTube sensations. His his latest effort, a superb juggling act then volley against Hull City, looks set to join that growing list of wonder goals.

You can view Jay’s strike here.

Boylesports is the best place for Sports Bets, ranging from betting on the Gunner to having a punt on the horses.

Kyle Bartley says his surprise decision to swap Sheffield United for Rangers in January was to increase his chances of playing for Arsenal next season. Despite a difficult start, it appears to have been a fantastic move.

In the past week, Bartley has played maximum minutes against Celtic, in the Old Firm derby, and Sporting Lisbon, in the Europa League. In the same time frame, former loan club Sheffield United have faced relegation scraps with Crystal Palace and Scunthorpe United.

The experience in particular on the European front could be key in his future development. Kyle impressed in a new look back five as Rangers edged Sporting Lisbon on aggregate at a packed José Alvalade stadium on Thursday. The reward was a last 16 tie with PSV.

You can view a five minute video of Bartley’s highlights against Sporting by clicking here.

Pep Guardiola has given his blessing to Jon Miquel Toral Harper’s transfer to Arsenal. The Barcelona Head Coach spoke about the youngster shortly after Arsène Wenger confirmed the deal for the Spanish Under 16 international.

Guardiola was asked for his view on the controversial signing, in wake of damming comments from Barça President Sandro Rosell. However, he refused to get involved in a war of words, instead choosing to wish the 16-year-old well.

“Only the people who want to stay should stay. We wish him all the best.”

Wenger was also quizzed on his latest acquisition during his pre-Carling Cup Fianl press conference, but proved to be his typical bullish self. The Frenchman came out fighting on the allegations Rosell labelled at Arsenal, as a club that simply scout Europe looking to ‘fish for 16-year-olds’.

He began by mentioning Toral’s English heritage, citing the fact his mother, Sheila Harper, is from Darlington, and that Jon holds a British passport. Wenger then stoked the fire on youth transfers, telling journalists to ‘look at how many foreigners at the Barça youth ranks’.

Toral will join Arsenal in the summer.

Welcome to the third in the series of Young Guns web chats, hosted by editor Jamie Sanderson. Due to popular demand, you can put your questions to Jamie in an hour long chat. He will try and answer all of them over the 60 minutes.

Rules:

One: You have until 4.30pm UK time to get all your questions in. No questions will be answered if they’re submitted after 4.30pm. Don’t worry if your question takes a while to get answered, if you submit it before 9.30pm, it will be answered.

Two: Make sure you read the chat window carefully and don’t ask anything that has already been discussed, as it will be ignored.

The window has an auto-fresh function, so you don’t have to leave this page. The chat starts at 9pm UK time.

Young Guns Web Chat: 25/02/2011

You can also follow Young Guns on our Twitter and Facebook pages, and with our free application for iPhone and iPod Touch.

Welcome to the third in the series of Young Guns web chats, hosted by editor Jamie Sanderson. Due to popular demand, you can put your questions to Jamie in an hour long chat. He will try and answer all of them over the 60 minutes.

Rules:

One: You have until 4.30pm UK time to get all your questions in. No questions will be answered if they’re submitted after 4.30pm. Don’t worry if your question takes a while to get answered, if you submit it before 4.30pm, it will be answered.

Two: Make sure you read the chat window carefully and don’t ask anything that has already been discussed, as it will be ignored.

The window has an auto-fresh function, so you don’t have to leave the page. The chat starts at 4pm. To set a reminder or get involved, click here.

The phrase ‘football is a business’ is almost beyond cliché in modern times. The link between football and money is as strong as ever, but one part of the game that was previously shielded from a business mentality, was youth development. Not any more.

This week it was announced that Arsenal had agreed to sign 16-year-old Jon Miquel Toral Harper from Barcelona. The Gunners took advantage of employment laws in Spain to offer the player a contract before the Catalan club were legally allowed to. It stirred more bad blood between the two clubs, which began with deals for Cesc Fàbregas in 2003 and Fran Mérida in 2005.

This particular transfer didn’t anger Barça as much as others suggest, though. The player himself asked to leave last year and previously admitted it was his ‘dream’ to play in England. However, it once again raised the question of youth transfers.

President Sandro Rosell was asked for his view, and made valid points on the morality of such deals. He then made the following statement.

“There are two philosophies; ours is to invest in La Masia and the other is to fish all over Europe for kids like Arsenal.”

The point is an interesting one, but the distinction between whether the comment is a negative or a positive comes with the understanding of the word ‘invest’. Rosell says the opposite of Barça’s philosophy is to sign kids from all of Europe.

So why would his club do deals for for Besiktas’ 12-year-old Muhammad Demirci and 7-year-old Lyon kid Kais. Not to mention hand trials to 8-year-old Finnish starlet Oliver Antman, or 9-year-old Canadian Giancarlo Patina? Those are just some examples. A glance at the Cadete A side, which Toral played for, shows 7 non-EU players and the Cadete B side shows 9 non-EU players.

That’s not to mention Lionel Messi or Thiago Alcântara, both signed from South American countries at tender ages and now both part of the Barcelona first team.

You could argue that those are very young players, and the real bone of contention is trying to ‘fish’ for older youngsters. Those who have been developed by the club for a number of years. 16 or 17 year olds for example. Rosell agrees.

“We don’t like it that clubs come in with offers of money just before they turn 16. For us it’s very important to keep this group of kids who have grown up together.”

Then why did Barcelona approach 17-year-old Benik Afobe and Chuks Aneke last season? Both had been scouted playing for England and the Catalan club made moves via their agents, offering them a move to Spain.

Rosell says he doesn’t like clubs who offer money to those around 16, as its important to keep groups of kids together. Yet Barcelona did exactly that. Does that mean he doesn’t like his own club?

It seems the term ‘investment’ and ‘fishing for kids’ can mean two totally different things, depending on your argument. Yet if one club is at fault, then every club is at fault.

The laws regarding the signing of youth players without doubt need to be tightened up, but the hypocrisy Barcelona show on the matter is frightening.

Arsenal’s relationship with Barcelona became a little more strained this week, with the news that Jon Miquel Toral Harper will swap Spain for England in the summer. He is the third player to do so in the last eight years.

Cesc Fàbregas in 2003 and then Fran Mérida in 2005 were all prize assets in Cataluñya, but both took advantage of contract rules in Spain to sign for Arsenal. Nominal fees were paid in compensation. Those deals, plus Barça’s long running attempts to re-sign Fàbregas, have left a bitter taste between the two clubs.

The story of Jon Miquel Toral Harper is an interesting one, though.

The youngster joined Barcelona’s La Masia academy system four years ago, aged 12. He is the son of an English woman from Manchester, who married Reus, a Spaniard who provided language lessons to foreigners. He rose through the youth ranks in Spain and was quickly sounded out as a top talent by the technical staff at Barça. They informed senior members of the board to keep an eye out on the prospect, as they felt he had outstanding potential.

However, relations in the past few months have soured. Toral had previously made it clear he wanted to move to England, much to the anger of the staff that had previously called him “the pearl of the Cadete A side”. Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City had all previously been in touch, and because of the lack of commitment the player had shown, they refused to make a counter off to make him stay.

Jon’s agent is Pep Guardiola’s brother, Pere. Contrary to reports, he tried desperately to convince the player to stay, as did technical secretary Albert Puig. Yet when the offer arrived from Arsenal, he refused to listen to either, and signed the contract.

His last game was a few weeks ago, when the Cadete ‘A’ side faced Catalan minnows UD Cornellà. He scored a hat-trick in that game, but was told he wasn’t welcome at La Masia after, with his impending move to Arsenal close to be signed and sealed.

Toral is a deep lying central attacking midfielder. He is comfortable with either foot but predominantly prefers his left. He has been noted for his excellent physique, which has seen him dominate many youth games. Off the pitch, many describe Jon as a mature and hard working young man.

Barcelona are understandably furious with Arsenal signing the Spanish Under 16 international. However, the transfer is not as clear cut as they make out, and with them approaching both Arsenal’s Benik Afobe and Chuks Aneke last year, their complaints over the ‘poaching’ of youth talent smacks of double standards.

Toral will cost Arsenal €350,000 in compensation.

Editors Note: With thanks to David Cartlidge of SpanishFootball.info