Month: September 2009

England Manager Fabio Capello has spoken of his delight at the current state English Academies, before proclaiming that Arsenal have set the bench mark for the rest of the Premier League to follow.

Speaking to FIFA.com, Capello was quizzed about the wrath of talent currently at Under 21 level and below. Arsenal are noted for having a plethora of players in all of the England youth sides and the Italian-born coach believes playing for your country at an early age is important.

“When you play at any level in England, you play against good teams, but not the same level as you would do in international games against international teams. You also start to understand what it means to wear the England shirt – and that’s really important.”

The 63-year-old then went on to discuss the current state of youth development in the country, where Arsenal’s model was mentioned. Due to the fact that England’s training base is the Gunners’ London Colney centre, Fabio gets to cast an eye over the Under 18 squad who train on adjacent pitches.

“I’m very lucky, because I’ve had the opportunity to look at Arsenal’s academy where the England team train and their work is incredibly good. It’s a very important example for the other English academies. I’m very interested in the academies of the clubs in England, but they all seem to be working very well.”

“I’m very, very happy about the future of England and I think it will be better.”

Capello is believed to be weighing up the idea of taking 17-year-old Jack Wilshere to this summers World Cup.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Last week Chelsea’s Chief Executive Peter Kenyon spoke of his frustration that the Chelsea Academy have failed to produce any players who were ready to make the step up into the first team. Kenyon revealed the club have pumped plenty of money into the system in a bid to follow Roman Abramovich’s order of producing home grown talent to supplement the big money signings.

You can read exactly what he said here.

Expensive foreign youngsters plus the addition of Frank Arnesen to watch over their development was seen as a huge step forward in achieving the aforementioned goal. Yet four years into Arnesen’s role, only defender Michael Mancienne has come close to breaking through, and he was already in the system before the former PSV mans arrival.

Kenyon’s comments are typical of Chelsea’s attitude. They believe that simply throwing mountains of their ample cash supply at the problem will solve it. What they should be doing, is looking to North London, and the example set by Arsène Wenger.

Only now are Arsenal starting to reap the rewards of their Academy, 10 years after Wenger first began to concentrate on the youth system. In 1999 Jack Wilshere, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Henri Lansbury were all on the verge of joining the Academy, becoming the first few to benefit from Wenger’s vision for youth development. Liam Brady, a man who knows all about the tradition and the expectations of Arsenal was brought in to oversee them. Now, 10 frustrating years later, the Gunners are finally seeing the reward for their hard work.

Everybody knows that it takes at least 10 years before you start to see benefits from a heavy investment in an Academy. Not Chelsea however, who seem to subscribe to the modern way that if something isn’t doing it’s job straight away, it’s a waste of money. And even when they do find those gems, such as Frank Nouble or Mancienne, instead of blooding them in the Carling Cup, they are either forced to play Reserve football, or are sent on pointless loan spells. England Under 21 International Jack Cork has been on loan 6 times and on each return, he is forced to play for the Reserves.

I’m all for Chelsea’s Academy, but they must learn that money can not always buy you success.

Article By – J.Sanderson

After comfortably disposing Fulham in their opening game Arsenal reserves carried on their clinical momentum against Birmingham scoring four goals and perhaps just as rewarding keeping another clean sheet despite the presence of experienced duo Kevin Phillips and Gary McSheffrey.

A strong Arsenal side were able to recall Merida, Traore and Randall to the starting eleven.

In the early exchanges Birmingham mustered up some half chances, but soon Arsenal firmly established themselves on the game and began passing the ball with real conviction. Arsenals first chance dropped to Randall after a delightful ball from Merida, however Randall could only send the ball over the hosts crossbar. Only two minutes later and Merida was in the thick of action again this time putting Eastmond through in an unfamiliar position but perhaps due to lack of goalmouth experience sent his left footed drive inches wide.

For Merida though it was third time lucky in the 33rd minute as he placed a delightful pass between the two Birmingham defenders in to the path of Sanchez Watt who coolly slotted the ball past the Birmingham keeper Colin Doyle.

Merely five minutes later and Arsenal doubled their lead. After a neat one two, Traore was able to burst down the left and then unselfishly pass to the oncoming Eastmond who had arrived on the edge of the Birmingham box. Eastmond confidently side footed the ball in to the Birmingham net despite the presence of two defenders on the goal line.

Arsenal essentially put the game to bed four minutes later when the excellent Coquelin played a splendid through ball to Sunu who was able to take full advantage of the stranded keeper and glide the ball past him at the far post.

Birminghams best chance of the half came in first half stoppage time when the veteran Kevin Phillips knocked the ball on for Ashley Sammons who could only fire over from 10 yards.

Arsenal began the second half as they had ended the first. Giles Sunu who was clearly enjoying himself, latched on to a wonderful cross field pass from the ever composed Bartley. Sunu was then able to reach the by line and dink an inviting cross for Watt who finished the move off by heading the ball in to the back of the net. Game over.

Watt could have had a hat-trick in the 65th minute when he fired at the Birmingham goal, but Doyle showed safe hands and held the ball to his chest.

Luke Freeman was brought on with twenty minutes to go and nearly made it five, however his shot went narrowly wide. Shortly afterwards Traore had to limp off and leave Arsenal with only ten men due to the maximum substitutions being used.

Birmingham could of nicked a consolation at the end when substitute Josh Hawker headed over from close range, but in truth it was Arsenal that could of added one or two more and a 4-1 defeat would of flattered the Brummies.

Article By – Nick Love