Month: January 2011

Arsenal’s emerging youngsters are some of the most talked about and analysed in world football. The intrigue as to who Arsène Wenger will pluck from the youth ranks and turn into a star next keeps fans and the wider media constantly keeping an eye on those showing even the slightest glimpse of potential.

Wenger shows no signs of ending his infamous youth policy in 2011, so who are the top 10 players that Gooners and those with an interest in the club should be keeping their eye trained on this year? Young Guns will attempt to answer that question.

You can read part one of our two part special on the top 10 Arsenal prospects to watch in 2011 below.

10. Kyle Ebecilio

Who? – Kyle is a powerful central midfielder who was signed from Dutch club Feyenoord in July. He has been on the fringes of the Reserve team, but will be a regular in the FA Youth Cup team.

Why? – Ebecilio has only been at the club a matter of months, but he’s already leaving an impression. Arsène Wenger was very impressed with his performance when watching the Under 18′s crush Darlington in the Youth Cup, and with his fantastic range of short and long passes, coupled with powerful physique and style, he fits the bill of a typical Arsenal player.

9. Ryo Miyaichi

Who? – Ryo is a Japanese winger who signed for Arsenal as a free agent in January 2011. He did well in a trial with the Reserves in the summer, and agreed on a deal on transfer deadline day. However, he will move to Holland on loan after Arsenal had an attempt to win a work permit rejected.

Why? – Miyaichi is just the type of player fans love. A touchline hugging winger, comfortable with either foot and full of tricks and skills. Add that to his electric pace and you’ve got a fans favourite in the making. How he performs on loan and whether he can improve on his fitness will be a matter of intrigue.

8. Wellington Silva

Who? – Wellington is a winger who can play as a striker. He signed for Arsenal last January, but completed his move earlier this month. Like Miyaichi, he also proved unsuccessful in his attempts to win a work permit, so has joined La Liga side Levante on loan until the end of the season.

Why? – Silva is some what of an enigma with Arsenal fans. He’s earned a reputation as one of the most exciting prospects in the world, based on some scintillating performances in the Reserves and in flashes on YouTube videos. The loan with Levante will test just how ready he is to make an impact if Arsenal win a work permit for him in the summer. It will also be a huge test of his much talked about attitude, which has seen him fall out with a selection of coaches.

7. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas

Who? – Jay is a tall and skillful forward, who can play anywhere except in goal. He is a product of the Arsenal Academy and has been on the fringes of the first-team for two seasons. In 2010 he enjoyed two loan spells in the Championship, as well as some Premier League and Champions League minutes.

Why? – Emmanuel-Thomas finds himself in an impossible situation. He is yet to take his chances and burst through into the first-team, but is clearly too good to play in the Championship. A Premier League loan is the most sensible option, but finding a club to give regular minutes to an often inconsistent young forward is difficult.

Wenger has shown his faith in Jay, but his attitude issues coupled with mixed performances leaves him struggling to impose himself. While very talented and an exciting prospect when in full flow, 2011 will most likely be a year where the youngster either sinks or swims.

6. Henri Lansbury

Who? – Henri is a versatile midfielder and another product of the Academy. He is the longest serving player at Arsenal, although has enjoyed several loan spells, both in League One and most recently the Championship. He has also featured in the Carling Cup and briefly in the Premier League.

Why? – Wenger says he counts on Lansbury for the future, but it’s hard to see where he fits without players leaving. The youngster, a regular with England Under 21′s, scored against Tottenham in the Carling Cup in 2010 but didn’t get a chance he probably merited in the first-team. Instead he was farmed out on loan to Norwich where it looks likely that he’ll complete the season.

Henri has bags of potential and is clearly a favourite with the manager and fans. Whether he’ll keep being patient and waiting for a chance with such a blossoming reputation developing, it’s certainly one to follow.

You can catch part two and the top five Arsenal youngsters to watch in 2011 in the coming days.

Arsenal have agreed on a partnership with Dutch outfit Feyenoord, which will see the Gunners loan a selection of young prospects to the Eredivise side, starting with winger Ryo Miyaichi.

Chief scout Steve Rowley, together with executive Richard Law, have held extensive meetings with Feyenoord and agreed to begin a link up which will see Arsenal regularly send players on loan, according to De Telegraaf.

Rowley and Law set up a similar arrangement with Spanish Segunda side UD Salamanca five years ago, which saw players signed by Arsenal move there on loan after failing to win work permits. That broke down, and with immigration laws less strict in Holland, a new agreement is about to be formed.

Law arrived in Rotterdam last night to put the final touches to the partnership. He travelled with newly signed Japanese starlet Ryo Miyaichi, who will hold talks with manager Mario Been and scout Stanley Brard to decide on his future. Ryo will either go straight into the Feyenoord first-team, go into their Reserves, or move to Excelsior, where he will be looked after by Brard.

Rowley is said to have advised Arsène Wenger to give the green light for the deal, after signing Robin van Persie and more recently Kyle Ebecilio from the De Kuip based team.

Arsenal are not the first-team Premier League club to link up with Dutch sides, with Manchester United joining forces with FC Twente earlier this season, and Chelsea enjoying a similar loan relationship with Vitesse Arnhem.

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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.

Sanchez Watt started and played 80 minutes for Leeds United as they beat Scunthorpe 4-0. Watt scored the first goal and then started a move which led to the second. You can view video highlights, including Sanchez’s goal, here.

Kyle Bartley played the full 90 minutes at centre back as Sheffield United drew 0-0 with Coventry City. Bartley turned in another good performance, but picked up a yellow card late on for a poor tackle.

Henri Lansbury played 72 minutes on his return from injury as Norwich City drew 1-1 with Cardiff City. Lansbury, playing the final game before his loan spell is due to expire, played well on the right, delivering several superb crosses. Manager Paul Lambert confirmed after the game that talks over an extension had begun, but it was down to Arsenal to decide.

Vito Mannone missed Hull City’s clash with Barnsley due to injury.

Benik Afobe missed Huddersfield Town’s game against Walsall due to injury.

Cédric Evina was an unused substitute for Oldham Athletic as they beat Plymouth 2-0.

Mark Randall came off the bench at half time as Rotherham lost 2-1 to Southend. Randall was fined for missing Rotherham’s fixture in midweek, after he refused to stay in the team hotel and instead drove to the game. However, his car broke down on the way, and he was forced to miss the game.

Gavin Hoyte missed Lincoln City’s game with Wycombe due to injury.

Wellington Silva was not in action as Levante lost to Real Zaragoza. The Brazilian travelled with his new team mates to the game, but watched on from the stands.

Francis Coquelin missed Lorient’s clash with Lyon due to injury.

Armand Traoré played 79 minutes at left back Juventus beat Bari 2-1. Traoré turned in a solid shift, and was replaced with 11 minutes of normal time left.

Pedro Botelho played the full 90 minutes as FC Cartagena lost 3-1 to Rayo Vallecano. Botelho won Cartagena a penalty after being tripped in the area, but Victor’s goal was as good as it got for Cartagena.

Samuel Galindo is current nursing a broken ankle and did not feature for UD Salamanca this weekend.

Arsenal’s Under 18′s strolled to success in the Premier Academy League last season, winning it for a second year running in some style. However, despite their comfortable run in the league, their cup run was far from convincing, ending with an abrupt 2-0 loss to Ipswich in the fourth round.

It came as quite a surprise, considering Arsenal’s success in the league and the talent they boasted, including Emmanuel Frimpong and Luke Freeman. Yet one year on, there is a reversal in fortunes, with the Under 18′s struggling in the league, yet making an impressive start to their cup run.

A competitive league has seen several teams stake a claim for this year’s title, with Arsenal finding the going tough. Impressive displays, including a 3-0 win against Chelsea have too often been followed with a poor result the following week.

Despite recently ending a three match losing streak in the league with a respectable 1-1 draw with title challengers Southampton, Arsenal find themselves floating in mid table and somewhat off the pace. With the likes of Aneke, Afobe, Miquel and Özyakup all making the step up to Reserve football, the young Arsenal squad have sometimes looked a little out of their depth, and unless they can find a consistent run of form, look likely to miss out on the league.

There have certainly been signs of potential in the young Arsenal squad and despite the varying results, the focus of youth football still remains the same; to help develop young talent and fulfill their potential. Any young, aspiring footballer will tell you differently; results matter and there is no better place to turn a frustrating season in to a prosperous one with victory in the FA Youth Cup.

Like so many teams, the cup can bring a welcome relief from the rigors of league football, and after an emphatic 6-1 demolition of Darlington in the third round, the cup seems Arsenals most realistic chance of silverware.

The FA Youth Cup is easily the most prestigious competition in English Youth football and Arsenal certainly take it as seriously as any other club. It is a chance for the club to show off their blossoming youngsters, whom they put so much time, effort and money into helping mature into well educated footballers.

Arsenal face Chelsea in a mouthwatering fourth round tie, after the holders convincingly beat Sunderland 2-0 on Thursday. The tie will naturally bring the return of vital players such as Aneke, Özyakup, Miquel and barring injury, Afobe who will return from Huddersfield, to try and help Arsenal progress to the next round.

All these players are a year older, wiser and stronger and have a real chance to bring the cup back to Arsenal and, perhaps, even help kick start Arsenal’s league campaign after an indifferent first half to the season.

The route to becoming a professional footballer is a long and arduous one. The consistent knock backs and struggle to keep focused with the pressures of life make it incredibly difficult.

Few know those difficulties like Barcelona’s Lionel Messi. The Argentina winger, who won World Football of the Year for a second successive time this week, suffers from a muscle problem which stunted his growth. Many believed he would always be too small to cope with the rigours of professional football.

After starting out with Newell’s Old Boys, he moved to Barcelona, after turning down a move to Arsenal. Lionel’s parents didn’t want their son to play in England, favouring Spain.

Messi has revealed all about what it takes to become a professional footballer, and to go from a player many thought wouldn’t make it, to being wanted by Arsenal and Barcelona, to becoming the World’s best player in a revealing interview with FHM.

You can read this, plus conditioning advice from England rugby player Toby Flood, in this months brilliant addition. To top it all off, you can get £1 off FHM when you order it online. Fantastic value a truly exceptional read for those who wish to become professional footballers.

 

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Arsène Wenger has confirmed the club have not been in contact with Southampton over Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but refused to rule out a move in the future.

The Daily Mail claimed last night that Arsenal had agreed on a £5 million deal with the Saints, and that the transfer would be concluded in the next few days. However, a story shortly after on Young Guns said the club had been scouting the 17-year-old, but no talks had taken place. Wenger confirmed this today.

“I cannot speak about that. If we go any further with any player, we will inform you. The rest will be speculation. We are not close to signing anybody at the moment.”

The Frenchman also confirmed another story on Young Guns this week, that Japanese winger Ryo Miyaichi will head to the Dutch Eredivise on loan. Arsène mentioned Feyenoord had been in touch, along with fellow Rotterdam outfit Excelsior. A move will be completed shortly.

Elsewhere, Arsenal have rejected Hull City’s attempts to sign Vito Mannone on a permanent basis. Mannone has previously expressed his desire to stay at Hull if the Gunners decide to sell him, but chairman Adam Pearson admitted he was rebuffed and told he isn’t for sale.

Finally, Wellington Silva was officially presented as a Levante player this afternoon. You can watch the video of his presentation here.

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Arsenal are continuing to scout Southampton winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but no move has been made over a transfer as yet.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has been turning in rave reviews in League One, after being promoted to the first-team at the start of this season. He scored on his first professional start in the Carling Cup, bagging the second goal in a win over Bournemouth. He has since gone to become a regular in the Saints first-team, with a growing number of Premier League clubs sending scouts to watch him.

Arsenal first became interested in the 17-year-old after he played for England Under 18′s against Poland in November, a fixture in which he again impressed in. Liverpool and Manchester United have sent representatives on a regular basis, while the Gunners have only been fleeting admirers. Young Guns revealed they had begun to send scouts late last year though, and were present when he scored against Benik Afobe’s Huddersfield Town, and again in the 6-0 drubbing of Oldham Athletic earlier in the week.

Manager Nigel Adkins has confirmed Premier League outfits have been interested, but said they would only accept “Theo Walcott money”. He has since retracted that statement, saying Alex is not for sale. Liverpool have had the most significant interest, sending their Director of Football Strategy Damien Comolli to watch the winger on numerous occasions in recent weeks.

Oxlade-Chamberlain is an skilfull right footed winger, who has drawn mass comparisons to Arsenal’s Theo Walcott. Both are blessed with electric pace, but many believe Alex is ahead of where Theo was at the same age.

Southampton are believed to want around £10 million for the Portsmouth born prospect, although they would be prepared to take the money in large incentive based installments. Alex has two and a half years left on his contract at Saint Mary’s.

Welcome to the inaugural Young Guns web chat, 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.

If the concept takes off, it will become a regular part of the website, and will feature bloggers, journalists and former players. To ask a question, fill in the form at the bottom of the window. The window has an auto-fresh function, so you don’t have to leave this page. It starts at 7.30pm UK time.

Young Guns Web Chat

You can follow Young Guns off the site, on our Twitter and Facebook pages.

Young Guns is three years old today. We’ve been bringing you updates and analysis on Arsenal’s Reserves and Youth teams and players since the 13th of January 2008.

The concept itself has been around for even longer, closer to five years, but under the name Young Guns, we celebrate our third anniversary today. The development and input from Gooners worldwide has been exceptional, and 2011 promises to be another fantastic year.

You’ll be able to catch regular Young Guns features in The Gooner fanzine, available outside the Emirates on match days, along with regular articles in the Arsenal Norway publication The Gunners Post. We’ve also launched a brand new iPhone/iPod application, with an Android one in production, due to popular demand.

With over 10 million unique hits, over 7000 Twitter followers and over 1800 Facebook ‘Likes’, the following from Arsenal and football fans has been fantastic, and we’d like to take this opportunity to offer a huge ‘thank you’ to everybody who has read, commented or followed us off site in the past three years, and we look forward to your contribution in the coming years.

One new regular feature will be a monthly web-chat with editor Jamie Sanderson. It will start from 7pm UK time. The first edition starts this evening, and is your chance to have all your questions answered by Jamie right here on Young Guns. Stay tuned to our social networking profiles for more information.

Elsewhere, Arsenal will play Chelsea in the Fourth Round of the FA Youth Cup after beating Sunderland 2-0 today. The fixture, due to be played on the 19th of January, is at Stamford Bridge, with a 7pm kick off time.

Arsenal go into the London derby as the favourites, but know they’ll face a massive challenge against Chelsea, who are the current holders.

Further a field, Wellington Silva was greeted at Valencia airport by a media scrum as he prepares to begin his loan spell with La Liga outfit Levante. You can watch a video of him arriving here.

In transfer news, Millwall have confirmed Arsenal rejected their attempts to take Craig Eastmond on loan until the end of the season. Manager Kenny Jackett admitted he was willing to give Eastmond regular playing time, but the Gunners have refused to let him leave.