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Oğuzhan Özyakup has signed a new two deal with Arsenal. The Dutchman had previously turned down two offers from the club, but Arsene Wenger stepped in to secure the 18-year-old’s services.

Özyakup had already opened talks with a number of European clubs, as his current contract was due to expire in July. However, after months of frustrating stalemate, Wenger stepped in to offer Oğuzhan the reassurances he wanted.

Agent Salvador de Mirande explained the turn around, which came after his client was promised a fair chance in pre-season to earn a first-team place.

“The probability Oğuzhan would stay at Arsenal a few weeks back was very small. We were very disappointed, but a lot happened in the meantime. “

“He wants to seize that opportunity. Oğuzhan still want to succeed at Arsenal.“

Özyakup new contracts runs until the summer of 2013.

Héctor Bellerín will join Arsenal in the summer, after rejecting a new contract at Barcelona. The pacy winger, who can also play up front, joins for a compensation fee of around €400,000.

Bellerín’s transfer may have come in under the radar, but his reputation in Spain is clear to see. A quick-sillver right winger blessed with excellent technical ability and a bag full of tricks, he is just as at home in attack, where he loves to poach in the penalty area.

However, while his reputation in Spain might be very good, the 16-year-old hasn’t made the best start to life at Arsenal, telling the press he hopes to return to Barça in the future.

You can view a compilation of Héctor’s highlights at Barcelona here.

Arsenal have agreed to sign Barcelona Cadete B winger Héctor Bellerin, according to Sky Sports. The Spanish Under 16 international follows fellow La Masia product Jon Toral to North London.

Bellerin turned down a new contract last month, following a series of disagreements with coaching staff. Chelsea and Manchester United were both initially keen, but Arsenal moved quickly to secure his services. A compensation package of around €400,000 is said to have been agreed.

The pacy wide-man joins central midfielder Jon Toral in switching from Barcelona to Arsenal this summer, in a deal worth €350,000. All in all, around €1 million will eventually change hands.

Héctor and Jon both sign three-year-deals with the option for a further two years.

The Finnish Football Association have confirmed that Arsenal have signed Carl Jenkinson from Charlton Athletic. A compensation package of around £1 million has been agreed.

Arsenal moved for Jenkinson two months ago, after he rejected a new contract with Charlton. The life-long Gooner quickly agreed terms with the Gunners, but the two clubs have been thrashing out a compensation package, as Carl is under 24.

A fee of around £3 million was initially debated for the right back, who can play anywhere along the back four or in midfield. Both parties agreed on a figure two weeks ago, and now the Finnish FA have confirmed the transfer, listing Jenkinson as a player from ‘Arsenal FC’.

You can catch a full interview with a Charlton youth writer about Carl in the coming days.

Arsenal’s loanees are some of the most talked about and debated players at the club, with thousands of fans using websites, blogs and social media to put their points across on potential stars of the future.

However, few truly know the daily goings on of players at their loan clubs like the actual supporters of that particular outfit. To get the full perspective on another crop of exciting youngsters, Young Guns’ Loanee Analysis sees me catch up with journalists who follow their club closely.

To get the low-down on Henri Lansbury, I caught up with Michael Bailey, a sports journalist who works for the Eastern Daily Press and PinkUn.com. He gave me the Norwich perspective on Lansbury’s time in Norfolk.

What was the feeling when Henri signed for Norwich?

“I think initially there was a little surprise, given City were flushed with midfielders. But his debut came in the 4-1 home win over Ipswich, which he started, and Lansbury’s performance whetted the appetite perfectly. His energy and quality on the ball shone through that day, and consistently after.”

How has the season been, and what part did Lansbury played in it?

“As you can imagine, the season has been magical for all Norwich fans. From the depths of League One football, then going on to complete back-to-back promotions without the need for the play-offs. It’s a rare achievement for any club, let alone Norwich.”

“As for Lansbury, he contributed a great deal to it: Four goals in 23 appearances, including the winner against Millwall with the final kick of the game that was really special. An equaliser at Leeds, followed by his now cult Dougie dance, and a substitute appearace for the final nine minutes against Bristol City at home that turned one point into three. There have been plenty of star performers for Norwich this season, but Lansbury is definitely up there with them.”

What would you consider his highlights this season?

“His appearance against Bristol City was probably key, having such a dramatic effect on the game, at a time when a win took Norwich second in the Championship on a Monday night, after their promotion rivals had all slipped up. It was a big moment in the season.”

What would you consider his low-lights this season?

“Nothing really. Maybe the fact that later in his spell, he wasn’t getting in the starting XI due to how settled City were. I’m sure that was a little frustrating for him. But still, when he came on he looked the part. He always seemed committed to the cause, and the opposition would have almost certainly looked at having someone like him to come on from the bench as a sign of City’s strength in depth.”

What does the future hold and do you think he’ll make the grade at Arsenal?

“It’s difficult to say. He is still young and at Premier League level, there are things you just cannot get away with. He does like the odd Hollywood pass, and they don’t always come off. That said, he has fantastic quality on the ball, some serious commitment and, for me, I think Arsenal could have done with him at times this season, let alone in the future. I would be surprised if he didn’t feature more at the Emirates next season.”

Any other stats, facts or little pieces of extra information?

“It’s worth noting that the Norwich fans at the open top bus parade were chanting for Lansbury to sign for another year on loan. I personally believe Paul Lambert will have an eye on permanent signings first, but most would welcome him back here with open arms in the Premier League next season.”

You can read all the articles in this series in our loanees area.

Arsène Wenger has confirmed Ryo Miyaichi will battle for a place in Arsenal’s first-team next season. The Frenchman will give hand the youngster an opportunity to impress during pre-season training.

However, Ryo’s involvement would depend on the successful application of a work permit. He wouldn’t be eligible for a conventional permit, due to a lack of senior international caps, but a case for a special talent visa will be lodged in the summer.

Arsenal’s loanees are some of the most talked about and debated players at the club, with thousands of fans using websites, blogs and social media to put their points across on potential stars of the future.

However, few truly know the daily goings on of players at their loan clubs like the actual supporters of that particular outfit. To get the full perspective on another crop of exciting youngsters, Young Guns’ Loanee Analysis sees me catch up with journalists who follow their club closely.

To get the low-down on Mark Randall, I caught up with football writer and passion Rotherham fan Caz Neale, who is the editor of Rotherham’s Vital Football website. She spared some time to give me the Millers’ perspective on Mark’s spell in Yorkshire.

What was the feeling when Mark signed for Rotherham?

“Excited to be honest. I mean an Arsenal player, albeit a youngster, coming to Rotherham. It’s really exciting. Arsenal don’t just sign anyone.”

How has the season been, and what part did Randall played in it?

“Our season has been a disappointment. We really needed to be in the play-offs at least. Young Mark only made a handful of appearances for us and I don’t think he was given much of a chance to be honest. His first game ended after twenty minutes when he got injured and was out for three months.”

What would you consider his highlights this season?

“I suppose his one and only goal for the Millers; on New Years Day in our 5-0 win over Port Vale.”

What would you consider his low-lights this season?

“Not being picked. I can’t really understand why he was left out so much. I’ve heard good things about him when he’s played for our reserve side, but that wasn’t really what he came to do. When he first came he did look a little out of his depth, and needed to be told that he wasn’t playing in the Premier League, and that he needed to fight for balls and not panic when faced with big, strong defenders. However, I’m sure that would have come to him if he’d got more games”

What does the future hold and do you think he’ll make the grade at Arsenal?

“What I saw of him I thought he was okay. He needs a bit of ‘beefing up’ perhaps and I wouldn’t be disappointed to see him get another loan period with us, though we have a new manager in now and he seems to want to ring the changes. I do think Mark needs to go somewhere that will make use of him for at least another season.”

Any other stats, facts or little pieces of extra information?

“Stockport County away. Mark was named in the squad to play. We heard on the grapevine that something had happened and we were one short on the bench because one of the players hadn’t turned up. It was Mr Randall. He was supposed to be staying in a hotel in Rotherham that the club were paying for while he was here, but unbeknown to the club, kept going home to Milton Keynes. We’d probably never have found out if his car hadn’t broken down on the way back to Rotherham.

“He was told to get himself to Stockport for the game, but his car insurance company refused to take him there, saying he only had cover to take him back home, which was listed as Milton Keynes. I understand he not only got a rollocking from Ronnie Moore, but Pat Rice demanded he got himself back to London to explain himself.”

“Of his ten appearances for the Millers, he started three games and came from the bench for seven. He got two yellow cards. His last game was against Oxford in February.”

You can read all the articles in this series in our loanees area.

Arsenal’s loanees are some of the most talked about and debated players at the club, with thousands of fans using websites, blogs and social media to put their points across on potential stars of the future.

However, few truly know the daily goings on of players at their loan clubs like the actual supporters of that particular outfit. To get the full perspective on another crop of exciting youngsters, Young Guns’ Loanee Analysis sees me catch up with journalists who follow their club closely.

To get the low down on Sanchez Watt, I caught up with Andrew Haigh, a sports journalist for The Sun and an avid Leeds United follower. He kicks the series off by sharing his thoughts on Sanchez’s season.

What was the feeling when Sanchez signed for Leeds?

“I think the vast majority of fans were delighted with the signing. Sanchez was on loan with us for a few months last season in League One and showed glimpses of the energy and skill he could offer so we knew we were getting a good player who could play in a number of attacking positions.”

“Some had even higher hopes for him and I can remember Martin Kelner on BBC FiveLive’s Fighting Talk at the start of the season arguing why Sanchez could be the signing of the season across all leagues.”

How has the season been and what part did Sanchez play in it?

“As a whole, our season has been a good one considering it was our first back in the Championship. We finished seventh, just missing out on the play-offs by three points. We began well, but mental and physical exhaustion culminated in a run of poor performances, meaning we faded away badly.”

“As for Sanchez, I think even he will admit it has been a season of ups and downs. It began well for him and he started the first six league games of the season. He mainly got his chance because Max Gradel was suspended for the first four matches of the season and Robert Snodgrass was injured. When they returned, Sanchez lost his place. He then got injured and the team was settled, so it was difficult for him to get back in.”

“He had a run around the two FA Cup matches against Arsenal in January, but more injuries meant he he didn’t have a real impact in the closing stages.”

What would you consider his highlights this season?

“The match that really sticks out was during his run of starts at the beginning of the season when we played Millwall on August 21st. Sanchez was given a free role behind Becchio and really excelled. He was in his element with the freedom to express himself as well as having the chance show his hard work closing down both Millwall’s midfield and defence. He grew in confidence and even made Soccer AM’s Showboat with this brilliant piece of skill.”

What would you consider his low-lights this season?

“The number of injuries he has had restricted his progress and I think that will have frustrated him. I imagine that failing to properly challenge Gradel and Snodgrass for starting spots will have been personally disappointing for him, but he really should have been given more of a chance to shine in a central role. If I was being ultra-critical, as an attacking player, I would have hoped for him to score more than just the one goal too.”

What does the future hold and do you think he’ll make the grade at Arsenal?

“In all honesty, I don’t believe Sanchez has a long-term future there. At 20, he is not a young player anymore and although he is clearly talented, I can never see him pushing Samir Nasri or Theo Walcott for a spot in your first team. I’d fully expect him to move on this summer in a permanent deal somewhere and it would not surprise me if Leeds made a bid for him. That said, I can see him commanding a decent fee and Leeds haven’t really been known to pay big fees in recent seasons. Without doubt though, Leeds fans would welcome him back with open arms if he did sign.”

Any other stats, facts or little pieces of extra information?

“Twitter has really helped Sanchez connect with Leeds fans. A few of our players have come in for criticism on Twitter but Sanchez keeps talking to his fans and he deserves plenty of credit for that, even if his response is just ‘LOL’ or a ‘TeamYouWatt’ hashtag! In all seriousness, we have seen players throw a strop at the first sign of criticism but Sanchez keeps his cool and has shown a professional side that some of his older team-mates haven’t.”

“As for his stats, they speak for themselves. His 12 starts and 14 sub appearances show what an inconsistent season he has had while his solitary goal and five assists are an unfair reflection on the impact he did have when he was on the pitch. Overall, we just didn’t see enough of his talent on the pitch.”

You can read all the articles in this series in our loanees area.

Arsenal may have completed their Premier Reserve League campaign in April, but it wasn’t until last Monday that their league position was known. Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Wolves meant they edged out the Gunners to win the Southern section by a single point.

Neil Banfield’s boys had lead the way for a large proportion of the season, but a difficult start to 2011 left them needing Chelsea to slip up in their four games in hand to win the division. The Blues did suffer defeats to West Brom, Manchester United and Manchester City, but their final day win over Wolves saw them claim the title, and set up a clash with Northern winners Blackburn Rovers in the grand final.

Despite that late drama, it’s been an impressive season for Arsenal. Here’s how it unfolded.

Season Review:
Arsenal’s season began in August, when a strong Bolton side was thrashed 5-0, thanks to braces from Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Chuks Aneke. Nacer Barazite also grabbed a goal in a comprehensive victory. Nine of that starting XI would end up completing the season away from the club.

September saw Sébastien Squillaci made his first appearance in the red and white, as Banfield’s boys beat Blackburn 4-3. They would also draw 1-1 with Manchester City before a 3-0 win at home to Blackpool completed a solid month. In their only game in October, a crushing 4-1 win against West Ham put Arsenal in pole position for a title push.

November began with a 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa, but that was followed up by a 4-1 win over Everton. An Aaron Ramsey inspired second string then beat Wolves, leading up to a hard fought 1-0 win away to West Brom in December’s only game.

The New Year saw a selection of players leave on loan, and January’s first game was an example of how much it effected the squad. An embarrassing 10-1 defeat away to Aston Villa made the history books, as Arsenal’s biggest defeat at any level in the modern era. A Carlos Vela penalty was the perfect way to bounce back, as Banfield kept his players focused with a 1-0 win at Chelsea’s Cobham training centre.

Yet Febuary was where the title began to slip away. 2-2 draws against both Chelsea and Wolves were not helpful, while an expected win over West Brom failed to materialise, as the Gunners drew 1-1. March defeats to West Ham and Newcastle hit hard, but they showed their character to beat Liverpool 2-1. However, despite the influence of Jens Lehmann, a 2-1 defeat away to Wigan left Arsenal with a lot of work to do.

They finished the season with a 4-2 victory against Sunderland, before a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford completed an impressive campaign.

The Verdict:
Arsenal had led for much of the season, but ultimately, it was the shaky form after Christmas that cost them. Why? Because the likes of Emmanuel-Thomas, who was the top scorer, and Benik Afobe left on loan. That meant the goal threat was all but non-existent. It did improve when Luke Freeman returned from Yeovil and Jérémie Aliadière arrived, but it was too little, too late.

The defence had a few shaky moments, but they dealt with the sale of Håvard Nordtveit well. In fact, dealing with the loss of players was the key. In many other seasons players have left on loan or to pastures new mid-season, and Banfield’s teams have collapsed. This group showed good character to keep going and were only just edged out at the bitter end.

Arsenal used 49 different players during the 20 matches, of which they won 10, drew 5 and lost 5. They scored 41 goals and conceded 34. A good total.

Star Players:
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas had a flying start to the season and grabbed a number of goals and assists before going on loan to Cardiff City. Chuks Aneke also had a good start, but injuries meant he finished the campaign lacking his best form. Ignasi Miquel had a few poor moments, but on the whole he led the side well.

Key mentions also go to James Shea, Luke Freeman, Josh Rees and Roarie Deacon all of whom finished the season strongly.

Next Season:
Banfield will stay in his role as Reserve team manager for next season, and that’s key for the next crop. He will also have some replacing to do, with Oğuzhan Özyakup set to follow Deacon and Brislen-Hall out of the exit door. Miquel, Henderson and Shea are all but certain to go on loan, and they could be followed by Aneke and Frimpong. That would mean Under 18 stars Alban Bunjaku, Martin Angha, Kyle Ebecilio and Jeffrey Monakana push on.

There may also be places for a number of loan players who look to kick on into the first-team, as well as potential new signing Carl Jenkinson. All in all, it’s been a fine season at Reserve team level for Arsenal, and while there might not be any Wilshere-esque talents in this crop, there are a selection of youngsters pushing to be in Arsène Wenger sights next year.