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Signed from Figueirense in July 2007, Pedro Botelho is something of an enigma among Arsenal fans. The Brazilian is currently spending his fourth campaign away from the club as he bids to finally win a work permit and complete his dream switch to North London.

Botelho’s early career was marred by a selection of spats with various loan clubs, but now part of an experienced and competitive Cartagena team, Pedro is finally showing signs of reaching his potential. Two goals and a collection of assists have seen the 20-year-old become the Segunda’s leading light. Life in Murcia has clearly mellowed the party boy from the vibrant town of Salvador.

“I’ve changed a lot. I need time, but I’m slowly improving, and I feel I’m on the right track. Now I spend all day quietly at home, playing Pro Evolution Soccer on the PlayStation and without going to parties. I sometimes take my girlfriend to the movies, but I always fall asleep.”

The influence of former Gunner Pascal Cygan has been significant on Pedro, who often speaks to the Frenchman for advice. The confident full back has a tale similar to many Brazilian football stars; the battle against poverty to over come the odds and win a move to Europe. Yet this tale has a different edge.

“I was always playing in my neighborhood, with friends in the street, in Salvador. We just had a pair of stones as goalposts on the sand. The first club of my life was Figueirense, the youth team. I was 16 when I joined, and just six months later I saw a scout for Arsenal in Brazil, and he took me to London for two weeks. I passed a trial and I was there.”

Botelho’s rise to fame was sudden, but he is quick to remember and respect those who gave him his first steps in football.

“I want to be a great player, of course, like everyone else. But I never forget my neighborhood, my people and my city. I’m in Spain for them. Everything I do for is for my family and I suffer and want to be someone for them. My goal is that they can have a better life in the future”

That determination to succeed, for whatever reason, is powering Pedro to success. Never has he been closer to that goal of being a realistic option for Arsène Wenger. So what are his thoughts and ambitions about finally playing for The Gunners?

“Now I’m in Cartagena, I want to make things right. But my dream is to return to London, and play many years in England and be a major player in the Premier League. Arsenal told me that they count on me for the future. They believe that these loans in Spain are helping me a lot.

“Soon I’ll be in England, playing with the best players in the world.”

Welcome to a special news round up covering Arsenal’s young Gunners in action throughout the international break.

Arsenal crushed Chelsea in the Premier Academy League this morning, beating the Blues 3-0. All the goals came in the second half, with Kyle Ebecilio, Alban Bunjaku and Josh Rees grabbing them.

The Gunners struggled to boss the game but hit Chelsea on the break, with devastating consequences. Emi Martinez in the Arsenal goal made a selection of fantastic saves, adding to his blooming reputation.

Benik Afobe came off the bench with 20 minutes left for England Under 19’s in their European Championship qualifier against Albania last night. The striker left his mark, scoring once and making two goals in a 6-1 rout.

Jack Wilshere has now linked up with the full England team after helping the Under 21’s edge Romania 2-1 in their vital Euro qualifier. Wilshere played all but the final minutes and claimed an assist, flicking the ball on for Chris Smalling to smash the winner.

You can read a full loanees report tomorrow afternoon.

Whether you judge successful youth development on the quality of talent coming through the system or their ability to consistently win and claim trophies, Arsenal have it all.

Arsène Wenger has a wide selection of emerging young talent at his disposal, and the majority have been a part of The Gunners’ trophy laden Under 18’s. Last season they retained their league title, hammering Nottingham Forest in the final. The players who made up that side are now looking to make their way in the professional game, but not all of them are doing so at London Colney.

Goalkeeper James Dunn, drafted in from Southend United during the season to cover for injuries, is one of those. He proved a popular figure in North London and pulled off a number of important stops on route to the final. Now with non-league Dulwich Hamlet, he spoke to Young Guns this week about life past and present.

Dunn kicked things off by explaining his current position and how the club have helped him since being released this summer;

“I’m currently at Dulwich Hamlet in the Ryman South Division. Obviously dropping out the full time game was a massive blow but you have to handle knock-backs in football and its how you respond. I had a couple of trials at clubs but all of them were looking for experience rather than ability. It’s all about getting that experience.”

“Arsenal have been very good for me, helping me sort out some of my college stuff, for example, and have been in contact to see how am I doing. There’s not a bad thing I can say since I’ve left Arsenal.”

The name Arsenal on any CV is always something a footballer can be proud of, and sometimes it can open doors. James looks back fondly on his time with the club;

“I have to say that Arsenal was one of the best times I have had in my footballing career. The facilities, coaching and support you get there is second to none. There isn’t anywhere better in the country a youngster could be. Just having the experience is a bonus for me, but as well, not a lot of players can say they have been on Arsenal’s books.”

“I enjoyed my whole time at Arsenal, and I don’t have a bad word to say about any players, staff or the club itself. The setup is fantastic and it gives you the best chance to get a future at the club or even somewhere in the footballing world. I wish the club and the players all the best for future.”

Arsenal’s goalkeeping training and development is something much maligned and discussed. Questions have been raised over the quality and whether the ‘keepers actually improve their game. For Dunn, their is no need for such debate;

“When I trained under Tony Roberts and on certain occasions David Seaman, I feel I improved dramatically. Just having someone that is still in the current game is fantastic and the experience of the coaches will help you improve as they pass their knowledge on.”

Finally, what of his former rivals? how does James rate the likes of Shea, McDermott, Martinez and Charles-Cook as stoppers?

“The current crop off ‘keepers at Arsenal have a fantastic chance of fulfilling their potential. If they all do this, they have a big future in the game and I wish them all the best in doing this. I still speak to James Shea every now and again just to check how everything is going.”

“But as I said, there isn’t anywhere better in the country a youngster could be.”

Aaron Ramsey was awarded the The Football Association of Wales’ Young Player of the Year award at a prestigious ceremony in Cardiff last night.

The midfielder is on the cusp of returning to full time training with the Arsenal first-team and kick starting his come back from a badly fractured fibia. Ramsey has been in light training for a number of months, all over seen by the club’s latest additions to the coaching staff, experienced physio Simon Harland and strength coach Marcus Svensson.

It’s hoped that Aaron will be step up his program after the international break and run outs for the Reserves are already being planned.

Ramsey reminded Wales fans what they’re missing by being awarded the Young Player of the Year award at The Cardiff City Stadium last night. He was hailed for a ‘coming-of-age’ performance in his last fixture for Wales – a 3-0 friendly win over Scotland in November 2009 – in which he scored once and setup two goals.

Caretaker boss Brian Flynn hopes to have the youngster back in his plans for the Euro 2012 qualifier with England next year.

Arsenal have taken up their option to extend Emilio Martínez’s contract for another two seasons. The Argentine goalkeeper has now turned professional having previously been on scholarship forms.

Martínez joined Arsenal from Independiente last summer but the player failed to win the work permit required to complete the switch. He remained in Argentina as part of a co-ownership agreement but in March Liam Brady recalled the stopper, allowing him to train with the Under 18’s. A second application for a permit was accepted in May and Emilio went straight into the Reserve team for pre-season.

The highly rated ‘keeper has featured for both the Reserves and Under 18’s this season and celebrated his new deal by saving a penalty in the 3-2 win over Norwich City at the weekend.

Arsenal legend Robert Pirès is back training in North London. Arsène Wenger has allowed the 36-year-old use of the club’s London Colney training centre as he bids to maintain fitness and seek a fresh challenge.

Pirès will also offer words of wisdom to Arsenal’s Reserves and Youth teams as he enters the second week of training with The Gunners. The Frenchman is currently a free agent after Spanish outfit Villareal decided against extending his contract in July.

Robert enjoyed six campaigns with Arsenal after moving from Marseille in 2000. He played 189 times, scoring 62 goals in a trophy laden spell in England. Pirès is hoping he can impress potential suitors enough to win a return to the French Ligue One, whilst still offering guidance and expertise to Arsenal’s emerging youngsters.

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 played the final 16 minutes of Leeds United’s 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town. The winger replaced former Gunner Neil Kilkenny late on and immediately had an impact. Within 60 seconds off coming on, Watt had chased Peters into the corner and managed to flick the ball into the path of Robert Snodgrass who equalised. Ipswich claimed all three points late on.

Kyle Bartley is currently nursing a fractured cheekbone and is expected to miss the next two months with the injury.

Luke Freeman was an unused substitute for Yeovil as they beat Walsall 1-0.

Francis Coquelin played the final minute of Lorient’s 1-0 defeat to Bordeaux.

Armand Traore is currently out injured and is yet to make his debut for Juventus.

Nacer Barazite played 87 minutes of Vitesse Arnhem’s 0-0 draw with Willem II. Barazite, who scored a brace in the Dutch Cup last week, was impressive throughout.

Pedro Botelho completed another 90 minutes at left back for FC Cartegena as they drew 1-1 with Tenerife away from home.

Samuel Galindo was an unused substitute for UD Salamanca as they beat Villareal B 1-0.

Arsenal are yet to offer midfielder Oğuzhan Özyakup an extension to his current contract, but the Dutchman is hopeful he can continue his development in North London.

Özyakup has entered the final year of his deal with The Gunners and despite being attracted by clubs from Holland and Turkey, the youngster is determined to earn new terms at Arsenal. Speaking to Turkish agency ‘Posta’, the 18-year-old re-affirmed his desire;

“Of course I want very much to remain at Arsenal. But at Arsenal there’s great competition. I don’t know what will happen, I’m wearing the shirt for the youth team, but who knows what might happen this season. We’ll wait and see.”

Oğuzhan joined Arsenal in 2008 from then Dutch Champions AZ Alkmaar. He has since gone on to play bit-part roles for the Under 18’s and the Reserves, with injuries holding him back. Arsène Wenger remains a big fan of the Holland Under 17 captain but he caused tension with the club when speaking out against the loan system, branding it ‘uncomfortable’ and only working ‘occasionally’.

The player and his family are well settled in London, with Arsenal finding a job for his father at London-based newspaper ‘Metro’ upon completing his switch to England. However, talks over a new deal are yet to begin.

The last reserve game of the 2009-10 season against Portsmouth saw a dominant figure in the midfield collect the ball in the centre of the park, take a couple of touches, and then let fly with a rasping left footed drive that ended up in the top corner. From a distance the crowd could of been fooled in to thinking it was an established professional due to his physical presence, yet that couldn’t have been further from the truth. It was actually 17 year old Chuks Aneke, making only his fourth appearance for the Reserves.

Chuks was one of two players Arsène Wenger named as ‘technically perfect’ and his belief was put in to practice when Aneke was called up to the first team and put on show at the members day earlier in August.

For the majority of last season, the soaring figure of Chuks Aneke loomed over the rest of his Under 18 peers, bossing most games. This term he made the step up into the Reserves, and now he peers over men a number of years his senior, including Danny Shittu, and added to his superb Portsmouth strike with two more goals as Arsenal went on to win 5-0 away to Bolton.

However, despite his obvious physical presence, Chuks is an intelligent, penetrating, technical midfield playmaker who made his breakthrough into the reserve team last season and will be hoping to become a main stay this year. Benik Afobe, Luke Freeman and Roarie Deacon have all praised the midfielder and stated that there scoring feats of last year had a lot to do with Chuks who also has the luxury of adding ‘goal scoring’ midfielder to his CV. Afobe, in particular, has stated his admiration for Chuks, who he’s played with since the age of 7, stating; “Sometimes he doesn’t need to say anything, I just know he’s going to give it to me or I’ll give it to him. It’s something that happens naturally, I really enjoying playing with Chuks.”

Unfortunately Aneke missed out on the glory Afobe experienced during the summer with the England u17s due to injury and despite their friendship, both players know they are competing for Wenger’s recognition. Chuks coincidentally finished second behind Afobe in Young Guns Academy Under 18 Player of the Year last season.

Aneke was included in the pre-season squad that headed out to Ireland, starting the first game against Manchester United, which ended in a 2-1 victory. If he is able to maintain his current form, a foot into the Carling Cup squad seems a certainty, especially with Wenger clearly keen on the ‘technically perfect’ starlet.