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Mark Randall has always been a player who divides opinion, but most agreed a loan move to League One Milton Keynes Dons was a good step for the promising midfielder. A poultry 13 appearances have been mixed with some excellent displays and some very average ones, but Mark remains a player Arsène Wenger values.

Randall was a part of the Arsenal first-team squad which took part in the French TV network Téléfoot’s cross-bar challenge in 2007. The series is also a regular on SkySports with various members of Premier and Football League squads taking part. Recently, MK Dons had their attempt which included an go from loan prospect Randall.

You can watch the full and entertaining video below. Mark’s shot begins on 48 seconds.

Click Here To Watch The Video

Belgian starlet Dennis Praet is not on the verge of being signed by Arsenal, contrary to claims in the English media. The Racing Genk midfielder has now returned to his home land following a short trial where he featured in a behind closed door training match.

Praet is a highly rated right footed attacking play-maker. A diminutive size coupled with his long hair has led to physical comparisons with Tomáš Rosický, but as he develops, many have noted his playing style is similar to Arsenal’s Czech maestro. He is a current Under 16 international and has claimed six ‘Player of the Tournament’ awards in recent months.

Liverpool and Barcelona have been linked with Dennis but neither have stepped up their initial scouting interest. Liam Brady is already making plans for next season’s squads with a selection of prospects from all over the world expected to come for run outs before the season comes to a close.

Arsène Wenger did not get chance to make a personal check on Praet during his time in London so a second look seems certain before both sides try and thrash out a deal. Genk are expected to demand a large amount of compensation for the 15-year-old who looks certain to move on during the summer.

On the 9th of November 2004, in a Carling Cup clash with Everton, Arsène Wenger handed a chance to a small, scrawny, long haired striker. A reputation of being a deadly finisher for the Reserves has earned the prospect a chance to impress in the big time. He took it – with two fine goals in a 3-1 win. An apparent star was born.

His 45 goals in 22 games for former employers Parma means the name ‘Arturo Lupoli’ is in the Italian Youth history books as one of the biggest tallies ever recorded. He completed the 2004-2005 season with 27 goals in 32 appearances. His partnership with Nicklas Bendtner also brought a bag full of assists.

A loan to Derby County in 2006 was a chance for Lupoli to get key experience. He scored 7 goals in 35 games but with his contract set to expire at the end of the campaign, Arsenal moved to offer the striker an extension. A fresh two year deal was put on the table. Italian outfit Fiorentina made him a longer and improved offer, and after Wenger refused to match it, Arturo turned his back on the Gunners and agreed a pre-contract with the Viola. A small amount of compensation changed hands.

After a spell on the bench, a loan move to Treviso proved to be less than fruitful. Soon a return to England was sealed. Loans with Norwich City and then Sheffield United saw him improve, slowly. Arturo then fired a warning shot to Wenger and told the English media he would prove Arsenal wrong and fire the Blades into the Premier League. Come the end of the season, United didn’t offer him a deal and, with his tail firmly between his legs, Lupoli returned to Italy.

The 22-year-old effectively burned his bridges with Fiorentina who were keen to sell, and quickly. They eventually agreed a co-ownership/swap deal with Serie B side Ascoli for Francesco Di Tacchio. A selection of mixed performances have followed, with Lupoli looking a shadow of the potential he once showed.

He’s regarded among Gooners worldwide as a respected commenter and his forays into the Arsenal blogging scene have been highly successful. Now, former journalist and avid fan Mike Urbanski has joined the Young Guns team to offer his analytical inside into all things Arsenal Reserves and Youth. Known among many as SKA Gooner, his Sunday column – SKA Sunday – continues today.

Before we start – Note to self: Remember to check the grocery store BEFORE Saturday evening to make sure they’re well stocked with Carlsberg. Writing a blog article in the company of Stella Artois puts me in an irritable mood. And trust me, you do NOT want me hanging out at the local for a couple hours pre-blog because the grocery store was out of Carlsberg. God knows what kind of Arsenal-related literary train wreck that would lead to.

Right. Lets away, shall we? Tonight’s SKA Sunday music selection is the Bad Manners radio station on Pandora.

As we revisit the issue of available first team opportunities for the current loan and reserve players, I’d like to reiterate my main point from the first article in this series. Arsenal have, undoubtedly, the best youth and reserve system in all of England. Arsenal also have, in their starting XI and extended first team roster a VERY young squad. These two critical parts of the Arsenal whole, I think, are going to start butting up against one another shortly in terms of playing time opportunities. Thus – the double edged sword of Arsenal’s youth policy – talented youth and reserve players sitting behind a currently very young team.

This week I’d like to talk about the midfield. Being a bit of a formations and tactics junkie, I’m constantly thinking about all manner of devilish ways Arsene Wenger can manipulate the side for effectiveness. 4-3-3, 4-4-2, 4-5-1 – who goes where, what are the player options, etc. It’s madness, really.

We can’t really begin a discussion about what opportunities might present themselves in the midfield without looking at who’s already there. Cesc. Diaby. Song. Rosicky. Ramsey. Nasri. Theo (depending on formation). Arshavin (depending on formation). Denilson. It’s…ummm…well, rather full up at the moment to say the least. And that’s not even counting Jack Wilshere, who’s off learning the physical side of the game up at Bolton right now but will probably figure in the regular first team next season. Beyond the fullness of the staff though is the issue of age – Cesc is 22, Diaby 23, Alex Song in at 22, the geezer Rosicky 29, Aaron at 19, Samir only 22, Theo just turned 21, Shava waddles in at 28, Denilson just 22 and 18 for young Jack. At present I’ll leave out Fran Merida because it looks like we’ll lose him on a free this summer. Beyond that, I’m not even considering everyone’s favorite dancer, Eboue, who I think does more for the side playing at right back. Any rational assessment says that this is not a midfield, save for injuries or outright departures (and no, I do not think Cesc will leave this summer, no matter what tosh Barca tells the Spanish press), that’s going to see many openings for playing time in the short term, I’m afraid.

Right. So, we’ve got a stacked midfield of players whose average age is 22.5 years, the bulk of whom still have room for a lot of growth on the pitch. And as far as potential transfers into the first team go, Arsenal have been linked with every footballer who looks good on FIFA10 it seems. I won’t bother with speculation on that because the permutations are just too mind numbing to consider. Given all this though, what’s a loan or reserve midfielder to do?

I mentioned formations a bit earlier, and I think any consideration regarding reserve or loan players in midfield must be looked at with formations in mind. Cesc is a staple. If he’s fit, he starts. Period. Regardless of formation. Song is at the point where he’s a lock. But, depending on formation, we could potentially have as many as 3 or as few as 1 remaining midfield spots open to opportunity.

In a standard 4-3-3 we’re looking at Cesc in central midfield and Song at the back. Depending on the needs of the match, Diaby and Denilson have both worked the partner role with Cesc. Aaron Ramsey was gaining time as well before the injury. If Arsene continues with the 4-3-3 as the base formation for the first team next season, Carling Cup and early FA Cup matches will be the only opportunity available for any of the current loan or reserve players who are attacking mids. At the back though, we could see something develop if no cover for Alex Song is brought in through transfer this summer. Craig Eastmond has already had some minutes this year and showed himself to be productive. Francis Coquelin or Henri Lansbury could see at least bench call ups should they comport themselves well in their Carling Cup and FA outings.

The 4-4-2 formation gives us something different. With the anticipated arrival of Marouane Chamakh this summer, Arsene might well be tempted to revert to this as he’d have three tall and powerful strikers to take advantage of in Robin van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner and Chamakh. This would see Arshavin and Theo, Nasri, Rosicky or Eduardo move back to the midfield as wingers or attacking mids partnering with Cesc, and Song at the back. But the 4-4-2 also gives the opportunity, depending on the opponent, to have Cesc and 1 winger, plus a holding midfielder and a defensive mid in the formation. Think Cesc-Shava-Diaby/Denilson-Song. This really creates a logjam at attacking mid though and if it’s in Arsene’s mind to go this route, instead of talking about playing opportunities for reserve or loan players we might well be talking about some regular first teamers taking a loan spell (Eduardo comes to mind here) or getting sold. The back of the midfield, again, is where the openings for playing time will exist. The ability to utilize both a holding mid and defensive mid in this formation could give Eastmond, Coquelin, Lansbury or someone like Oguzhan Ozyakup an outside chance to at least see the bench and get some late match minutes on occasion.

Arsenal’s standard European formation has been 4-5-1 for quite some time. We didn’t use it this season though simply because we didn’t have the players available because of injury. But looking forward, the 4-5-1, in the Champions League group stage, might see some sunlight peek through for an opportunity. Indeed, even this season Arsene ran out a decidedly Carling Cup-esque side against Olympiakos with Fran Merida, Aaron Ramsey starting in midfield and Kyle Bartley partnering Kerrea Gilbert and Thomas Cruise along the defense. The 4-5-1 then, with 3 attacking mids, a holding mid and a defensive mid, might be the Full Monty of opportunities for the current loan and reserve players at midfield.

So, there we have it. In real estate, they say it’s all about “location, location, location”. In Arsenal football, it’s all about “formation, formation, formation” as far as midfield playing time opportunities go for the reserve and loan players getting into the first team. Of course we can always count on some insane injury crisis as well, but who really wants to dwell on that? Or lets say Arsene goes on a bender, downs a gallon of port in one sitting while watching Top Gear, and drunk dials a deal for Felipe Melo, Gokhan Inler (red top favorite two seasons ago) or Eden Hazard. Guess what – no playing time at defensive mid for anyone not named Song, Melo or Inler and one less opportunity for the reserve or loan attacking mids. All kidding aside, the Arsenal midfield might be the most clogged situation possible with so many young and talented players already ahead of the reserve and loan guys. It’s like a fat guy eating cheese – nothing is going to move through without some kind of drastic event. As I mentioned when discussing goal keepers and defenders, this summer is likely to see some very hard decisions made as to who stays with Arsenal and who is allowed to pursue their footballing dreams elsewhere. For us as supporters though, that’s not all bad as the best of the best will remain and continue their progress through to the first team when the chance comes. And the chances will come at some point.

Arsenal’s Under 18’s are on the brink of winning Academy League Group A and thus booking themselves a place in the play offs after coming from behind to beat Charlton Athletic this morning. After slipping behind, goals from Benik Afobe and Zak Ansah earned a narrow 2-1 win.

Following the conclusion of the Ferroli Cup, Steve Bould was able to call upon Martin Angha and Zak Ansah while Sead Hajrovic and Jernade Meade returned from injury to start in the back four. Lethal front three Roarie Deacon, Benik Afobe and Luke Freeman resumed their partnership after injuries and international duty.

McDermott
Angha – Hajrovic – Boateng – Meade
Aneke – Yennaris – Ozyakup
Deacon – Afobe – Freeman

Subs: Dunn, Obed, Byles, Ansah, Neita.

Arsenal showed early signs of a hang over from their defeat to Reading and Charlton took full advantage. Sean McDermott could do little between the sticks as the Addicks cruised into an early lead.

Yet the goal only seemed to fire up the Gunners who returned from the half time break with real gusto. Benik Afobe crashed home the equaliser with a powerful header before some inspired tactics from Bould brought the winner. The hard working Freeman was swapped with the predatory Ansah and it proved to be a winning combination.

Afobe bullied his way into the box, he had a drive well saved by the home goalkeeper but Ansah was on hand to steer the ball into the net with his first touch. It was a cruel way to suffer defeat, but a defeat it was for Charlton. Arsenal returned across London with all three points.

Elsewhere, Steve Gatting’s Under 16’s couldn’t put the disappointment of the Ferroli Cup behind them as they suffered another frustrating draw. Trialist Phillip Roberts bagged another goal but didn’t show too much else while Samir Bihmoutine weighed in a second. It finished 2-2, though.

Arsenal’s Under 16’s have crashed out of the Ferroli Cup in the group stages for the second successive year. Steve Gatting’s young charges have now returned from Italy after a disappointing but spirited spell on the continent.

Captained by Swiss centre back Martin Angha, the Gunners got off to a fantastic start. A crushing 6-1 win over favourites Juventus appeared to be a real sign that Gatting’s boys were going to be a dominate force. But it was the only highlight of the group stages. A defeat at the hands of Nice came after a draw with eventual winners Genoa.

It all came down a play off with local side AC Prato to decide who would make the knock out rounds. A 1-1 draw in normal time saw it go down to penalties and a 4:3 win for Prato saw the Gunners out.

Results Classification

Arsenal 6:1 Juventus
Arsenal 1:1 Genoa
Arsenal 1:2 OGC Nice
Arsenal 1:1 AC Prato – (Prato win 4:3 on Penalties)

Zak Ansah was Arsenal’s top scorer in Italy. He bagged three goals while fellow strike partner and trialist Phillip Roberts helped himself to two. Midfielders Alban Bunjaku, Anthony Jeffrey and Jordan Palmer-Samuels were the other goal getter’s. Genoa went on to claim the Cup, beating Partizan Belgrade in an exciting final.

Paris Saint-Germain are closing in on a deal for Arsenal trialist and long-term target Veljko Batrović. The exciting Montenegrin shone during a trial fixture against Tottenham but the Gunners have stalled on closing a deal, opening the door for the French outfit.

Batrović is seen as Montenegro’s leading light at youth level where he has scored over 300 goals in three seasons for club side FK Bubamara. Veljko has been training with Arsenal for a number of months and after being handed a chance to impress during an Under 15 friendly, and he took it. Two assists in a 2-2 draw earned plaudits from all. He won Man of the Match, earning the traditional £10 prize.

Arsène Wenger has been keeping tabs of the diminutive forward during training and he has commented on his technique, speed, sense of play and scoring ability. Scouts from all of Europe have been intent on signing Batrović with Olympiakos officials already labelling him ‘the miracle child’. He remains at London Colney but proud father and former professional player Zoran Batrović is holding negotiations with PSG who are desperate to wrap up a deal.

“We talked with people from Paris and Veljko is very interested in a move to the capital of France.”

The pair were present at Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Barcelona at the Emirates Stadium and although a future playing in the red and white could happen, Veljko told the local media his big dream would be to wear the Blaugrana colours.

“Ronaldinho is my idol and my favorite club is Barcelona. I dream that one day I will playing with Messi in a Catalan jersey. This is my big desire.”

Negotiations are on going but a transfer either way should be concluded shortly.

Fran Mérida returns to where it all started tonight as he takes a place on the Arsenal bench against former employers FC Barcelona, three years after he swapped Catalonia for North London at an important cross roads in his young career. Come July, the talented play-maker will once more have big decisions to make about his future.

Having turned 20 last month, Mérida is keen to get more playing time so has subsequently stalled on talks over a new contract with the Gunners. A brand new five year ‘double your money’ deal is on the table for the Spanish Under 21 international but boy hood heroes Atlético Madrid have also put in an offer. Neither offer guarantees playing time, but Madrid’s lesser status and a return home are key advantages.

Fran has made four starts in all competitions this term with a further three appearances from the bench. He has two goals, including one against Liverpool in the Carling Cup and a key strike at the Reebok in the Premier League. Injuries have curtailed further match action but a return to the bench has come in recent weeks. Being included tonight – picked over Carlos Vela – despite the large amount of injuries, indicates just how highly rated he is.

A decision on whether the midfield maestro prolongs his stay, is expected in the summer

Arsenal Reserves’ chances of winning Reserve League South are all but over this evening after drawing 1-1 with Champions elect Aston Villa at Villa Park. A strong lineup which included Nigel Reo-Coker and Wilfred Bouma met the Gunners, but Nacer Barazite continued his excellent run of form to rescue a point following Nathan Delfouneso’s earlier strike.

Banfield again rotated. Vito Mannone started between the sticks while the back four in front of him remained unchanged. Emmanuel Frimpong and Conor Henderson dropped out but the returning Francis Coquelin and Chuks Aneke took their places in a more balanced midfield. Sead Hajrovic was named on the bench following a long standing injury. Ignasi Miquel took the arm band.

Mannone
Yennaris – Cruise – Miquel (c) – Evina
Aneke – Coquelin – Özyakup
Barazite – Murphy – Freeman

Subs: Shea, Boateng, Hajrovic, Deacon, Afobe.

Match Report – Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal

Aston Villa snapped out of the traps and pressed Arsenal straight from the start. Marc Albrighton broke down the flank and forced stand in skipper Miquel to put the ball into touch in a flying start. Vito Mannone was then forced into two saves, one a chip from the aforementioned Albrighton and then a low down one from Nathan Delfouneso.

Chuks Aneke had the first Arsenal chance, striding forward from midfield and shooting over. It was a brief glimmer of light for the Gunners in what was a Villa dominated first half. Nigel Reo-Coker and Delfouneso had further chances before the whistle, but the brilliant Italian Mannone was keeping the league leaders at bay.

Half Time – Aston Villa 0-0 Arsenal

Villa continued the second half as they did the first, but this time they had the reward within 90 seconds of the restart. Albrighton’s cross from the wing was stabbed at Mannone by Weimann, the stopper fumbled onto the post and Delfouneso cracked home the re-bound. 1-0 Aston Villa.

Aneke and Nacer Barazite then came alive and forced fine saves as Banfield pressed his charges forward. On the hour Benik Afobe came on and the momentum of the game changed. Sead Hajrovic then replaced Freeman in a strange but solid change.

The Gunners poured forward in their drones in the final stages and were crucially rewarded. Roarie Deacon’s run down the wing caused issues, he then cut it back for the brilliant Barazite who smashed home the equaliser.

Some late chances for Barazite via free-kick and Özyakup from a corner caused danger, but neither side could find the killer goal. It finished 1-1 leaving Arsenal’s chances of winning the title all but over, with Aston Villa set to win their third title in a row.