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There are blogs about Arsenal, and there are blogs about Arsenal. They come in all forms. Informative, entertaining, insightful and intelligent. Untold Arsenal fits in all those categories. As the name suggests, it’s different from all the others, and it’s certainly one of our favourites.

If blogs are like teams, Untold Arsenal is a title contender. It’s lineup is notable, boasting a Belgian referee, an academic from Lancaster University, an economic student at Leeds plus a regular stream of occasional contributors. All edited and managed by successful author Tony Attwood.

Untold Arsenal sets out its stall fair and square on the home page: “Supporting the Lord Wenger in all he does” it proclaims. Yet far from subscribing to the “Arsene Knows Brigade”, Untold challengers and analyses the key decisions and isn’t afraid to dish out criticism when needed. They also study finances and statistics but if you’re a more relaxed kind of reader, the pre-match analysis delivered by the imaginary ‘Billy the Dog’ will certainly tickle your fancy. The site also It also takes a very strong line on corruption in football – from FIFA and UEFA down to the Conference.

Chief Editor Tony Attwood is a respected writer. He’s the author of the successful book “Making the Arsenal” – the story of Arsenal in 1910 when the modern club was formed – and a regular contributor to the Arsenal matchday programme. He’s also written for the official Arsenal website. Tony also runs a second site which charts the comings and goings of football in general and Arsenal in particular, 100 years ago.

All together, Untold Arsenal is a thrilling read. You can find the site over at – http://blog.emiratesstadium.info. We guarantee you won’t regret reading it.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Arsenal’s Under 18’s continued their title push with a hard earned 4-2 win over Portsmouth yesterday in the completion of a re-arranged fixture. Cedric Evina, Roarie Deacon, Sam Byles and Oguzhan Ozykaup all scored in what proved to be a feisty encounter on the South Coast.

Captain Cedric Evina led by example and cracked home the opener with 20 minutes on the clock but instead of going on and doubling their lead, Portsmouth hit back. Lewis Stockford took advantage of poor defending to slot home and set up an interesting second half.

The Gunners snapped straight out of the traps in the second period and re-took the lead when Roarie Deacon ended his recent goal drought with a fine finish. Yet the hosts, who have had issues with their transport to and from games following the club’s money problems, showed amazing spirit. They got stuck in and James Jennings’ strike drew his side level.

The final 10 minutes were as frantic and as frenetic as you’re likely to see at this level. Arsenal used the pace to their advantage and finally managed to kill off their hosts. The unlikely savior? Sam Byles. The versatile defender bagged a rare goal before Dutchman Oguzhan Ozykaup put the final nail in the coffin, making it 4-2.

Elsewhere, Arsenal’s Under 16’s also dispatched of Portsmouth. New scholars Callum Webb and Jeffrey Monakana had given Steve Gatting’s boys the lead before Anthony Jeffrey grabbed his first at this level. However, the game was spoilt when Martin Angha was left with damaged medial ligaments following a horrible two-footed challenge. His Swiss team-mate Elton Monteiro replaced him for his debut, but let in two late goals.

Article By – J.Sanderson

A little over a week ago Head of Youth Development officers Liam Brady and David Court met with Arsenal’s latest crop of Under 16 talent to reveal who would make the list of scholars for the coming campaign and who would be released. One of the big surprises was that goalkeeper Luke Chambers was not awarded a contract. The Welsh youth international has since given an exclusive interview with Young Guns.

Chambers joined the Gunners from Derby County last summer but among a clutch of promising young goalkeepers, he has consistently had to rotate with the likes of Yilmaz Aksoy and Reice Charles-Cook as Steve Gatting looks to give everyone a fair chance. However, when he did get game time, he impressed. A solid, hard working and agile shot stopper, Luke was called up to the Welsh Under 16 team for the SkySports Victory Shield late last year. Following his release, he has penned a four-year-deal with Southend United after interest from around 27 different clubs.

You can read the interview in full below.

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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.

Arsenal currently have six Reserves & Youth players gaining experience elsewhere. Jay Simpson is taking part in his third loan spell in as many years with West London outfit Queens Park Rangers. He is joined in the Championship by Henri Lansbury and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas who are with Watford and Blackpool respectively. Gavin Hoyte has made his second loan move in a year by sealing a temporary switch to Brighton in League One.

The Gunners currently have two youngsters cutting their teeth abroad. Pedro Botelho is spending his third successive loan spell in the Spanish Segunda, but this time with Celta de Vigo, while Håvard Nordtveit is spending the campaign in Germany with Nuremberg.

Read all the latest reports below.

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Arsenal’s Under 18’s continued their terrible recent run of form with a surpise 3-1 defeat against an exciting West Ham side. Steve Bould’s attempts to rally his troops with aggressive and sometimes confrontational rants seems to be back firing as an under strength XI crumbled.

Bould had to make do without the likes of Benik Afobe, Sead Hajrovic and Oguzhan Ozyakup due to international duty and the talented trio were missed. Sam Byles earned a start at right back alongside the out of form Rhema Obed at the back while Roarie Deacon and Jernade Meade were given run outs. Goalkeeper James Dunn started in what could be the final game of his loan spell with Liam Brady looking to make him a permanent young gun.

Dunn
Byles – Obed – Miquel – Evina (c)
Aneke – Yennaris – Henderson
Deacon – Freeman – Meade

Subs: Brislen-Hall, Edge, Ansah

Arsenal looked sluggish right from the offset but did manage to put together a few neat moves yet the final ball was lacking. Roarie Deacon and Luke Freeman both had early chances before a flooky Chuks Aneke effort saw Arsenal snatch a lead from nowhere. Despite a late rally from the Hammers the Gunners took the lead into the break.

Bould took off Miquel and captain Evina with the Reserves game on Monday in mind at half time. George Brislen-Hall and Jamie Edge came on and their lack of experience at this competitive level tolled. West Ham snatched three unanswered goals and to cap things off Edge left the field injured. Free scoring Zak Ansah replaced him in a reshuffle but Arsenal never looked like forcing a come back.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Arsenal’s Under 18’s continued their stuttering start to the campaign by letting a two goal advantage slip to draw against Norwich City this morning.

Luke Freeman and Benik Afobe got their 7th of the season each, but a second half collapse mean Bould’s boys continue their terrible run of form. That said, the XI who started are among some of the most promising players to have come through the Academy in recent years, whilst on loan ‘keeper James Dunn continued between the sticks.

Dunn
Byles – Obed – Boateng – Evina
Frimpong – Aneke – Özyakup
Deacon – Afobe – Freeman

Subs: Brislen-Hall – Meade – Yennaris – Miquel.

Arsenal’s start belied what would ultimately happen later in the game. Emmanuel Frimpong and Chuks Aneke both had early cracks at goal as the Canaries failed to get out of the traps quickly. Luke Freeman was next to try before Sam Byles survived a claim for a penalty following a suspicious hand ball incident.

The Gunners kept plowing away and eventually found a way through when Roarie Deacon’s drilled corner deflected off Freeman and into the net. The former Gillingham frontman wheeled away in delighted at his 7th of what has proved to be a fruitful campaign.

Four minutes later it was 2-0. Benik Afobe capitalized on slack Norwich play to bully his way through to finish emphatically. Benik’s goal saw him go level with Freeman on 7 for the term as the top scorer race hots up.

The goals should have been a platform of which to work from, yet lapses in concentration combined with an improved spell from the visitors saw City come flying back, with two goals both scored from terrible defending. It finished 2-2 leaving Steve Bould with much work to do if he is to stop the current decay.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Arsenal’s Under 18’s walked away with the League, League Cup and the FA Youth Cup last season, but perhaps most importantly, an enhanced reputation.

Since then, Jack Wilshere has constantly been named in the first team squad, Jay Emmanuel Thomas and Henri Lansbury were snapped up on loan, and Francis Coquelin and Emmanuel Frimpong constantly flirt with the Carling Cup squad. There is one man though who has quietly gone about his business; Craig Eastmond.

Craig signed professional terms at the end of last season after playing every minute of Arsenal’s FA Youth Cup run. He also became a star man for the Reserves, finishing the campaign with a promising six starts to his name, despite playing in an unfamiliar right back role. Craig’s tremendous work ethic matched with his raw determination helped make the position his own.

The only blemish was the FA Youth Cup Quarter Final clash against Tottenham, in which Andros Townsend was able to get past his marker on several occasions. Yet this was soon erased, as only a couple of months later, the two foes met again, and a much improved Eastmond demonstrated his resolve by keeping a tight lid on the speedy left winger. The performance impressed many, and also silenced any critics.

Craig has continued to develop well this season, and has been given the chance to impress in his natural central midfield role, starting three of the five Reserves games and scoring twice along the way. His early season form hasn’t gone unnoticed, and he was amongst the Arsenal substitutes for the first time against West Brom in the Carling Cup.

The Wandsworth born starlet maintained his outstanding start to the season with an all action display against Chelsea Reserves on Monday night, demonstrating his composure in possession and provided a commanding influence in the centre of the park which was rewarded with a goal.

Neil Banfield’s side boast an embarrassment of riches in the midfield department, and this perhaps unexpected yet pleasing form shown by Eastmond has certainly given the manager a selection headache, while also helping his first-team cause

The Under 18’s success last season helped place several young players on the professional radar, but this year Eastmond has been given his chance to impress, and it’s a chance he has clung too with both hands.

If Craig continues to turn in consistent displays and develop as expected, then he looks certain to follow the Wilshere route into the first-team.

Arsenal’s Under 18’s continued with their topsy-turvy start to the season this morning as Steve Bould’s charges struggled against a more cohesive Ipswich Town side, eventually going down 3-2.

Conor Henderson and Jernade Meade both got their firsts of the campaign but Bould’s boys looked a shadow of the team which comfortably won both the Premier Academy League and F.A Youth Cup. A brace by Conor Wickham either side of Ronan Murphy’s strike condemned the Gunners to defeat. Daniel Boateng’s red card summed up a frustrating morning.

In the absence of James Shea and Sean McDermott, Bould drafted in James Dunn, a first year scholar from Fulham on a temporary emergency loan. He started between the sticks in front of a new look back four which included Ignasi Miquel – fresh from penning professional forms. Emmanuel Frimpong and Conor Henderson added experience to the midfield alongside Nicholas Yennaris.

Dunn
Boateng – Hajrovic – Miquel – Evina (c)
Frimpong – Yennaris – Henderson
Aneke – Afobe – Freeman

Ipswich began well and could have had a penalty inside the opening 10 minutes as Arsenal struggled to keep the ball. It could and should have been 1-0 after Caolan Lavery’s stinging shot, but James Dunn showed his credentials with a super stop. Skipper Cedric Evina battered the post with an effort of his own but it was about as close as the visitors came in front of a decent crowd at the Playford Road training centre.

However, it was Arsenal who took a surprise lead when Henderson curled home a delicious free kick with his left foot. The goalkeeper didn’t even move. It was the only real bit of quality the Gunners provided all game.

Wickham could have had a hat-trick if it wasn’t for stand in stopper Dunn, but eventually Ipswich found a way through. Wickham picked out Ronan Murphy who nutmegged Dunn for the equalizer. It was level at the break but Bould typically lashed into his players with an acid tongued approach.

There was a reaction, but it wasn’t a positive one. Boateng added to his yellow card for a poor challenge with a second for violent conduct and Arsenal had to battle on with 10 men. Freeman did hit the bar but the Tractor Boys completed the come back shortly after and were soon out of sight after Wickham’s jinking run and finish combined with a classy strike after catching out the poor Arsenal defence following a long ball over the top meant he had a brace, and the game was won.

Byles, Obed and Meade all came on and the latter pulled one back with a neat finish from the left hand side, but in truth the Gunners were comfortably beaten. Must do better will be the message for next week.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Arsenal is adding youth with the addition of two new bodies, Martin Angha and Jamie Edge. Details of the contracts are not yet been disclosed
through the normal online channels but there is little doubt that with whatever personal agreements they reach, neither Edge nor Angha will be in need
of any online payday loans between now and when they join the club.
The two clubs have agreed on a fee for Edge although he and his new club have not yet come to terms. Martin Angha, formerly of FC Zurich, is a defender.
That’s about it for now.