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Arsenal defender Abu Ogogo admits his loan move to League Two side Barnet is all about seizing the opportunity to gain regular first team football, as the versatile prospect makes the short switch across North London for the next month.

Ogogo, who will wear the number 26 shirt for The Bees, is expected to start against Notts County on Saturday just 48 hours after sealing the transfer. The move all came about after an injury to regular defender Joe Devera, and Abu is keen to take full advantage of the move.

”Youth director Liam Brady suggested that a taste of first team football with a league side would be good for me.”

It’s been a crazy few months for the 19-year-old. He appeared to be on his way out of the club after a failed trail with Nottingham Forest, but an outstanding performance at left back for the Reserves two weeks ago saw him named on the substitutes bench for the Carling Cup fixture against Wigan.

He was also highlighted by Arsene Wenger as one with a bright future, and the loan spell looks set to mature his blossoming talent. Indeed, Ogogo is no stranger to his new home, as Arsenal’s Reserves share Underhill for their home games, something which was picked out by the tenacious prospect.

“I have played many times at the ground with Arsenal reserves and love the atmosphere of the place.”

Young Guns will keep you updated with Abu’s progress during his loan spell, as we do with all the other loanees.

Article By – J.Sanderson

After disposing of Sheffield United in round three, Arsenal’s young Gunners returned to action this evening looking to book themselves a place in the 5th with a victory over an in form Wigan side.

Once more Arsene Wenger kept faith with the kids, and made just one change from the first leg. Nicklas Bendtner, who bagged a brace last time out, has been on first team duty, so Jay Simpson was handed a start alongside hat-trick hero Carlos Vela.

Amaury Bischoff and Rui Fonte made the bench for the first time in their Arsenal careers, Henri Lansbury as also included for the tasty encounter at a packed Emirates.

Fabianski (c)
Hoyte – Song – Djourou – Gibbs
Wilshere – Randall – Ramsey – Merida
Simpson – Vela

Subs – Mannone – Ogogo – Frimpong – Coquelin – Lansbury – Bischoff – Fonte

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Arsenal have confirmed the starting XI for tonight’s Carling Cup clash with Wigan Athletic at the Emirates Stadium this evening.

The Gunners made one change from the last round, with Jay Simpson coming in, replacing Nicklas Bendtner. The Danish marksman will be on Premier League duty on Saturday, so is rested.

The Bench includes three central midfielders in Emmanuel Frimpong, Francis Coquelin and Henri Lansbury, whilst Rui Fonte makes his competitive debut from the bench.

Confirmed Starting XI

Fabianski
Hoyte – Djourou (c) – Song – Gibbs
Wilshere – Randall – Ramsey – Merida
Simpson – Vela

Subs – Mannone, Ogogo, Lansbury, Coquelin, Frimpong, Bischoff, Fonte

Article By – J.Sanderson

12 Arsenal Reserve team players have been added to Arsene Wenger’s squad for tomorrow’s Carling Cup clash with Wigan, Young Guns can reveal.

Portuguese Under 19 International Rui Fonte, on loan from Sporting Lisbon, has made the first team squad for a competitive fixture for the first time in his Arsenal career, whilst midfielders Emmanuel Frimpong, Francis Coquelin and Mark Randall retain places after being involved in the previous round at home to Sheffield United.

Rui has 3 goals for Neil Banfield’s Reserves this campaign, and after improving his physique and adapting his playing style to suit the English game, his hard work has been rewarded. A place on the bench seems most likely, with Jay Simpson set to partner Carlos Vela in attack.

Predicted Starting XI

Fabianski
Hoyte – Song – Djourou – Gibbs
Wilshere – Randall – Ramsey – Merida
Simpson – Vela

Subs – Mannone – Ogogo – Bischoff – Frimpong – Coquelin – Lansbury – Fonte

Due to popular demand, and after our coverage of the Sheffield United game went down so well, we will again be covering all of Arsenal’s exploits during the Carling Cup.

The Squad In Full

Goalkeepers:
Fabianski – Mannone

Defenders:
Ogogo – Hoyte – Song – Djourou – Gibbs

Midfielders:
Bischoff – Wilshere – Lansbury – Coquelin – Frimpong – Ramsey – Randall – Merida

Strikers:
Simpson – Fonte – Vela

Article By – J.Sanderson

With all the Arsenal news this weekend being focused on the stunning 2-1 win over Manchester United, one story almost seem to creep past unnoticed.

On Friday afternoon, stories, or should I say story, emerged via the infamous “Arsenal News Review” that Arsenal had signed Brazilian striker Lenny Fernandes Coelho on a pre-contract deal from Palmeiras. The signing would make sense for regular Young Guns readers, as we posted the quotes from Richard Law’s meeting with the Salamanca hierarchy last month, where it was confirmed that a South American forward would be signed and loaned to The Union.

However, Myles Palmer seemed reluctant to deliver any real details about the player, nor where the information had come from. So, in the interests of our readers, we did it for you. Not research on Lenny himself, but if you wanted that you can read it Here.

But for news regarding the agreement. We’ve let the dust settle over the last two days, yet nobody can shed any light on where the information come from. We spoke to our frequently reliable South American contact to ask him, and after spending the weekend searching the news feeds and wires over there, nothing came up.

Lenny spent time on loan with Braga in Portugal, and after being used sporadically, it was no surprise the Uefa Cup outfit decided against signing him. Since then he has had a less that fruitful spell with Palmeiras, and is out of contract in January, meaning he is a free agent.

Goal.com reported yesterday that Lenny will go on loan to Osasuna, but gave no details of the transfer deal. All signs certainly point to it being another Myles hoax, although a South American striker will be brought in and sent to Salamanca in January. Normally with news such as this, the big news services pick up on it, the fact nobody has, speaks volumes.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Arsenal have posted scouts to Serbia this week to track two of the countries brightest young prospects – midfielder Adem Ljajic and striker Danijel Aleksic.

The duo are among two of the most exciting youngsters in Europe, and naturally, Arsenal are showing a keen interest. Ljajic is a creative and intelligent play-maker, currently on the books of FK Partizan, while Aleksic is a stylish and elegant striker, who plys his trade for FK Vojvodina.

Both are members of the Serbian Under 17 team, with the latter being the inspirational skipper. Ljajic recently underwent a trial with Manchester United, where he picked up the nickname “Little Kaka”.

The Gunners’ Spanish scout Francis Cagigao has instructed one of his assistants, Goran Milosavljevic, to make checks on the duo during the next two weeks, with Milosavljevic refusing to rule out a transfer, should they impress. Speaking with Serbian sports website nogomania.com, he said:

“We are watching Danijel Aleksic and Adem Ljajic.”

“If Aleksic and Ljajic do have the qualities to play for Arsenal, the club management will do everything to bring them both to London,”

“Everything will depend on Vojvodina and Partizan then.”

It’s rare that any club officials would openly come out and admit to watching targets, especially with the confusion arising over Cagigao and Milosavljevic’s relationship. Transfer fees for the pair would be minimal, yet with both already being in the goals for their clubs, that price is rising the the game.

Real Madrid and Manchester United are also names being touted around, but Arsenal’s influence on young players should be crucial, that’s if it’s decided they are good enough.

You can view videos of the pair below.

Aleksic Video – Ljajic Video

Article By – J.Sanderson

Fulham midfielder Dominic Vose will begin day three of a week long trial with Arsenal tomorrow morning, as the Gunners go head to head with Manchester United for the highly rated play-maker.

Vose spent last week at United’s Carrington training complex undertaking a similar type of work out, as both clubs look at the prospect already dubbed “The New Paul Scholes”. Despite being likened to one of Man Utd’s players, it’s Arsenal who are favourites to trounce the Premiership Champions and snap up the 15-year-old – as they did with Aaron Ramsey over the summer.

Having come through the youth system at Fulham, goalscoring antics for their Under 16’s over the past two campaigns have brought the attention of the countries biggest Academies – keen to recruit the hottest talent around.

Dominic will work with Steve Gatting’s Under 16’s during training, but Steve Lennard and Liam Brady will also take time to make checks ahead of a proposed offer during the January transfer window. The Cottagers are believed to be ready to cash in on their rapidly developing youth system, with figures of £100,000 already being suggested in compensation.

Whilst one young midfielder is close to joining Arsenal, another – Fabian Delph – is strongly being linked with a switch to the Emirates Stadium in the coming months.

18-year-old Delph is a strong, skillful and versatile midfielder, who shot to fame after breaking into Leeds United’s first team, and scoring twice against Walsall in the League. His main position is either in the centre of the park, or on the left. Both positions of which the Gunners are stacked with young options in.

He only penned a new deal in September, but the chase for his signature began this afternoon as Leeds rebuffed an offer from Newcastle United. It’s extremely unlikely that Arsène Wenger would pay out the reported £6 million fee for Fabian, especially with the abundance of similar options already at the club.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Arsenal’s Reserves returned to action this evening hoping to give some cheer to many down heartened Gooners with a victory over Fulham. Underhill has proved a mixed bag of fortunes this campaign, but the visitors were missing several of the first team members at their disposal, setting up an even encounter.

Mark Randall, Sanchez Watt, Conor Henderson and Jack Wilshere all missed out through injury, but Henri Lansbury returned from suspension to start in his preferred central midfield role.

Mannone
G.Hoyte – Rodgers – Ayling – Ogogo
Bischoff – Coquelin – Lansbury – Mérida
Simpson – Fonte

Subs -Szczesny – Steer – Thomas – Frimpong – Sunu

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Arsenal’s Under 16’s matched their Under 18 counterparts by securing victory against Ipswich Town on Saturday morning.

However, unlike their older counterparts, Steve Gatting’s boys finished nearly every attack, hitting six unanswered strikes. Captain Benik Afobe was missing after playing and scoring for the England Under 16 team, but in Zak Ansah Arsenal had a free scoring replacement.

Oğuzhan Özyakup and Ignasi Miquel were with Steve Bould, yet the latter did play the full 90 minutes.

Chuks Aneke took over the arm-band from Afobe, and certainly led by example. The tall and skillful powerhouse bagged a fantastic brace, before Samir Carrurthers dispatched a penalty to make it 3-0.

16-year-old Neil Johnston added the fourth, Ansah made it 5 in 6 with another tidy finish. The destruction was completed late on as Ghanaian centre back Daniel Boateng headed the 6th.

Article By – J.Sanderson