Daily Bits and Bobs

Arsene plays down Wilson link, sort of. Under 21’s ready to step up?

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Injury news from the manager up first:

We have no basic injuries from our last game. We had a few jaded legs but we will see how everybody recovers.

Players back? Danny Welbeck no, Chamberlain is back in full training today and Debuchy as well though they may be a bit short.

Good news for two but for Danny Welbeck, not so good. Arsene Wenger said that if he’s not fit for the FA Cup Final, he won’t be available for England either.

Gossip:

The big story relates to Aaron Ramsey and Barcelona, apparently the Spanish club are readying a bid for £50 million for our Welshman. Considering they have a transfer ban until next year, they can take a hike.

There’s also speculation surrounding Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson who has recently been linked to Arsenal. The manager was questioned about just that this morning and although he didn’t deny the rumour, he did his best to dampen it by saying he ‘wasn’t especially looking at him’.

On to today’s post from Kev.

The Arsenal U21’s have had a rather disappointing season, missing out on promotion and therefore remaining in the second tier of the U21 league.

Players like Stefan O’Connor, a skilful central defender, Glen Kamara, a hard working central midfielder, Alex Iwobi, a talented but inconsistent forward and Ainsley Maitland-Niles a versatile jack-of-all-trades, are probably another 12 months away from really pushing for first team squad consideration.

But there’s still a few other youngsters on the fringe of things who could make those last couple of giant strides from reserve to first team, players who could emulate the impact that a couple youngsters have had on Wenger’s team selections this season.

Between now and the Summer Transfer Window closing on August 31st, we Arsenal fans are going to be inundated with all the usual transfer rubbish that has become so much the norm these days.

Yes, as tiresome as it is, those ‘click bait’ sites such as The Metro, The Star, The Express and a whole host of other low grade sites that survive and sadly flourish by using re-cycled rumours, speculation and bare-faced lies, will be dishing up their repetitive Arsenal ‘Done Deal’ nonsense.

It’s not as if this rubbish is even imaginative, informative or well written, it’s all low-brow stuff, written by a clutch of no-marks and fantasists, which is frankly an insult to our intelligence and is often quite boring.

So blow all of that rubbish and now I’ve got that off my chest and I’m going to return to the opening theme of my musings.

We’ve all got our views on certain members of our senior squad and whether or not they are surplus to our requirements going into next season and we were pretty much, discussing the same subject a year ago. Funnily, one of those players, who without exception was on the vast majorities of everyone’s list of through the exit door was Francis Coquelin. At the same time we were mulling over new defensive signings and I don’t recall anyone, suggesting that Hector Bellerin could become a regular this season.

So maybe, in these days of James Milner being offered a mind-blowing £165,000 per week,  we need more of an open mind when considering future squad strengthening.

Now I’m not suggesting that Emiliano Martinez will return from the summer break and morph into the next David Seaman. Although that would be great but when I look at our young players who are currently not in contention for the first team, I can see three or four with the potential to come into the squad and replace a few of those tipped to leave. Serge Gnabry, Isaac Hayden, Jon Toral and possibly Wellington Silva.

These four lads have had terrible injury problems and in one case, many personal problems too but they’ve kept going and shown a strength of character that is essential for any player who wants to make the grade. As with Hector and Le Coq, a couple of these lads could surprise us all if they are given a chance, and take it.

Then there is Calum Chambers (remember him?), who despite all the chat about Arsenal signing a new central defender, could actually fill that spot?

If Walcott does leave could either Gnabry and/or Wellington step into that gap in the squad.

What about Hayden and Bielik, maybe they could replace Flamini and Arteta?

And could Yaya Sanogo……. Yeah, ok, maybe I’m pushing this point too hard…

Anyway, if the emergence of Coquelin and Bellerin taught us anything, or for those older readers like me, re-taught us, is that the answer to every squad deficiency isn’t always going to be solved by signing a player on a James Milner salary, but that the answer can be closer to home and actually within the club!

Of course, two or three new quality signings are still going to be necessary if Arsenal are going to really challenge Chelsea next season but let’s not ignore and rather encourage the talent that we already have at the club…

Written by Allezkev.

rico

98 thoughts on “Arsene plays down Wilson link, sort of. Under 21’s ready to step up?”

  1. rico says:

    Morning again all.

    Really enjoyed reading that Kev, good post. Glad you stopped at Sanogo though.. 😉

    As you know, I really like Hayden and Gnabry but haven’t seen the others play – if all can push through as Hector has, then good times ahead.

    1/2 through the Academy each summer is long overdue…

  2. Wavy says:

    Good article Kev. Old skinflint Arsene has won you over then, or are you just giving him a nudge, reminding him that he has a ‘prettier wife at home’!

    Just read that The little Mozart has signed a new one year extension to his contract, so he’s not off then?

  5. allezkev says:

    Morning Wavy, that really is good news regarding Rosicky.
    I wonder if his decision is a pointer to his International team mate arriving at AFC this summer?

    Nothing to do with Arsene mate, I’ve always enjoyed seeing out own players coming thru the ranks. It’s more difficult these days but still possible.

  6. frednerk says:

    Morning All,
    Have we improved this season..we have less points.
    We could end up 4th..
    We could get beat..in the final.
    A lot of the wenger critics have gone quiet.
    So why do we all seem to think..We have improved.

    In my opinion we changed one thing,the one thing
    every critic of wengers team had lacked,for the last 9 years.
    A holding midfielder.
    The Coq was on his way out of the club,but somehow
    ends up with a 4 year contract now.
    So for me I hope wenger sticks to this type of
    player and makes it the first player he either brings through
    or signs.
    So maybe the stats say we are no better than last season.
    But what we see now…………….. is a very big improvement.

  8. frednerk says:

    Came across this the other day.

    An Arsenal fan had great tickets for the FA cup final. As he sits down, another man comes down and asks if anyone is sitting in the seat next to him.
    “No,” he says. “The seat is empty.”

    “This is incredible!” said the man. “Who in their right mind would have a seat like this for the cup final, the biggest sporting event in Britain, and not use it?”

    He says, “Well, actually, the seat belongs to me. My wife was supposed to come with me, but she passed away. This is the first Cup Final we haven’t been to together since we got married.”

    “Oh … Im sorry to hear that. That’s terrible. But couldn’t you find someone else — a friend or relative, or even a neighbour — to take the seat?”

    The man shakes his head. “No. They’re all at the funeral.”

  12. allezkev says:

    Fred 😀

    Youngsters need luck, as much as anything.
    Debuchy and Arteta stay fit this season could mean that Bellerin stays in the Stiffs and Coquelin transfers to Charlton?

  16. goonster says:

    Vidal to arsenal? ?? Yeah right?? Yawn next please. Morning good people. How’s it going? What did I miss?

  17. frednerk says:

    Watching the players the other night,and taking into
    account we were all over them,none of our players
    were willing to risk an injury..were they.
    Cup finals come with a mental price tag.
    Wigan..look at them now…
    Hull…could be them next..
    Wonder if gooner tim’s Villa are prepared,
    for happens after Cup finals

  18. Wavy says:

    Hull v manure, they only have to fin 5-0 if we lose 3-0! Not likely I know, but this is ‘fix’ football, anything is possible.
    Glass half empty and I can’t believe I just wrot that!

    Arsenal to win 2-0 so no contest!

    Happy days!

  20. rico says:

    Hi Goonster – you haven’t missed much…

    Let’s hpe they don’t get any on Sunday against Pullis and his lot Fred…

    Villa could be in trouble next season as I can see one or two of their players leaving…

  21. allezkev says:

    Great news…

    Just been on NewsNow and not only are we signing Vidal, we’re also signing Sneiderlin.

    Honest! Zzzzzz

  22. rico says:

    Asked if he expected Rosicky to stay, Wenger replied: “Yes.”

    The Arsenal manager added: “We have taken up the option (of a one-year contract extension).”

    Arsenal are likely to strengthen the squad in the summer, with Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech a reported target.

    However, it remains to be seen whether the Blues will allow the veteran stopper to join one of their title rivals.

    The close relationship between Cech and Rosicky is also said to be a factor in any potential £10million deal.

    Wenger, however, insisted such issues should play no part in any transfer.

    “Tomas Rosicky is not involved in the transfer market at all, he will be with us next season and we do not use the players for that,” the Arsenal boss said.

    “Most of the time it is the players who want to join you who come in. Sometimes they might call each other, but we do not get the players to interfere with that.”

  24. rico says:

    Ha ha Wavy. Can’t see Hull conceding too many at home to be honest… In fact with De Gea and Rooney out, a Hull win.. 🙂

  25. Wavy says:

    Rico, just going for worst case scenario! You know, ever the optimist!
    I had not factored in the missing. ‘Gob stopper’ for manure being unavailable! Think I’m with you, a Hull win. Marvellous!

  29. Adam says:

    How many (top) players are we away from being able to seriously compete? I agree with Fred. This has been a so-so season, regardless of the myriad of excuses about the injuries, the World Cup etc.

  31. potter says:

    Many permutations here , there needs to be an 8 goal turnaround. Hull will keep it tight until United score and then they have to come out and try to win themselves which opens them up to a right hiding. Once two or three go in their heads will drop. West Brom beat-the Chavs by three last week so it’s not out of the realms of possibility. This is the Arsenal after all :- Expect the unexpected and take nothing for granted.
    On that happy note , Hi everybody and happy birthday Scott.

  32. scottfromoz says:

    Cheers Potter.
    Adam, I say 3 top players is what’s required to truly contend next season.
    I rate Giroud higher than most, but agree we need a top class striker of a different sort.
    One more top CB.
    Another top DM, to complete the set.
    I’m content with Ospina…..if we shore up those in front of him, he’s enough, I think.

  33. Adam says:

    Happy birthday Scott.
    To be really competitive is another way of saying to win the PL and that means getting more points than Chelsea, with their dour but pragmatic approach and more than Man City and Man Utd. Three top players would almost certainly bring an improvement but to top all of those teams? I tend to agree with Thierry Henry.

  34. scottfromoz says:

    Thanks Adam.
    Let’s face it…..3 top class players would be fantastic, but I can’t see Wenger bringing more than that in, so maybe I’m settling.

  38. potter says:

    It’s an old hobby horse of mine but the gap between under 21 football and Arsenal first team is too wide and that’s why it is difficult to gauge how the next crop are likely to fare. From the little that I have seen Gnabry looks about ready but due to injury Hayden is an unkown quantity as are Bielik and Silva who I hope is as useful as his Irish predecessor ( Gilbert O’Silva ) was.

  39. scottfromoz says:

    Potter, I reckon these 17-18 year olds should have learned the technical side of their game, so should be sent out to play against grown men.
    Do I our agree they’re too well protected?

  40. rico says:

    I think the build of a player makes a difference too. Looking at some of our under 21 players, some look like they are still in the early teens whereas others are built much bigger and therefore stronger…

    Bielik certainly looks too fragile for the PL right now..

  42. potter says:

    And there is another hobby horse , the loan system . You send them out to play and they sit on the bench for 90% of the time and get 10 – 15 minutes at the end of a game if their team is winning . Football is about money and collectively clubs don’t want to spend what it would take to have proper reserve leagues like the Football combination in the south or the Central league in the north but that’s the only way to blood these kids . Let them play against the Rosickys , the Lampards , the fringe players on the edge of their teams first elevens as they come back from injury or need pitch time to keep fit. That’s where the F.A and the football league need to be aiming their money if they want to develop young talent .

  43. rico says:

    I’m all for if they are good enough, they are old enough. Look at John Stones at Everton and Grealish at Villa, both are doing pretty well but they are still very young….

  44. scottfromoz says:

    Potter, here in Oz, I guarantee these kids would get game time.
    It’s perfect for them.
    They need to harden up and see what physicality grown men bring.
    It’s a decent level that they’d handle, so I’m positive they’d get their chance.

  46. Tai says:

    Great post Kev…

    Always a worry why we spend so much managing an academy yet dive into the market for any kind of reinforcement…it all boils down to impatient and unwittingly playing into the hands of clubs that were structured on short-team plans.

    A club like Arsenal should make promoting at least one player through her junior ranks every season a hobby. Or there shouldn’t be any reason running an ultra-expensive academy system.

  47. Vegas Goon says:

    Good post…maybe Sanogo will be the next big thing lol. I still don’t understand this Milner rumor. I mean I understand strengthenin the squad but I don’t see whos spot he takes?

  48. rico says:

    You know what Tai, I think you have a point there but to date, our Academy players haven’t met the AW standard – Akpom imo is there now and looking at who we now have coming through, perhaps things will finally get better…

    But they need to be given time and we fans need to be patient with them as they grow and mature…

  53. Canadian Gooner says:

    Good Afternoon to the Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.

    Kev – Great article on our Young Guns. It’s difficult for me to follow what is happening with them from this distance. Thanks for the update.

    There were a couple of sites dedicated to the Academy players, but they don’t seem to post as often as they use to.

    Potter – We should be able to enter B teams into the lower divisions like they do in Spain, but all the existing lower division teams don’t want the competition for what little money there is. Surely they could work out some sort of revenue sharing so B teams would be effectively revenue neutral, nut the FA and the Football League lack the imagination, initiative and the balls to push it through.

  55. rico says:

    Afternoon Cg.

    Jeorge bird is worth following, his info us really good re the Academy.

    Sadly, Jamie Sanderson has gone to the Metro and that says it all….

  57. potter says:

    CG :- young players need to play against older ones to develop both their strength and their mental capacity . It’s a learning curve. When i was 12 I was playing football with 14 year olds , at 17 I played for the North London League under 19 team and latterly represented them in an international tournament in France and Luxembourg. You need to get knocked about to learn how to get out of the way and to play at the higher tempo. Our kids are a lot more talented than I was but they get so far and then come to chasm without a bridge.

  59. Canadian Gooner says:

    Potter – The humour was unintentional, but I’m glad you appreciated it.

    Rico – I used to check Jamie Sanderson’s site regularly, but since he has started with Metro he doesn’t post nearly as many articles about the Academy I’ll have to give Jeorge’s site another try.

  62. Canadian Gooner says:

    Rico – He does post the odd one on the Metro site, but very rarely. I guess it’s when he has nothing else to write about, otherwise it is the same rumour rehashing that Kev referred to.

  63. Canadian Gooner says:

    Potter – I wish I could be there on Sunday, but it would be a very expensive game. I’ll be there in spirit as I watch online.

    My older son will be over to London in the fall for his best friend’s wedding. He might be able to catch a game if they are playing in the city.

  64. Canadian Gooner says:

    Have a great evening everyone. I’ll catch you all after Sunday’s game.

    Keep The Faith!

  66. `Rick says:

    Evening Rico and the House.
    After last nights earhquake its been a weird day down South.
    After reading Kevs excellent post and seeing some of the other comments I have been doing a Noddy impersonation agreeing with most of what has been said.

    Like you Kev I live in hope that someday we will see the King mark 2 Rocky Mk2 and maybe a Tony Adams thrown in.

  68. `Rick says:

    I thought you had gone Rico.
    Just like you I have great hopes for Isaac and I think he would have been given the chance this season but for his injury.
    Are you aware that 4 of our acadamy teams are playing in tournaments this w-end. I gather there are someTrialists playing for in the teams it will be interesting to see how they perform.
    You are spot on about Beilik being fragile for thePL infact you can add Zelelman and Crowley to that as well.

  71. `Rick says:

    Breaking news Rico Isaac Hayden and Chuba Akpom have been selected for England U20 team for the Toulon Tournoment which starts 28th May.
    England play Ivory CoastMexico China.
    This shows you how much he is rated out 5 months plays 45mins and he is selected for England.

  73. `Rick says:

    I am putting a post together for you Rico and Niles is part of it , so I will keep my comments for that.

  74. rico says:

    Fab Rick, I look forward to that. It’s a great shame that so many fans don’t watch the youth but are very quick to cast them aside..

    Which is exactly what Kev has said in his post….

  75. allezkev says:

    Potter I will possibly be in the Rocket, Holloway Road for a pint or two with my sons mates, as he isn’t going and he’s roped me in as his substitute…

    I’ll leave it with you mate…

  76. Micko says:

    Rick, I’ll think you’ll find it’s Arsene who tends to cast them as aside.

    As for Hayden, can’t really say much about him till I see him play in the 1st team !

    Of the four players given a special mention I’d say we’d be lucky to see 2 of them come through, Serge has already shown he has what it takes at CL level so that leaves the other 3 to battle it out.

    Moan, moan, moan, Happy Birthday to You Scott.

  78. `Rick says:

    Sad thing is Rico go to the game on sunday ask the fans who are Tarif Moore and George Dobson and they would not have a clue what you were talking about.
    Must leave you now have late visitors
    see you over the w-end Good Night

  79. Micko says:

    You keep reminding us rico but the proof will be in the pudding ! I wasn’t fortunate enough to see all of his two appearances for us in the League Cup so you could well be right and I might be the pudding.

  83. allezkev says:

    I saw Hayden in the League Cup against Southampton. He did very well in a weakened side…

    He just needs to stay fit, maybe a short loan to Charlton could be useful.

  88. rico says:

    I watched that game too Kev and after a shaky start, he shone for me.

    Of course, watching on TV is not the same as being at the ground apparently, so I may have missed any errors he made….

  89. rico says:

    Night Kev…

    They do Micko, but some day that has to change and we have a great crop coming through, but I bet most will be shown the ‘Afobe’ door…. Sadly.

Leave your comment.

Discover more from Highbury House

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading