Five years ago Arsene Wenger secured a deal for Carlos Vela, he was just 16 years old at the time. Many European clubs wanted to sign Vela but Wenger won the race, no doubt the way Arsenal blood youth was what convinced him to come to London.
Due to work permit restrictions he headed straight out off on loan.
Celta de Vigo were his first loan club but that didn’t go as planned, his loan came to a very quick end without having played a game. Next up was Salamanca, this was far more successful. He stayed for the whole 2006/07 season and created many of the clubs 53 goals, eight of which he scored himself.
Still to be denied a work permit, the following season he was loaned to Osasuna despite interest from many other clubs.
In January 2008, Vela finally joined his new club and Wenger confirmed he would go straight into the first team squad.
I don’t think I would be wrong to suggest that nearly every Arsenal fan was desperate to see this young Mexican play in the red and white of the club we love.
That day came in August 2008 when Vela came on against Newcastle on 63 minutes, replacing Robin van Persie. His full debut came in September the same year, a League Cup fixture against Sheffield United. Vela grabbed himself a hat-trick in the game, his second was stunning and sits within the top 50 goals scored by an Arsenal player. In March the following year, Vela scored another goal, this time in the FA Cup against Burney, he chipped the keeper for the first goal in a 3-0 victory. This was followed by a first Premier League goal against Portsmouth in May the same year.
Carlos missed the 2009/10 pre-season having suffered an ankle injury but in September of that same season he came off the bench to set up the first and score the second in a 2-0 win against West Bromwich Albion in the Carling Cup. November came and his first appearance in the Premier League that season came with it – he played 21 minutes against Sunderland, replacing the now departed Eduardo.
In December 2009, Carlos Vela signed a new contract so he’s with us for a few seasons yet ‘on paper’.
In May this year, Vela played his 50th game in an Arsenal shirt against Blackburn Rovers and on the 9th May he scored the fourth goal of our victory over Fulham.
Vela scored his first goal of this season against Bolton in a 4–1 home victory in September. He followed this with two goals in the UEFA Champions League when we beat SC Braga 6–0.
The question now has to be, ‘Where is he now’? He’s not listed as being injured so why isn’t he getting more playing time?
Carlos Vela is a winger/striker who oozes talent and ability, what has he done to make Wenger leave him out? At the age of 21, in a youthful side like ours, he should be playing a big part. He may be down on confidence but so would any player if they are not playing. Just look how Johan Djourou has got better and better since his little run in the side.
Does Wenger still have faith in our little Mexican, or has the incident with his country led to his club manager penalising him too?
Do you still have faith in our little Mexican or is it time for him to leave?
That’s it for today all, have a good one…..
Morning all
We could use him to kill off games and improve goal difference. Hah!
damien, wenger isn’t even putting him on the subs bench…. i don’t think he been on the bench the last couple of games…
morning rico, good piece i really would love him to stay but i think he is a classic case of ‘experience hindering youth growth’ wenger argument. vela has Arshavin, Rosicky, ahead of him
At times, I wonder what wrong with Mr Wenger. Carlos Vera is very good and has proving that with more playtime he can do better .
I heard a rumor about Bender being shipped off to allow room for Ashley Young. We could really use a traditional winger. Not the center forward -slash- winger types we have in abundance.
Damien, i dont think so, we are short of height upfront and i dont think wenger will let a little whining change his initial plans, this is numbchucks 1st season no guarantees on him lasting d season without burn out so i guess wenger will keep him as Plan B
morning didee,thanks
i dont get why he’s not being played when AA is out/subbed, he’s 21 and he should be playing.
He hasn’t been even on the bench since the CL game in Ukraine…
As a massive gooner fan im sure i like countless other gooners find this young man a mystery.I mean im totally baffled as to how a player with such ability isnt getting playing time and with this lad he should be playing football at any club in the world.The glimpses of skill,pace and natural superb cool finishing from him have had arsenal fans drooling for a few years,but his future for some reason unbeknown has went nowhere.Why has wenger giving up on this huge talent when he went to extreme lengths to get him and raved about his undoubted class on so many occasions,very strange one this.thanks.Ive i was vela id leave in january.
Hi Emeka, good to see you here…
damien, if nikki goes then we need to buy a lump of a striker, someone like Andy Carroll, but he has off-field issues…
hi rory, i’m sure he’d walk into most sides too and most clubs would love a talent like him. I’m wondering if its the fall out from mexico having an impact at arsenal… maybe there was more going on than we know, no evience to support that theory though ….
if i was vela i’d leave, but i’d rather he stayed and was played…
Rico, another problem with Vela is that he is not a game changer, i cant recollect any game where he came in as a sub and made a change, plus he seem to go down too easy and often too. slap an injury record and club/country row on that, am sure many of us would do the same as wenger, maybe he might feature more in winter wen d carling cup, FA cup and EPl games pour in…u know player rotation to sustain the challenge at all fronts
@Rico, thanks man. Hope Mr Wenger use on saturday. Arms cross
Rico nice Piece and as you am buffled by the black out Aw and the club have given Vela. This guy has class and the best finisher since Dudu we need a banner where is Vela?
didee, with all his talent he should be a game changer though, i just think theres a lot in the player that we are yet to see…
you are right, if we stay in all the cups, he should play more..
@ Emeka Rico is a She 🙂
People have been talking up Jack so Vela has been forgotten but this kid is best player on one on one situations
Howdy Erick, and he’s the master of ‘chips’ 🙂
Emeka, big day saturday, very big….
Erick, and JET is starting to get a chance too, Vela must wonder what he has done wrong…
I don’t understand why he’s not even on the bench, just getting 10/15 minutes in a game will help his confidence grow and then we could see the best of him. If Wenger’s not going to play him, why isn’t he playing in the reserves?
Maybe a loan in Jan awaits him?
Good news though, no injuries from last nights games, well, apart from Gerrard 😉
Great news Rico the yids are on saturday what a game its going to be 🙂 🙂
JET will be a great player Rico the future is bright the task will be to keep the group together starting with Vela
can’t wait Erick, but have a little fear too….
Pires is having his medical at villa now…
JET has it all – as long as his feet stay on the ground…
True Rico Pires bought a flat at Highbury what a legend 🙂 AA played 94 min Rico 🙁
The Stains got humiliated 4 – 0 Rico hope Cesc leaves the duck on the connecting flight to Spain
Why on earth did AA need to play the whole game, was it a Euro qualifier Erick or friendly?
😆 Erick, i chuckled when i saw that Spain lost…
Rico Cesc came on for the Stain called Xavi and Guus does has no favour
Playing time will do Cesc good though Erick, same with RvP, thankfully this time its been at no cost…
Wonder if RvP will start up fron against the tiny totts, wenger said we will be more direct at home….
On the positive side the Stain called Pique claims Cesc wants the move but Its unlikely he will get it. 50mil or shut it I say 🙂
Rico as you guys say in here before big games If players can’t get motivated by this game I don’t know what will. RVP is still not fit Rico he said it himself after last night game highly unlikely he will start the team that started against Everton may be and Denilson for Jack the main change or AA for Rosicky
Pique can take a long run off a very short pier Erick 😉
Wilsher could be fit Erick, nothing on afc.com saying he’s injured, is it press conference day today or tomorrow, we’ll know more then..
🙂 Rico 🙂 John cross of mirror has not updated abt any presser for Afc may be morrow
Ah, thanks Erick, you been twittering 😉
Old Red Nose is ready to make an offer for the young goalkeeper who plays for Atletico Madrid… Why an I not surprised….
Morning u2,
Vela is a weird one, such a talented player yet doesn’t impose himself enough for me. He’s great in front of gaol he has speed quick feet and technique yet doesn’t seem to put it all together. A bit of a system problem as well as I don’t see him as a winger but def a striker to be played up front with a Chamakh or a RVP or a Theo 😉
Yap Rico and you have been silent in there 🙂 y y y? Kt warned us Rico that he is a great keeper not suprised as well
Sailor how are you long time no see hope all is well. Ready for the Derby Wath you must start restocking the GG 🙂 442 wath we don’t play that anymore does that mean we are seeing the last of Vela?
Morning WATH, when Wenger bought him he said he saw him in the same role as Eduardo, I could understand if he was on the bench but not to even get in the substitutes is just crazy…
Erick, I only saw him play once, he was outstanding for At Madrid….
Wath Vela has some issue and will challenge John cross to quiz Aw abt him hope he does 🙂 Rico never seen him play though 🙁
I am fine Erick, plenty bottle will be consumed over the weekend Erick thats for sure. As i said weeks ago formation is merely a number but Vela needs to be played as a striker simple as that. Ur right Rico not even on the bench makes you wonder eh…???
Here you are Erick….
Wath lets wait and hear what Aw say but I guess his absence from international footie has something to do with it Wath will you be at the game Thanks Rico 🙂
Yes Erick I’ll be there or there abouts…. 😉
Inside the Emirates or in the pub 🙂 may be you can get a banner on ‘where is Vela’ 🙂 thanks
I think I will go in on Sat Erick and then I’ll retire to a nice quiet out of the way pub 😉
I’ll be glued to the television, biting my fingernails and shouting at the box no doubt!! 🙂
Got a few things to do, so on and off for a bit…
Rico go make me a nice cuppa there’s a good girl…. Thanx 😉
Wath so the banner is Ok 🙂 anyway enjoy Wath hope it will be buzzing Cheers Rico
Boo! Hello, rico, Erick, WATH.
I wish Vela played more, too. He’s skillful and sharp if some way from being imposing. He does blow hot and cold, but a run of games should restore his confidence.
Rico:So i reminded you about Vela then.
Well it is a secret world of Wenger that we all live in. We will never know until Wenger says something.
But i am sure he definitely needs a run of games
Hi AGAG, how’s u sexy lady..?
Hello, SD. If we stay in contention for the cups, he should get that run of games. And this club v. country rows is just getting tiresome.
Hey, WATH. Been a while. Howdy? Got your stash ready for the weekend?
Nope AGAG I’m gonna be out all weekend so no need to demolish the stash at home 😉
Howdy SD and Agag nice to get you guys in here been a while SD am hoping we get to know something but am hopefull we will have him
🙂 wath Demolish 🙂 strong word
Demolish is what we gonna do to the yids Erick….
All weekend?? That’s a long bender, WATH… even for you. 😉 You’ll be an incoherent, hic-ing, crawling sight. 😀
Boo, Erick! You watching from the pub too?
Whats up peoples?!! 🙂
So the Barca-Stains got walloped by the Greasy Winker & Co? Nice!
Hey T-Bz…. AGAG always an all-weekender for the swampies and i’ll be none of those things I’ll have you know lol 😀
Wath now your talking 🙂 Yap as usual Agag Howdy Tbuzz hope the duck goes back with the catalans 🙂
Whats the kick off time (Uk) please?
Hi, TB. That news absolutely made my day. Fantastic. Too many stains in the Spanish national team. And Ronaldo was apparently upset at having a goal ruled out. 🙂 🙂
I’d bet you a bottle, you’d be, WATH. And after we win, you have to reward yourself with even more GG. Sounds like a plan. 😉
Erick, it sked’s on the sidebar.
Don’t worry AGAG there will be plenty GG flowing from 2moro afternoon 😉
Uk time 12.45 Erick the sidebar is wrong as its Saturday not sunday kick off….!
Agag just confirming was about to miss the Everton game 🙂
Ah seems someone is watching as the time n date has been corrected 😀 Nice 1 Rico
Thanks Wath hope you haven’t touched a bottle yet 🙂 off to class catch up laterz
Eeeek. I made plans for Saturday… Must. Unplan. And quick. 🙁
Agag 🙂 unplan thats my lifestyle Rico the guardian angle 🙂 🙂
Fuuudge… Fudge. Fudge. 😡
Catch you later, Erick.
rico, you’re quick 🙂 🙂
I love fudge AGAG… r u a little perturbered about something maybe..?
I love everything fudge… But not when I fudge things. Haha. Attempts at unmaking plans for Saturday did not go over well. Pfft. 🙁 🙁
Vella will Leave.
Any news on whether RVP played and injured or not?
AGAG, “must try harder” says report….! Any attempts by anyone to arrange anything when we playing the swampies means they going to be told where to go…. I don’t do weddings birthdays or dinners on a NLD day.
SD, RVP played the 2nd half and came through unscathed as far as we know, he did however trip up the coffee table when he got home and has pulled a hamstring…!
WATH i believe you , the remote control can give him pull on any of his tendons or muscles or hamstrings or knee cap or ankles.
Can you imagine the damage he’d do if he fell over the coffee table..? 😉 I still think he needs to be on the bench Sat, Chamakh will cause them problems especially with work rate and attitude then RVP comes on to score a couple in the last 20mins to rub salt into an embarrassing defeat..! 😀
Wath 🙂 🙂 Cheers Agag X
RVP might even get injured answering AW’s call on his iPhone! 🙁
Bubble wrap him I’ll say….
😆 WATH. I’ll come up with something. Now, if only I knew what. 😉 It’s pretty hard to wangle your way out of something which you sortamaybeprobably planned.
SD, Robin’s fine. He’ll score at least one against the swampies. He’s made that a trademark. 🙂 🙂 We were only unlucky the last time, Gomes had an amazing night.
Shame, Robin’s just so injury-prone, TB. He’s as good a striker as any team would wish to have when fit and firing.
Erick, off to class again?
Boo 🙂
Take Bale and Van der Faart outta the equation and they’re done! They’ll probably try to win as many set peices as possible in order to test FaPinkski, I only hope our defence will be on form and the rest will take care of it’s self!
How is everybody this afternoon?
SD, thanks for the reminder 😉
Who wants to write a pre spuds post for Saturday then, get the fire in our tums 🙂
Daddy’s home…
Stevie me me me is out for a month with hamstring injury, poor old dippers 😉
Howdy KT, did you read that Ballotelli or what ever his name is wants to leave City and go play with Ibra in Italy 🙂
I’d write the pre-spuds write up but we’d get HH banned so sorry lol 😀
Last night the England players looked like they were playing in a cornfield.the only teammate they could see was the scarecrow upfront.Crapello said jack the lad will have to adapt to the ‘English system’ which meant him hoofing the ball immediately he got it.im glad that didn’t happen as jack would’ve been traumatized with balls flying over his head.When Steve Bruce was asked about Henderson he said that he was as strong as an ox and could run all day but no mention of technical ability used to describe the iniestas of this world at the same age.this mentality is killing English Football.
WATH, I don’t mind, it would be worth it, thank you, the email address is in the contact HH page, thats so kind of you 🙂
I saw that rico.i also think something is wrong with A.johnson who despite his talent isn’t a starter for neither club nor country.Mancini criticized him since he was developing an attitude problem.last night he showed selfishness on many occasions.if he doesn’t improve his attitude he’ll be another wasted talent.
Boo, rico. Where have you been?
Was interesting to hear one of the pap reporters this morning, he was talking about wengers comments but said…
France had a dire WC, a player revolt, a player sent home. knocked out in the group stage then had to face the french government on their return!!
England had pretty much as bad a WC but no player sent home….
France changed the manger, dropped a few rotters from the side and now look different.
The FA stick with Capello, he throws a very mixed bag into the side and things are still the same…. if not worse…
Hi agag, dogs needed a walk and they were so happy racing around just didn’t want to come back 😉
Jack is facing late fitness tests along with AA and rosicky who should be fine.RVP10 was sharp according to a club rep at the game and came back unscathed.Al will be fully fit next week.-Aw.
Hi, KT. Balotelli seems to be such a headache. What a high-maintenance player… And he hasn’t even earned his stripes yet…
Ladies did you hear what ibra said about Guardiola?he said he dresses up like Mahatma Gandhi thinking he invented football.it was incredibly rude of him to say that and credit to pep for not retaliating.ibra seems to forget he is on loan and that if Milan fail to buy him he’ll be in trouble.Mino Riola who is his agent even had the nerve to say pep and zubizaretta (sporting director) should go to a mental hospital and play chess together…classless lot.
That’s funny KT 😆
Boo, rico. Sounds fun. 🙂 I like walking two of our dogs, one is just so aggressive, I leave other people to do it.
KT, hahaha. Guardiola was the only one who refrained from saying incendiary things about Cesc over the summer. What’s up with Cesc saying on twitter that he will change his name on Saturday?
agag, why is she/he so aggresive??
Talking of which, we have been watching a television programme with Victoria Stilwell, she’s a dog behaviourist and the results she gets is incredible…
What a player nasri is.had he been English he’d be compared to messi right now.im glad that the media are letting him slide under the radar…
It’s Figo, rico. 🙂 I don’t know. He’s “attacked” at least four people in the last year when he slipped through the gates. I am a little surprised we have not been sued. When he’s inside the house, he’s docile as a lamb; in fact the cats bully him. 😀
England cannot afford to drop any of he first teamers,
the young ones dont have what it takes.
France were almost playing with the ball ,Nasri and Malouda gave them hell and there was no response.
they were scare to go forward oops correction, they cant go forward;2 passes and a back pass to the keeper who kicks the ball high hoping it will get to carol.
carol had zero control, barry was rubbish, Milner had no clue Walcott was rendered useless, Gerard must have thought; what am i doing here?
Imagine Lescot and Malouda earning the same salary,
Milner earns more than Nasri-Imagine.
they are over rated and over pampered and the press is going to kill English football until they cant qualify for competitions anymore.
Best you get those gates sorted out then agag 😉
As long as he’s ok indoprs, thats all that matters in my book 🙂
England cannot afford to drop any of the first teamers,
the young ones dont have what it takes.
France were almost playing with the ball ,Nasri and Malouda gave them hell and there was no response.
they were scared to go forward oops correction, they cant go forward;2 passes and a back pass to the keeper who kicks the ball high hoping it will get to carol.
Carol had zero control, Barry was rubbish, Milner had no clue Walcott was rendered useless, Gerard must have thought; what am i doing here?
Imagine Lescot and Malouda earning the same salary,
Milner earns more than Nasri-Imagine.
they are over rated and over pampered and the press is going to kill English football until they cant qualify for competitions anymore.
KT, Sami has just gone from strength to strength since his op, he’s our best player right now, certainly better than Cesc….
I was so impressed with nasri.he has also gained some pace which he is using to good effect.SD i have always wondered how barry ended up being a footballer…
That’s because he’s lost his big bum KT, he’s leaner and fitter….
SD, I don’t know whay Walcott bothers with his country to be fair, every pass sent his way was when he was marked by players – then, when he asked for the ball ahead of him it went just there, way ahead of him….
Nasri is the best midfielder in the EPL at the moment.if he helps us win trophies a ballon d’Or nomination/win will be along the way and maybe the Zidane comparisons will be justified.
Nasri , is becoming scarier, Song is turning to a monster, Walcott has his highest goals tally this time in the last 4 seasons, Cesc is magical as ever, Wilshere is our special weapon Fabianski is flying and Arshavin is becoming the AA we knew.
THEN RVP IS BACK,
🙂 🙂 🙂 CHELSEA SHOULD WATCH OUT
BYE
Goodbye, SD. Things really are looking up for us. Fingers crossed, the players remain injury-free.
I agree. Nasri has been amazing. My player of the season so far. Followed closely by Cesc, of course. 🙂
I have never seen V. Sitwell, rico. There was a dog whisperer on Oprah before; but I cannot make myself watch more than 10 mins. of Oprah; just not my cup of tea, those psycho babble and feelings-y talk shows. 🙂
Night SD, you have a good un 😉
My barça mates actually prefer them to sign nasri rather than cesc…
Try BBCi on the computer agag, she’s really good 🙂
I’m not surprised KT, he’s on the up and his recovery from injury is much faster than Cesc’s, he really is something else and glad we got him over Ben Arfa…
Nasri can be really great rico.if he borrows some cesc vision he’d be phenomenal…
KT, i think he will be better than Cesc in the long run, i really do….
Night, kids. 🙂 Off to dream dreams that involve mashing the spuds.
Glad to hear you’ve completely warmed uo to Cesc, KT. 🙂 And rico, If Nasri had Cesc’s vision and Cesc Nasri’s agility and daring… we’d be hard to beat.
Nighty night agag, dream of Bale stubbing his toe and being out for the game 😉
H
ello!!!!
Hi STV, how’s you??
Right fine folk, I’m off for the day as i’m here alone 😉
be good and stay safe
🙂
New post up….