Youth 'Killing' youth? Or is Wenger?

Over the last few days we have heard that Wenger has secured the signings of Carl Jenkinson, Jon Toral and Hector Bellerin. Jenkinson is 19 years old and the other two are still just 16 years old.

Arsene Wenger always talks about how signing ‘big named players’ will kill his youth/reserve players chances of a career with us but surely the more youth he buys, the more youth he ‘kills’ along the way doesn’t he?

Here is a list of our British youngsters and our overseas youngsters with their ‘job role’ described as it is on our clubs website…….

British Reserves, Youth and Scholar’s

Conor Henderson – 19 years old – A technically astute, ball-playing midfielder

Nicholas Yennaris – 18 year old talented footballer who is comfortable in central defence, right back or in midfield.

Chuks Aneke –  17 year old intelligent ball-playing midfielder

Thomas Cruise – 20 year old left back or central defender

Jamie Edge – 17 year old Powerful midfielder

Roarie Deacon – 19 year old left winger/striker

Daniel Boateng – 18 year old – can play anywhere in the defence

LukeFreeman 18 year old striker

Emmanuel Frimpong 19 year old central midfielder – Ghana or England.

Rhys Murphy – 20 year old striker

Gavin Hoyte – 20 year old right/centre back

George Brislen-Hall – 20 year old left footed defender

Jernade Meade – 18 year old highly talented left-sided player

Ben Glasgow – 16 year old right back

James Campbell – 17 year old defender

Samir Bihmoutine – 17 year old left back or left midfield

Jordan Wynter – 17 year old who can play across all positions in defence and midfield.

Steven Smith – 16 year old defender, left or central

Nigel Neita – 17 year old powerful striker

Jeffrey Monakana 17 year old pacey midfielder

Alban Bunjaku – 17 year old attacking midfielder

Zak Ansah – 17 year old striker

Philip Roberts 17 year old Irish centre forward

Callum Webb 17 year old Irish holding midfielder

Josh Rees –  17 year old box to box midfielder

Craig Eastmond – 20 year old holding midfielder

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas – 20 year old midfielder/striker

Henri Lansbury – 20 year old box to box midfielder

Mark Randall – 21 year old midfielder

Benik Afobe – 18 year old striker

Sanchez Watt – 20 year old striker

Kyle Bartley – 20 year old central defender

Oversea’s Reserves, Youth and Scholars.

Ignasi Miquel – 18 year old Spanish Centre Half

Ryo Miyaichi – 18 year old Japanese winger

Gilles Sunu – 20 year old French striker

Samuel Galindo – 19 year old Bolivian midfielder

Francis Coquelin – 20 year old French holding midfielder

Pedro Botelho – 21 year old Brazilian left back/left midfielder.

Wellington – 18 year old Brazilian striker

Elton Monteiro –  17 year old Swiss ball-playing centre-back

Oguzhan Ozyakup – 18 year old Dutch technical and astute central midfielder

Sead Hajrovic – 17 year old Swiss right back/centre back/midfielder

Kyle Ebecilio – 17 year old Dutch central midfielder

Martin Angha – 17 year old highly talented Swiss defender (Just signed pro contract)

When you look at numbers alone, the British players totally out number the overseas don’t they.

Also, look at how many over the age of 19 years old we have on our books that you and I know will probably never make it in the first team at Arsenal.

We all talk about selling players in the first team quad who never fail to disappoint all too often, surely it’s time to cull the reserves and youth in the same way?

Talent should determine whether they are good enough or not, BUT, if we keep buying overseas players, it will  destroy any chance of their English counter parts from getting a fair chance to prove they really have what it takes and surely it will destroy the chances of others in a similar age/standard group.

I’m not suggesting Wenger is against buying/playing the English players, but it does seem more difficult for them to make a break through, until this last season with Wilshere and Gibbs. Look how long it took Walcott to finally get more than 10 minutes in a game!

So who’s career will be ‘killed’ by Carl Jenkinson, Jon Toral and Hector Bellerin? The above list suggests it could be a few.

Then look at some of our players who have been on loan, surely one or two are ready to get their chance next season.

Would you rather see on the bench?

Denilson or Lansbury?

JET or Bendtner?

Bartley or Miquel?

I know my three answers, what is yours??

Arsene Wenger buys youth but he doesn’t play them does he? Then he buys more youth for the positions we already have young players earmarked to perform well in? What is the point?

Jack Wilshere is the first real young player to get his chance in the first team and he was 18 years old. Wenger sticks with his favourite players as if he is prepared to wait and wait, in hope they will come good one day.  Reality is, they won’t so why not just cast them aside and play another youth/reserve player?

Jack showed age doesn’t matter didn’t he? He’s  just won 41% of fans votes for Arsenal Player of the Season, maybe it’s time that other younger players actually got the chance to show they are ready too?

No more Arsene, No more.....

Some of our so-called kids are ready to fledge their ‘Wenger Nest’ – they need to be let go and show what they can do on the pitch for Arsenal! I’m not talking about the 16 & 17 year olds, I’m talking about the older ones who have come through and looking at out reserve/youth squad, we have quite a few. I’m not talking about throwing them into the starting eleven away to Stoke either!

If they are deemed not good enough, why do we keep them?

I think Wenger stifle’s youth instead of letting them progress so why does he bother in the first place?

After all, doesn’t he believe in ‘Project Youth’ ?

186 thoughts on “Youth 'Killing' youth? Or is Wenger?

  1. BigL says:

    Not sure mate, I would rather see some new world class players with experience out there over a couple of players cutting their teeth in the team.

  2. Erick says:

    Morning Rico, the post is spot on enough of the kids get experienced players and get rid of some

  3. potter says:

    Wenger reminds me of the Ronnie Barker character in the ” Fork Handles ” sketch. He picks up for stock everything he sees but never throws anything away because it may come in handy one day.
    Only 11 can play at any one time and with the 25 squad rule , effectively we are overstocked and need to reduce our overheads ,surprising that a so called financial genius can’t see this.This is usually the first accountants move when they take over a company that needs to up it’s results.

  4. rico says:

    Morning BL and Erick..

    BL, the post kind of goes away from the experience we need, its more about too many youth purchases killinkg the youth we already have.

    Right now we need 3/4 experienced players for the youth to learn fron and ship out the rubbish we have to suffer…

  5. hal says:

    Ok on the other two, but JET or Bendtner?

    Bendtner every time, and over Chamakh too.

    Bendy might not be RVP, but please do not cofuse him with total crap like Denilson Squillachi, Almunia and,worst of all Carlos bloody Vela,

  6. Erick says:

    Arsenal bid 8 mil for Samba, according to Daily fail and Alvarez talks are on going with Velez

  7. rico says:

    🙂 potter…

    I hope we sign Samba Erick, don’t know much about this Argie player other than he’s a big un 😉

  8. rico says:

    Hi hal,

    Nikki B is one who divides fans, i’m not a fan and would rather see JET have a chance, but, in all honesty I would rather a proper striker come in, a player who can guarantee us 25 goals a season..

  9. rico says:

    Erick, ditto re Vela, suggestion is he’s staying now?

    I don’t watch Madrid Erick 😉

    Hi Lee, he’s always here rubbishing anything anti Wenger, It must be love 😉

    I like the 10:06

  10. agirlagunner says:

    Boo! Good morning, all. Very interesting, read. Wow, rico, we are swarming in tots. 😉

    Hello, KT, Lee, Erick!!

  11. frankie frankie says:

    The problem i yhave always had is where do you put these players once they mature? These guys are trying to make it into a 1st team with the youngest overall age. For example is wenger going to choose any of the strikers in the list above over some like van persies is in only 26? and what is happening is the young players are just gonna say i can’t stay here because i9 cant see my way into the first team like Fran Merida. Yes there are a couple who have made it through and you do need a very good youth set up to find the best players but oe or two from that list is not great. and it is not like we are making millions from the players who go so is a youth squad that big really that neccessary? i don’t know. i would like to see which of these players make it through because i have seen quite a few of them and thought they should be part of the first team by now. but they have been either snt out on lone or have still not made it past the reserves. hopefully they will come through.

  12. rico says:

    Thats not good to hear about JET, maybe he thought it a bit below him having played in our first team – Cardiff wasn’t it?

  13. Erick says:

    Rico the guys who got the biggest praise was Afobe that guy runs his socks of and has loads of assists

  14. rico says:

    Hi frankie, exactly, thats because we have too many at the same age – had wenger bought experience every now and again, the natural process would take place.

    All we have now is dozens of youth/reserves ‘killing’ eachother and a a big gap between them and the first team…

  15. agirlagunner says:

    There are just to many kiddos and the schedule for succession is not a viable one. 🙁 I wonder why we persist with it.

    I am well, Erick? And you, Mr. Newsman, how go things? 🙂

  16. agirlagunner says:

    KT, what exactly did Bellerin say? Don’t worry about it, our second and third string players will sort him out. Crunching tackles, flying elbows, etc. at practice. 😉

  17. JonJon says:

    killing kids is one of wengers oldest spin doctrates

    hes also an excuse creator..
    he spends no money and the little he does spend is on 16 year olds..then at the end of the season when he wins fuck all he turns round and blames it on the amount of money we spend and our average age..it keeps his job safe..any big signings would demand a trophy..if wenger went and got cahill, parker, hazard and benzema we would be expected to win something and after spending 70mil and still failing it would be his job…
    he creates his own safety net…

    i dont get how we can kill kids..any player can kill a kid
    weve got afobe who plays in the same league as chamberlain and has scored more goals and more assissts yet we’ll probably go after chamberlain..what for??? why?? why spend 10mil on a kid when weve already got a better one?? isnt that just kiling afobe??

    and all the phil jones gossip…why are we after him when weve got kyle bartley…?? wont signing jones just kill bartley???

    bottom line is…STOP WASTING MONEY and buy some proper players..if he signs jones and chamberlain he spunks 20mil up the wall adding competition to afobe and bartley when what he should be doing is adding competition to the first team…

  18. rico says:

    hi jj, thats exactly what i’m syaing, why buy youngsters who are possibly be no better than the young ones we have, buying experience won’t kill youth, they will help the youth to progress…

    youth cannot learn from youth can they… just why wenger sees it any other way is beyond me…

  19. Erick says:

    JJ am always worried about Nasri but he should just come out and say what he wants we all know its more money, what happened to loyalty eh

  20. rico says:

    the weather is not much better here agag but i bet it’s warner where you are 😉

    I think Nasri will sign…

  21. K-TR7 says:

    Rico not yet but he said he would like to return to barca one day which means he is using us as a door mat.Ballerina out!

  22. Steve Palmer says:

    Morning all,
    Great post ricolicious, didn’t realise we had so many in reserve, these guys are of the age to know if they have a future or not, I personally like the idea of blending youth with experience, we appear to have plenty of youth now we just need the experience. Wenger get your finger out and secure some!!!!!!

  23. rico says:

    he’s just trying to soften the blow for the barca people Kt, young and niave…

    why do we need him though, that’s the question….

  24. agirlagunner says:

    Well-said JJ. Bright and chirpy, I see. 😀

    I think Nasri will renew, too; he wasn’t exactly sensational in the second half of the season, so his bargaining powers have been compromised, surely. It seems just a money issue. He looks happy enough with us.

  25. Davi says:

    “Look how long it took Walcott to finally get more than 10 minutes in a game”
    This is absurd. Theo played pretty often for 3 years, never played well twice in row, but still got a reported 60k pw contract, and was always first backup at right wing. He was starting games pretty regularly in that time – I don’t know how you can complain he didn’t get enough time on the field.. Had vela been given the chances he has had, he would have come good (as theo has only really done this season) a lot earlier. Fran merida, an incredibly talented young player, left because of a lack of chances – all the while theo didn’t even have to play well to get into the team.
    What’s more theo has only really turned the corner now because of the disappointment of being left out of the england wc squad. Wenger has given him every chance, but not challenged him to improve. Capello showed theo that he would have to improve and work harder if he wanted a place in HIS squad, and it’s done him the world of good. Wenger was so desperate to get this young english kid into his team, he was unwilling to do the right thing and leave him out when he played badly.

    I’m sick and tired of this crap that wenger prefers foreign players; the reality is completely the opposite.
    Also, remember coquelin was the highly rated young defensive midfielder for the reserves last season, but completely out of the blue, wenger started giving chances to eastmond instead. Craig initially did pretty well, but has gone backwards a bit since, while coquelin has done really well on loan in france. Remember how wenger seemed intent on giving mark randall opportunities as well.

    And if you really think JET is a better option up front or even on the wing than bendtner, you are just wrong. Have you seen how he has done for cardiff? I’m not saying bendtner is perfect, but he is an experienced international forward who scores a decent number of goals, and his passing and movement does help us create chances. I’m not to fussed if he stays or goes this summer, but he is a much better player than JET currently. So much better it’s actually laughable to compare the two.

    Also, what is the real benefit of giving english players preferential treatment? Is it the loyalty they show? I mean, ashley cole, pennant and bentley kinda shoot down that theory. Sol campbell was hardly loyal to the club that gave him his debut.

    Next season the players who imo should get a chance in the 1st team are Lansbury, Bartley and Coquelin, but this is nothing to do with their nationality, it’s because they’ve earned it with their attitudes and their performances on the pitch. I happen to think the 1st two WILL get their chance, but coquelin will probably be left out in favour of frimpong, who is considered english.
    Then there’s traore and botelho who could challenge gibbs for the LB spot, but I don’t give them much hope, purely because of gibbs’ nationality.

  26. agirlagunner says:

    Erick, you keep at it. Then establish a media empire. And buy everyone here season tickets. Ha ha.

  27. K-TR7 says:

    I don’t care about how much technical ability a kid has.mental strength is the most important aspect as without it no matter how much talent a boy has he’ll not make it.we have so many players in this category.the mancs on the other hand have few exceptional technical players and many average ones but they all have one thing in common:mental strength.i bet you if diaby was to do a terry on one of them you’d see red bricks in their heads.when we beat them they went on to beat Schalke and chavs the following week progressing to the CL final and winning the league in the process.if we were in their position we would’ve bottled both.

  28. JonJon says:

    nasris gone
    for 2 reasons
    1…why didnt he sign last season when the 17 other players got renewels
    2..why didnt he sign before all the players went on holiday..hes not even at the club hes off on his jollies so whens he supposed to sign?? its ok the club saying sign or be sold but hes not even there to sign..

    manutd will get him..real and barca have too many players like him and italys a shit league..

    utd need midfeiders…he’ll go there..

  29. JonJon says:

    its not a money issue
    its a trophy issue..
    he didnt want to tie himself down for years like cesc and get stuck..
    he kept his options open and we havent won anything so hes not stuck…he can do what he wants..

  30. rico says:

    Davi,

    we have have to agree to differ, wenger favours buying from abroad and he admits he does this due to the prices of english players, we lack a bit of british heart, arsenal heart and we won’t find that in foreign youth who will one day want to go home…

    re the Theo comment, i’ll have to check how many times he played, i don’t know off the top of my head.

  31. potter says:

    From the stories coming from Cardiff it does seem that JET has not really put his heart into it. Contrast that with Lansbury at Norwich , speaks volumes for him that Lambert would sign him on in a heartbeat.

  32. JonJon says:

    its nothing to do with the price of english players
    wengers talking shit
    theres plenty of good english players available ofr the right price but wenger wont touch them..

    parker bent young just three that are good in this league and havent cost a bomb yet where was wenger

    not interested…

  33. Andy Moore says:

    An excellent post. Good teams always have a mixture of youth and experience – we seem to have a blend youth, talent and mediocrity. I’m sure if we got rid of the latter an addition of three experienced and two from the reserves would radically improve the first team squad.

    We really need to be more hard-nosed about the youth squad though, it’s far too large. Quality not quantity Arsene!!

  34. rico says:

    potter,

    i worry we will lose Lansbury, one of our best young English players who has come through – he is to us now what Parlour used to be, I’ll be gutted if Wenger doesn’t convince him that he will get his chance now….

  35. The Law says:

    Wenger has always maintained that he’ll play anyone who’s good enough, regardless of nationality. He handed Cashley the LB spot when he was what? 21? He put a 16 year old Cesc in the team and he dislodged older players, didn’t he? This year, it was Jack’s turn to come in and push others aside.

    From all accounts, especially from JS over at YoungGuns, JET is an enormous talent with a lousy attitude, Lansbury was sent to Norwich to get first team experience and I expect to see him in the team next season. Bartley will probably get his chance as well, as will Frimpong and Coquelin.

    JET over Bendtner? Pass the weed dude. You’re hogging all the action!

  36. Erick says:

    JJ, I think Nasri wants more money and I blame the agent. It has no footballing reason, Aw said he will get experience so what else does he want to hear

  37. JonJon says:

    if we lose lansbury now yet we got to sit and watch denilson diaby and nikki get 150 games wenger needs to go cos this club is in a good position but thyat man is stuck in a rut and not pushing us on and making the most disasterous mistakes..

  38. rico says:

    Thanks Erick 🙂

    jj, i know its bull, but wenger uses it as an excuse, he favours the cheap cheap option – but all he is doing is wasting money.. Kos and Squlli together would have been enough to secure Cahill last summer… What would we rather??

  39. agirlagunner says:

    You really think so JJ? 🙁 I am hopeful that even these times of player power and bloated egos and inflated contracts, there is still some loyalty, so I do not really worry about Sami. That said, if he wants to go, then he could and should. I am tired of watching players who show so little commitment and are whiling down days with an eye to a move away (looking at you, Cesc).

    No one player can carry a team, but Cesc hasn’t exactly had a stellar season; and as for Sami, he faded away in the second half. Contrast that with Robin, who seems always up for a match and has spared us some embarrassment, at least; Jack too.

    At the end of the day, no matter how good a player is, we don’t want one who doesn’t want us. No one is bigger than the club. Even if he is cute. 😆

  40. Gooner4life&beyond says:

    Thank you, the hypocrisy and bullshit of Arsene Wenger. Just stick to what you’re good at and manage the team, nothing else and we’ll do better.

  41. rico says:

    The Law, out the two, yes i would prefer JET, you wouldn’t – it’s ok to differ and keep your weed thanks 😉

  42. JonJon says:

    wenger says the same things every year erick

    nasris not falling for it..
    its not the money..nasri wants assurances we can win a trophy and we will see some good players..

    its the same reason we lost henry, flamini, hleb..

    they didnt want to stay in a team that top 4 was the aim..they wanted trophys..so they left..

    this is wengers doing not nasris…

  43. agirlagunner says:

    rico, lol. I think you just found someone to help you manage your garden, “dude.” Haha.

  44. rico says:

    Hi Andy, thanks re the post

    Agree, youth is fine, we need it, but we need the right balance, we are well and truly top heavy with ‘kids’ – we need an influx of experience

  45. JonJon says:

    its the same reason cesc wants out..
    the barca dna thing is crap its about barca winning things arsenal not and barca want cesc..
    he wants trophies..he wont get them at arsenal this way..he knows it and hes said it but hes stuck with a 100 year deal

    nasris not..

  46. rico says:

    G4L

    He doesn’t always do that too well with his tactics does he but then you cant do a lot with his current squad – can’t make diamonds out of a few old stones….

  47. rico says:

    jj, i’m hoping those you mention will be gone, that will then give Lansbury the assurance he needs to stay….

  48. Erick says:

    JJ their is no difference between the Rooney situation and Nasri’s they say its abt winning but its all wonga

  49. Davi says:

    @rico – fair enough mate.
    I agree he prefers to *buy* from abroad, but I thought the point of the article was that it’s harder for english youth/reserve players to break through than foreign. Did you mean more that it’s harder for english players to break through because of foreign signings (I apologize if so)? It’s harder for any of them to break through in that case.

    “british heart, arsenal heart and we won’t find that in foreign youth who will one day want to go home”
    Well, as I mentioned, cole screwed us over, bentley joined our biggest rivals and insulted us, and pennant (well I guess he isn’t so bad) left and now says he’s glad he did it. I can’t think of a single english youth player under wenger who could have made it at arsenal, who didn’t. Sidwell is perhaps the closest. Upson could never have been more than a backup CB.

    Some foreign players have also screwed us, but a lot of the time I think they want to leave or go home because of the lack of opportunities here – Merida, for example.
    I agree that we need more “heart”, we need players who will fight to the end, but this character isn’t exclusive to the english. It’s this mentality that I see in both lansbury and coquelin, which is why I hope they both get their shot next season. When it comes to this subject, I always go back to flamini. He destroyed countless midfields almost single-handedly. He had more “heart” than any midfielder he came up against by a long way and so I have to reject the idea that this mentality is somehow purely english.

  50. Will says:

    Brilliant post and something I have been saying for ages.

    Buying a Thierry Henry will not kill teh youth, it will inspire and raise their ability as they know what they have to match or better to get in the team.

    Buying 20 prospects kill the youth as they only have to match each other.

    Time to stop the experiment, get in the best we can and set the bench mark for the young players to attain.

  51. rico says:

    Good to see you come back Davi, so many bloggers leave a critical comment and leave –

    it’s kind of a bit of both.

    The English kids dont get their chance because of the likes of denilson, eboue, diaby etc, but the main point of the article is youth is kiiling another youth player but wenger always says that buying experience does that.

    my view is buy experience gives the youth/reserve players more chnace of learning their game.

    Like you say, so many foriegn signings end up doing the dirty on us anyway….

    I hope Coq gets his chance but i am not sure he will, same with Bartley, surely he is better than Squilli but Wenger will no doubt stick with the latter…

    We have a 2/3 good old fasioned English players in our reserve/youth – when are they going to get their chance….

  52. rico says:

    One other thing Davi, We mucked up over Cole and Bentley wasn’t given his chance imho and as for Pennant, his off field antics earned his departure ….

  53. agirlagunner says:

    Davi, rico’s a lady. 🙂 🙂

    Point well taken re: Cashley, Bentley and Pennant. But I have reservations about Flamini. He had one fantastic season with us. One. And his was a mad money move. Left us in limbo and I’m glad he has not had as great a career as he though he would post-AFC.

  54. rico says:

    agag,

    you know my thoughts on the one season and a half wonder – he and hleb did us over that summer and look at how well their careers have gone since…

    you reap what you sow in my book 😉

  55. Davi says:

    “Good to see you come back Davi, so many bloggers leave a critical comment and leave”
    The way you responded first was great. I made too many assumptions and didn’t read the article properly, and so my first post was emotional as Erick says, but you made it a conversation.

    “my view is buy experience gives the youth/reserve players more chnace of learning their game.”
    Couldn’t agree more. It is certainly one of the failings of wenger’s youth plan. I think the real problem has come about because he would have a starting 11 of good, experienced players, but this would include players like rosicky and van persie who would spend half the season injured, and so there was more pressure on the young backup players than was intended.

    “We mucked up over Cole and Bentley wasn’t given his chance imho”
    I think bentley has shown since that he was never that great a player anyway, but imo he was given a good few chances, and just needed to be a bit more patient. He forced the move out. Perhaps it is the same thing as merida. The thing is, the way he reacted after leaving leaves a really bad taste, and leads you to question how loyal this guy could ever have been.
    I don’t knw what you mean about cole. He became disillusioned with wenger’s use of young players, perhaps understandably, and forced a move to one of our biggest rivals. Then he wrote terrible things about the club in a book, for no reason at all. He is not the sort of person I’d want associated with the club. Even if he was as good as ronaldo or messi, I wouldn’t want him. I don’t know what we mean that we “mucked up”.

  56. Will says:

    Regards Bentley. His ego was his downfall. Like Nik B, he thinks he is better than he actually is.

    Rumours abounded that he thought he should of started before Pires and Bergkamp.

  57. rico says:

    Davi – we try to be polite here on HH 😉

    The story goes that we promised Cole a pay rise but went back on it and refused to pay what he’d been promised – the chavs soon came in a increased his wage so off he went…

    I honestly didn’t think Bentley had a proper chance to prove himself, he was a bit up himself though and just because he had the initials DB, he thought he was as good as him….

  58. agirlagunner says:

    rico, we have always held the same opinion on Flamini. 😉 JJ was always his great defender. 🙂 Just as you are Theo’s. I would say the same about myself on Clichy, except that even I struggle to defend him. Ha ha.

  59. Davi says:

    I didn’t know that about cole. We don’t tend to handle contract negotiations too well though. Still, he’s a contemptible character and I’m glad he’s gone.

  60. Erick says:

    Will lol Nikky says he is the new Pele. Davi, Emotional lol but we all want the same thing and has JJ Pointed out we are on a disastrous trend with many kids

  61. rico says:

    agag 😆 re Clichy..

    Davi, he is horrid, but he would make such a difference to us still, Clichy has gone downhill sadly….

  62. rico says:

    Will, I think you are right about their ego’s, neither had/have just cause to think they are the worlds best….

  63. rico says:

    Erick,

    i don’t blame wenger, flamini told him he would stay, then he sold diarra believing flamini, then we had neither…. i only wish we had kept diarra….

  64. agirlagunner says:

    Erick, Flamini lied through the skin of his teeth. He pledged to stay then went to Milan anyway… where his bum was left to gather splinters. Poetic justice, imho.

  65. Gooner4life&beyond says:

    Flamini lied, he’s done it before. It happens.

    Cole was a prick, it’s called negotiations, just tell the club you want what you were offered, dunh! It’s no big deal, especially when you used to sing ‘Guuner for life’. He is just a scummy wank stain, belongs with the chavski’s.

    Bentley, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Glad he went, what a loser.

  66. rico says:

    I didn’t think he was either but he was better than Denilson….. 😉

    Mind you, my dog has more football skills now than Denilson 😉

  67. rico says:

    Shareholders given notice for closure of deal

    Arsenal Football Club has announced that it has received the Premier League’s confirmation that Stan Kroenke has completed its change of control processes to its satisfaction. In addition, Mr Kroenke has given a formal 14 days notice for the closure of his unconditional offer to shareholders as part of the process for his takeover of the Club. A copy of that announcement is available here

    Mr Kroenke, owner of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment and The Kroenke Group, a successful and well-respected real estate development company, currently holds 66.06% of Arsenal shares. This follows the sale of shares from the estate of late Arsenal director Danny Fiszman and former director Lady Nina Bracewell Smith to the American who has been on the Arsenal board for three years.

    Arsenal Chairman Peter Hill Wood said: “The Club is very pleased to announce that the Premier League Board has confirmed that the change of control processes under the rules of the Premier League have been concluded to its satisfaction in relation to Stan Kroenke’s control of the Club.

”KSE’s offer for Arsenal Holdings PLC is wholly unconditional and we now look forward to a new and exciting phase in the life of the Club. The plan is to maintain the PLUS listing provided there are a sufficient number of shareholders for that to be permitted.”

    Mr Kroenke owns the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League, the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association, the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League and the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer.

    “As the controlling shareholder of Arsenal Football Club, it will always be our intention to do what’s necessary to assure success on the pitch, provide long-term stability and build on the accomplishments and history of the Club,” said Mr Kroenke.

    “We recognise that overseeing the operations of the Club is not only a privilege but a responsibility that will require attention and dedication as the Club strives to reach all of our goals on and off the pitch.

    “We will continue to grow the Club’s presence globally while also adhering to the Club’s self-sustaining economic model. The Club has funds to invest and will do so wisely. Our constant aim will be to compete for silverware and championships.

    “The long-term health of the Club is of utmost importance and the Board, chief executive, manager and the wider team will be working hard to achieve success for the Club and our fans, and to play our part in our communities in North London and beyond. 

“Arsenal is not about one shareholder, one player or one fan. It’s a special institution and we look forward to celebrating that further during the 125th anniversary year of the Club.”

  68. Gooner4life&beyond says:

    Rico, I’m not surprised to hear that, though I have no idea what he’s been up to. Same as the Giggs, Terrys, Coles et al I suppose.

    If I was famous, the last thing I’d do is have sex with some silly tart. They know that’s who they attract, so just keep it zipped or find a nice model/professional who has her own career already.

  69. Gooner4life&beyond says:

    Lol. Will, that is optimism mate. We need more than that to be winners, and not just in terms of players.

    Arsenal need a bit of an overhaul at various levels, we keep ending up in the same positions each year as we are stagnant. Stagnant things start to rot and spoil.

    Time for a slight shake-up.

  70. rico says:

    Hi SUGA, thanks – was just reading Geoff’s for the day, he wants the kids gone too then – and the dross… 😉

  71. Dexter says:

    The youth set up are doing what every other team do in world football. Snapping up promising kids and hoping they come good. They are all gambles, as is having any home grown kids. Not all of them come thru and most are sold on. At Arsenal the ones that dont make it, at least will hav a decent footballing education and go onto have good careers.

  72. rico says:

    I hope it’s false Erick, he seems to be a cracking player, Rangers will soon snap him up…

    G4L, he’s just horrid, they are divorced now though, she din’t hang around….

  73. Will says:

    On a different note, from the Arsenal website:

    Arsenal Football Club has announced that it has received the Premier League’s confirmation that Stan Kroenke has completed its change of control processes to its satisfaction.

    In addition, Mr Kroenke has given a formal 14 days notice for the closure of his unconditional offer to shareholders as part of the process for his takeover of the Club. A copy of that announcement is available here

    Mr Kroenke, owner of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment and The Kroenke Group, a successful and well-respected real estate development company, currently holds 66.06% of Arsenal shares. This follows the sale of shares from the estate of late Arsenal director Danny Fiszman and former director Lady Nina Bracewell Smith to the American who has been on the Arsenal board for three years.

    Arsenal Chairman Peter Hill Wood said: “The Club is very pleased to announce that the Premier League Board has confirmed that the change of control processes under the rules of the Premier League have been concluded to its satisfaction in relation to Stan Kroenke’s control of the Club.

    “KSE’s offer for Arsenal Holdings PLC is wholly unconditional and we now look forward to a new and exciting phase in the life of the Club. The plan is to maintain the PLUS listing provided there are a sufficient number of shareholders for that to be permitted.”

    Mr Kroenke owns the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League, the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association, the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League and the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer.

    “As the controlling shareholder of Arsenal Football Club, it will always be our intention to do what’s necessary to assure success on the pitch, provide long-term stability and build on the accomplishments and history of the Club,” said Mr Kroenke.

    “We recognise that overseeing the operations of the Club is not only a privilege but a responsibility that will require attention and dedication as the Club strives to reach all of our goals on and off the pitch.

    “We will continue to grow the Club’s presence globally while also adhering to the Club’s self-sustaining economic model. The Club has funds to invest and will do so wisely. Our constant aim will be to compete for silverware and championships.

    “The long-term health of the Club is of utmost importance and the Board, chief executive, manager and the wider team will be working hard to achieve success for the Club and our fans, and to play our part in our communities in North London and beyond.

    “Arsenal is not about one shareholder, one player or one fan. It’s a special institution and we look forward to celebrating that further during the 125th anniversary year of the Club.”

  74. Gooner4life&beyond says:

    @ Dexter, exactly. So why is he scared of ‘killing’ players? He’s such a toss-pot sometimes.

  75. rico says:

    Hi Dexter – we hold on to some of ours too long though, mind you we hold on to crap players too long too….

    Wenger needs to be more ruthless….

  76. Will says:

    To be honest Erick, I am not sure but I just don’t feel Samba is the answer but I have been wrong many times before.

  77. musty says:

    1st time poster,but had to share the news that samba is signed and sealed,my mate plays for bburn,he told me last night..

  78. rico says:

    So have I Will, maybe it’s just desperation on my part, knowing we need a big lump with PL experience, would be interesting to see what Balckburn have done against the top sides and the likes of Stoke, how many goals have they conceded etc?

  79. rico says:

    B’burn kept eight clean sheets all season, bettered only by seven other sides… us being one of them….

  80. SUGA3 says:

    rico,

    and I agree with the opinion that a clear-out is needed: what is the point of having a squad as big as ours if we only play 15 of them anyway because the rest is not good enough?

  81. Dexter says:

    HI Rico

    You say Wenger needs to be more rulthless and in then you say we must keep bartley! How does that work then? I hope Bartley comes good at AFC, not heard anything about him bein surplus, in fact the only thing I did read was him Kyle saying he was gonna leave if we bought a new defender!

  82. rico says:

    I’m not sure on that one Will, is that just because he’s taller? But Fulham kept more clean sheets than us last season, you could be right but after his comments he can stay away 😉

  83. Dexter says:

    I think last season was the nail in the coffin for a fair few of our 1st team squad. Reducing those numbers is far more of an issue than shipping out the kids for me.

  84. rico says:

    SUGA, I agree too – but thats is exactly what today seems about – after fifteen players, what do we have??

    The dross and a load of kids who are far too young to play right now….

  85. Dexter says:

    Will

    Samba reckons he “almost” signed for us in jan. Thats probably why he is being linked now. I would take him.

  86. rico says:

    Dexter – my comment on Bartley is down to his loan spell at Rangers, a tough hard league where he has shone…

  87. Dexter says:

    Is Jon Jon still about? He seems to have an alter ego compared to the one that posts on another site! 😀

  88. Dexter says:

    He did well up there. And thats all good. Rangers want him back on loan, so they obviously like him and the Rangers dude said he was held in high regard at AFC, sio they had no chance of signing him permantently. Looks like chinese whispers strikes again!

  89. Dexter says:

    Gooner4Life&Beyond

    Are you a priest? 😉

    I think the “killing kids” thing is a bit of a red herring. used as an excuse mainly. probably when for whatever reason, the club fails to sign a player and have no option but to stick a young player in. Not ideal and it does grate.

  90. rico says:

    Ha ha Dexter, jj is still around here and aclf, i think here he knows there are a few ladies present 😉

    I reckon we may have done a deal back in jan but they didn’t want to let him go as things were a bit up and down at BB…

  91. musty says:

    hi rico,he has no reason to lie,being a spud fan,he even said he was envious because he wanted him at shite hart ln…

  92. rico says:

    Dexter,

    ‘killing youth’ may be a red herring but all AW is doing is making himself sound daft if it is – the man is as itelligent as you can get but why he comes out with such things i never know…

    He hardly buys the players to make us truly believe it’s a red herring, he’s bought great players before, now is the time for him to go back to those days….

  93. Dexter says:

    Gotta say I have heard its a done deal. But its one of those “my mate’s hairdresser cuts Samba’s hair and he told me that Samba said he was definitely going to Arsnal” kind of stories!

  94. rico says:

    Will, looks like we both posted the same re Stan… 🙂

    Thanks Erick … I’ll read it now, not that it will make me happy…

    musty, i’m a bit of a cynic, never believe these stories until the off website announce them, no offence to you though… thanks for letting us know…

  95. rico says:

    Erick, that story comes from The Daily Express, i don’t think they have evr got much right to do with football news

  96. Gooner4life&beyond says:

    Dexter, a priest? I don’t get it?

    You may well be right, but he seems to say too many things which are meant to subvert certain arguments. Just say you don’t want to focus on big name players at the moment.

    Bartley did well at Sheffield and Rangers, if nothing else it sets a very dangerous precedence for others that go on loan and are English, especially if Lansbury goes too. Go on loan and do well, but we’ll sell you anyway. It’ll also lessen the importance of Wilshere coming through.

  97. Joaquim moreira says:

    Good morning all !
    Kids… have a look to this:
    FC Porto confirms hiring of Kelvin and Iturbe. Teens from 17 years to cast a bright future. Five years for each.
    After Djalma, behold the dragon confirm Iturbe and Kelvin. FC Porto took yesterday the hiring of these two pearls of subtle way, wrapping the information in the Annual Report of the third quarter of 200/11 at the end of the morning sent to the CMVM. It is, however, essential. The dragon has acquired 60 percent of the pass from Juan Iturbe and for Kelvin Oliver arrived a little later, the club is to hold 90 percent of the sporting rights of the player.
    The values ​​of the transaction were not disclosed but the combined investment must not exceed three million. Both come to the dragon for the new season, though Iturbe be prepared for a very short first spell at FC Porto, will likely present themselves and soon after joining the Argentine selection of sub-20, with a guaranteed place in the world that place in Colombia between July 29 and August 20.
    Iturbe and Kelvin are the two most gifted players in South America of today and everything points to the sense of being cast for a bright future. Some people assume that Iturbe has similar characteristics to Di Maria but vows to do more daring collage Messi

    There are national championships U-18 and U-16 between clubs (not sure if there are U-20), but there are championships in reserves. I am not concerned that they can be borrowed between 18 and 20 years or who can join the team, provided it has no more than 22/23 players. Some, when necessary, to train with the team, being part of the reservations team or be called in if necessary, what is the problem? Being British long ago that is not the norm. For several reasons.

  98. rico says:

    G4L, spot on, most youth players join us for their chance to play, loaning and selling would put them right off……

  99. Joaquim moreira says:

    news:
    The British newspaper The Guardian this Saturday news that Arsenal want to hire Gervinho (Lille) for the frontal attack, but for that to happen the Russian Arshavin will have to leave the London club.
    The advanced Ivory Coast is a desire to Wenger, who also wants the departure of Arshavin due to poor performance this season.
    In England too, Tottenham, Liverpool and Everton are interested in hiring the advanced.

  100. rico says:

    Hi JM, but at least orto have mature players too…

    Bale is a plank G4L, Arry will be gone soon and they will climb back down where they deserve to be….

  101. Joaquim moreira says:

    Arsene Wenger, Arsenal coach, does not preclude recovery back to Patrick Vieira, but this time to become part of the coaching staff of the London club.
    Roberto Mancini, the coach of Manchester City, also wants the French midfielder is part of his coaching staff once he retires, but Wenger hopes to convince as both were together for nine years.

  102. rico says:

    JM, I’d rather keown joined the coaching staff than Paddy, the club needs a real arseanal man on board….

  103. Dexter says:

    G4Life&beyond

    Just you seem to think there’s an afterlife, thats why I thought you might be a priest mate. Nevermind, I’ll get me coat!

  104. Dexter says:

    Sorry G4L, dont buy any of that.

    Firstly no one has said Bartley is off, second Lansbury’s situation, if there even is one, is more about his contect running out than him bein g considered good enough.

    Lansbury needs to sign an extension and bartley needs to keep working at his game. Lok at Gibbs. he looked amazing last season (or before?) now he has gone backwards, perhaps he needs a loan move too?

  105. rico says:

    which match agag – The Torquay playoff today 😉

    I wondered who would mention it first…. 😆

  106. rico says:

    Dexter –

    its a tough one, i used to hope that Jay Simpson would get his chance, a real poacher with an eye for goal. The way we create so many chances i honestly think he would have scored planty but wenger didnt and nor did many fans…..

  107. rico says:

    Also, we can only blog about speculation and thats because the season is over and there’s not real news 😉 😉

  108. agirlagunner says:

    That little match-slash-diving-contest. That one where both teams deserve to lose. 😀 Yes, that match.

    Lansbury should sign, he’s shown us his hunger having done so well at Norwich.

  109. rico says:

    I want both to lose agag, i detest both but if i had to choose, it wouldn’t be an english team… 😉

    I will be heart broken if Lansbury leaves 😉

  110. agirlagunner says:

    But I don’t know whose mugs I hate more… Rooney & Evra v. Xavi & Busquets is a tough ask… 😀

  111. agirlagunner says:

    That’s the short and sweet of it, Will. 😀 I hope they kick each other to bits. And have players on both sides sent off.

  112. rico says:

    In a nutshell Will but the ref is going to win it for the Mancs, you seen who it is??

    agag, Rambo and Henri for me, Jack is a very close second 😉

  113. rico says:

    Tonight’s referee, he booked Vela for diving after he had been hacked down – Barca should be worried…

    Off for dinner, back shortly…

  114. rico says:

    I’m done for the day folks, have a good evening and make sure you wave the Barca flags high and proud….

    Catch you folk tomorrow, have a good one…. 🙂

    Nighty

  115. Osi says:

    Arsenal is the only team who beat Barca in big competitions. ManU were kidding themselves thinking winning this against the cream of the crop.

    Barca were outstanding without running and lot of of efforts as they used to do. Just pure quality and class. Messi was quiete but effecient and intelligent.

  116. Anthony Timothy says:

    This is overbuying of kids. No wonder he has lost the plot and he will continue to play second fidd to the red faced.
    Go for quality man.

  117. George Thomas says:

    So the dream of the red faced c**t to equal Liverpool euro triumphs is on hold. It aint as easy as he thinks of dominating in Europe.
    For one thing the cl refs have a different interpretation of tackles and fouls. In the first half,Mu should at least three players booked .The rfc can get away in the epl because refs are on his way thru many ways which you know I know.
    As for Wenger challenging in the cl,he has to reignite the gunners fight for the title before he can dream of cl triumph.

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