Arsenal trio have 12 months to prove their worth

Whilst four youngsters signed professional contracts on Tuesday, three further Arsenal youngsters face an un-certain 12 months as they look to impress the coaching staff in order to convince them to prolong their stay at the club.

Just three of the players who signed scholarships last summer remain on those terms. The rest have all progressed or moved on, but for Roarie Deacon, Sam Byles and Rhema Obed, the next 12 months could prove to be integral to their long-term careers.

Of the three, Deacon seems most likely to stay. Having scored seven goals for the u-18s last season, as well as being involved in virtually every match, he has proved that he can cut it at that level.

However, he will need to be tested substantially in the Reserves before a concrete decision is made on his future. A sprightly, attacking player; he is not the strongest physically and can sometimes be accused of being too greedy in front of goal.

Right-back Obed had a generally solid first campaign in the u-18s, taking over as the regular no.2 following Craig Eastmond’s promotion to the Reserves. He can get forward well, and is strong in the tackle, but can often be found lacking in defensive situations and his positioning isn’t the best. A former England schoolboy international, Rhema will need to be more consistent this campaign.

As for Byles, he successfully underwent the transition from right-back to central-midfield last season and, on the whole, impressed. Tenacious and with an eye for a pass, he fits well into Arsenal’s style of play, although with the likes of Emmanuel Frimpong and Francis Coquelin around it is unlikely that he will have a long-term future in that position.

Time is ticking for this talented trio. But which ones, if any, will be signing professional contracts next summer?

Reflections on Rasmussen + Under-18s start in Sheffield

It is unlikely that, in around 10 years time, anybody will care to remember the tall, leggy, imposing winger who once turned up at London Colney and failed to make an impression during his two years at the club.

I am, of course, talking about Jonas Rasmussen, the Dane, who recently had his professional contract at the club terminated less than 12 months after he signed it.

To be honest, I still cannot understand why he turned professional in the first place. In his first couple of appearances for the under-16s  he looked as if he had something about him, but he couldn’t cut it at a higher level.

The u-18s was too much for him, initially at least, he was too often on the periphery of games and his fitness was a constant concern. A couple of assists here and there gave the impression that there was talent, but nobody could find the key to unlock it.

That began to change this season, with Rasmussen finally getting on the scoresheet, against Chelsea of all teams, with a fine finish. He followed it up with a strike against Aston Villa but flittered in and out of the side before eventually complaining of homesickness.

Maybe, with time, he could have developed into something special and, one thing’s for certain, he has a lot more to give. Sadly, it won’t be at Arsenal.

In other news, Steve Bould’s under-18s side will begin the defence of their Premier Academy League crown away to Sheffield United on August 22nd.

That is followed by a home game against Leeds and subsequent trips to Birmingham and Leicester.

February looks a particularly tough month, with three consecutive London derbies against Chelsea, Fulham and Crystal Palace.

The season concludes at home to North London rivals Spurs, with Bould’s boys looking to match last season’s double winning success.

Talented duo sign new contracts, but they must wait for first-team chance

Two of Arsenal’s brightest starlets have put pen to paper on extended deals in recent days, with Jack Wilshere following Aaron Ramsey in signing a new long-term contract at the club.

 Both made an impression during their first season with the first-team squad, but, in reality, they are still some way from becoming regulars.

 Upon signing his contract, Ramsey, rather unsuprisingly, stated that he hopes to be involved in more first-team games next season, especially in the Premier League where he made only one start last campaign.

 When you have somebody like Cesc Fabregas at the club, it is going to take something special to dislodge them, and Ramsey is not there yet. However, an injury to Fabregas, god forbid, could open the door for somebody like Ramsey to come on leaps and bounds just like Kieran Gibbs did in the absence of Gael Clichy.

In Champions League games, Wenger sometimes adopts a 4-2-3-1 formation which would be detrimental to Ramsey’s chances as he is not entirely comfortable as a holding midfielder and the Gunners already have an abundance of attacking options.

There has been talk of the Welsh international going out on loan next season and that could be a good idea. Wenger will keep him here for pre-season and, in all likelihood, he won’t be going anywhere, but a loan spell could see him getting regular games in a pressure environment, whereas at Arsenal he is considered above the Reserves but is not quite a sensible option as a regular in the first-team just yet.

As for Wilshere, there was once a school of thought that he was ‘too good’ to go on loan. Maybe this is true, but, if he were to spend the season in the Championship, or even at a lower Premier League club, would it do him any harm? Perhaps in a footballing team like West Brom he would thrive and also learn how to deal with the physical rigours of the division. At Arsenal, he will definitely not be considered a regular next season; although he would expect to play more first-team games.

What next season holds for these young starlets remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure, they both have very, very bright futures ahead of them.

Nordtveit has tooth knocked out in thriller + Gilbert to be sold?

Arsenal loanee Havard Nordtveit played the full 90 minutes last night as Lillestrom beat Start 3-2 in a pulsating Tippeligaen encounter.

 Lillestrom had a two-goal lead before the hour mark, with Bjorn Helge Riise adding to Arild Sundgot’s 27th minute penalty.

 Start pulled a goal back through Stokkelien, but Magnus Mykleburst restored the hosts advantage. Start did halve the deficit once more, with Hulsker finding the net, but were reduced to ten men in the dying embers following the dismissal of Borgersen for a second-bookable offence.

In a physical contest, Havard had his tooth knocked out following an elbow from Huskler, but recovered to play a full part in the remainder of the game.

Havard impressed at centre-back and, as previously mentioned, there is a good chance that his loan deal will be extended when it expires on August 1st.

 

In other news, it has emerged that right-back Kerrea Gilbert could be sold this summer.

 Gilbert has spent the majority of the last three seasons away from the club, on loan at Cardiff, Southend and, most recently, Leicester, who he helped to guide back up to the Championship although his season was curtailed due to a dislocated shoulder.

 Gilbert has nine first team appearances for Arsenal to his name, all of which came in the final season at Highbury, and currently finds himself behind both Bacary Sagna and Gavin Hoyte in Arsene Wenger’s thinking, whilst Emmanuel Eboue can also play at right-back.

A catalogue of attitude problems, one of which resulted in a court case, have seen Gilbert’s stock tumble dramatically in recent years and it is now unlikely that he will continue his development at Arsenal.

Debate- Was Bischoff Wenger’s worst ever signing?

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is famed for his success in the transfer market- most notably his transformation of Thierry Henry from a left-winger to the best striker in the world circa 2004. However, he does get it wrong occasionally and, following the news that Amaury Bischoff has been released, the debate will re-surface as to just who is Wenger’s worst ever signing.

But why does Bischoff come in for such harsh treatment? Perhaps because he made just four first-team appearances, all as a substitute, maybe because he was perenially injured before he came to the club or even due to the instance in February where he elected to train with Portugal U21s rather than be involved in the Gunners FA Cup Fourth Round replay with Cardiff.

There were some highlights, his splendid goal against Fulham for the Reserves springs to mind, but, almost a year on, I still don’t see the point of signing Bischoff. Sure he has some ability, there’s no doubt about that, but is he better than what we already have? No, certainly not.

So, in light of this today’s debate centres around who you think was Wenger’s worst ever signing. Who can forget that pre-Double winning summer of 2001 when Junichi Inamoto, Richard Wright and Francis Jeffers turned up at London Colney.

What about Pascal Cygan, Igors Stepanovs, or maybe there’s somebody else you wish to add.

Leave your thoughts on this topic in the comments section below.

Arsenal confirm Bischoff departure as four turn pro

Arsenal have announced a mass overhaul of their reserve and academy system, by releasing eight youngsters and offering professional contracts to a further four.

Much of this news is unsuprising for regular Reserve and Youth followers, with the departure of Amaury Bischoff after just one season at the club the headline news from this announcement.

The departures of James Dunne, Rene Steer, Rui Fonte, Abu Ogogo, Vincent van den Berg and Anton Blackwood have also been confirmed, with the latter poised to cross the North London divide to join Spurs.

The other announcement reveals that four youngsters have turned professional. As Jeorge Bird’s Arsenal Youth revealed exclusively in April, defenders Craig Eastmond and Luke Ayling have both signed their first professional contracts.

Goalkeeper James Shea has also put pen to paper on a new deal, despite only initially being offered an extension to his scholarship, whilst Cameroon-born left-back Cedric Evina completes the quartet.

Walcott frozen out as England falter in Malmö

Arsenal pair Theo Walcott and Kieran Gibbs were unable to prevent England U21s from suffering a humiliating 4-0 defeat at the hands of their fierce rivals Germany in the Final of the UEFA u-21 European Championships this evening.

Despite a bright start from the Three Lions, Germany soon took control and went ahead through Gonzalo Castro, before stand-in ‘keeper Scott Loach fumbled Mesut Ozil’s free-kick into his own net. A brace from Sandro Wagner rubbed salt into the wounds of Stuart Pearce’s beleagured outfit.

England started the better of the two sides, with Walcott pressed into action early on following a neat flowing move. Walcott, ploughing a lone furrow up front, was to become increasingly isolated as the game progressed and hit his shot narrowly wide. It was to be his first and final contribution to an occasion which he will want to forget in a hurry, although it wasn’t entirely his fault as the service which he was provided with was so poor.

Germany opened the scoring on 23 minutes when Castro latched onto Ozil’s through ball to comfortably lift the ball over the advancing Loach.

It was 2-0 moments after the break when Ozil’s free-kick was inadvertently punched into his own net by the hapless Watford stopper Loach. England never really recovered from this point onwards and Germany prevailed to win at a canter.

England had a brief spell of sustained pressure, with Lee Cattermole grazing the crossbar, Adam Johnson coming close and then Cattermole having a header cleared away.

But it was Germany who were in the ascendancy and there was nothing England could do to stop them.

Sandro Wagner, just moments after missing an absolute sitter, went on to make it three after being teed up by the effervescent Ozil, before Wagner doubled his tally with the fourth six minutes later.

Ogogo follows Rodgers out of exit door by signing for Dagenham & Redbridge

Right-back Abu Ogogo has joined Dagenham & Redbridge following his release by Arsenal.

Ogogo, who had a spell on loan at Barnet last season, was not offered improved terms by the Gunners following the expiry of his contract and this subsequently alerted various clubs to his availability.

Dagenham & Redbridge stepped in and Abu joined up with his new team-mates for pre-season training this morning. Ogogo was an un-used substitute in the Carling Cup victory over Sheffield United at Emirates Stadium in September 2008.

This news comes just hours after it was revealed that fellow defender Paul Rodgers has joined Northampton on trial following the expiry of his contract.

Amaury Bischoff, Rene Steer and James Dunne are all expected to be released when their contracts expire at midnight tomorrow.

Rodgers attempts to re-build career at Northampton with Arsenal departure looming

Official confirmation of Paul Rodgers’ departure from Arsenal is expected within the next 48 hours, and the defender has acted swiftly in an attempt to prepare for life after London Colney.

Rodgers, who has a solitary appearance for the first-team to his name, is one of several youngsters who are expected to be released by the club when their contracts officially expire tomorrow; with Amaury Bischoff, Rene Steer, Abu Ogogo and James Dunne the others.

Rodgers spent the majority of the second half of last season on loan at Northampton Town and he has rejoined the Cobblers for pre-season training with the aim of earning a professional contract there. Northampton manager Stuart Gray is on the lookout for a new right-back following the departure of former Gunner Jason Crowe, and said
‘I think Paul came on in leaps and bounds in his time with us last season and I am pleased he is coming back to train with us.’

Gray also went on to outline the qualities he feels Rodgers brings to the side,  ‘We need pace in the side and Paul brings that and we will have a look at him again over the next few weeks. I thought he helped set our tempo in the games against Orient and Scunthorpe when he was one of our better players.

‘He went through the pain barrier for us in those games and he gave us energy and verve. He was injured in those games and we want to have a look at him over the next few weeks.’

Rodgers signed scholarship terms with Arsenal in the summer of 2006 before turning professional a year later.

Walcott set for lone striker role as England aim for first trophy since 1984

The last time England won a major international trophy was 1984. Twenty-five years ago, and the enduring pain since then has been gut-wrenchingly painful for everybody connected with the country since then.

That success was at u-21 level and, bar a triumph at the poorly-publicised u-18 level nine years later, The Three Lions have failed to pick up any further accolades.

That could all be about to change, however, as tomorrow England u-21s take on their Germany counterparts in Malmo looking to set the record straight and prove that they do have what it takes to win a major tournament.

England’s passage to this stage has been far from smooth. The opening group game against Finland was never comfortable, although that was quickly forgotten about during the demolition of Spain. A draw with the Germans ensued before Friday’s epic semi-final win over the hosts which left many scratching their heads and wondering whether England justifiably deserved to be there.

But the fact of the matter is that they are there and there will be two Arsenal representatives on show. Theo Walcott has had a real mixed bag of a tournament, but could be deployed in the lone striker role tomorrow due to the suspensions of Gabriel Agbonlahor and Frazier Campbell.

Kieran Gibbs is expected to continue and left-back and a trophy would be a fitting end to a season of remarkable development from the Lambeth-born youngster.

Lewis

Cranie-Richards-Onuoha-Gibbs

Muamba-Rodwell

Milner-Noble-Cattermole

Walcott