Who is most likely to make it at Arsenal? (Part 2)

Continuing on from yesterday’s article, let’s take a closer look at those players who are the most likely to make it at Arsenal. Yesterday Anthony focussed on Henri Lansbury and Cedric Evina, two exceptional talents. Today it’s time to look at three more top quality youngsters; Nacer Barazite, Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs.

Let’s start with Nacer then. A highly skilful Dutch forward, he signed from NEC Nimijen in the summer of 2006, but his transfer was overlooked, mainly because Fran Merida arrived at the club at the same time. He immediately imposed himself to the Arsenal fans by scoring against arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur on his Reserve debut and had an excellent FA Youth Cup campaign, scoring vital goals against Wycombe Wanderers and Bristol City. Technically gifted and with an eye for goal, Nacer started this season in good form and played every game as well as being top scorer for the Reserves this season. He also made the breakthrough to the first-team this season and featured as a substitute against Sheffield United in the Fourth Round of the Carling Cup. However, in the next round against Blackburn Rovers, after an initial few good touches, he wasn’t on the field long before he suffered a dislocated shoulder that has since ruled him out of the early part of this season’s FA Youth Cup. It’s a shame because he was in scintilating form before then and Arsene Wenger has said a couple of times that he is very close to the first-team. We will have to wait and see how it affects him, because injuries can destroy a player’s career, especially at such a young age. I fully expect Nacer to bounce back and feature in the first-team next season. He has players ahead of him, but I think when he is fully grown he could actually turn out to be better than Nicklas Bendtner.

 Next up is the much-hyped Jack Wilshere. He has burst on to the scene this campaign with his impressive scoring rate for the u-18s, despite usually playing as a winger. Many people rate Jack highly without even seeing him play, such are his statistics. But those of you who have seen him will have noticed that his play is easy on the eye, he likes to cut inside and can play in a variety of positions. He has already been compared to Steven Gerrard which I must say, for a boy of his age is some compliment but it is also absolutely ludicrous. Their styles of play may be similar, but it is nigh on impossible to compare the two and we will have to wait a couple of years at least to see whether he fulfils his potential. A lot of players fail to live up to the hype, but I don’t think that Jack will go the same way as he is level-headed, self-assured and very determined. Unlike some players, he doesn’t have an attitude problem and hopefully we will see him for the Reserves in the near future.

Finally, I am going to look at Kieran Gibbs. Now, not many people had heard of Kieran when he signed as a first-year scholar in the summer of 2006, but after a string of impressive Reserve appearances, coupled with his importance in the run to the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup and his pre-season performance against Inter Milan, his reputation has enhanced impressively. A left-winger by trade, Kieran has featured at left-back for the first-team in the Carling Cup this season and set up Eduardo’s first-goal against Sheffield United. He has also been a regular for the reserves and is expected to join the first-team squad next season, along with Henri Lansbury. He also featured for England at u-19 level and has earned rave reviews from many critics. It remains to be seen how his career will pan out, but if he remains determined and level-headed then he has a fantastic chance of making it here.