Picture courtesy of theFA.com
I’m sick of the argument that Arsenal have a team of foreigners and no English players whatsoever. Well, it’s true that Justin Hoyte and Theo Walcott are the only Englishmen in the first team, but look a little further down the line and you’ll see a whole host of English talent. The likes of Jay Simpson, Mark Randall and Kieran Gibbs are out on loan and then look at our current list of first-year scholars. With the exception of Gilles Sunu and James Shea (he’s Irish), then the rest are all English, and many have represented their country at Youth level. The likes of Henri Lansbury, Rhys Murphy and Kyle Bartley are some of the most talked about youngsters around, whilst those such as Jay Thomas, Tom Cruise, Sanchez Watt, Craig Eastmond and Anton Blackwood aren’t far behind. Some people say that our Academy is mainly foreign, but it’s clear that they have got their facts wrong. Even if these players don’t make it here, they will do well elsewhere. Look at the likes of David Bentley, who’s in the full England squad, and Fabrice Muamba who’s in the England u-21s. It could be argued that we buy many of these English players from other clubs, but that is only true for a few players such as Walcott, Freeman, Bartley and Blackwood. The likes of Lansbury and Murphy have been at the club for years and are likely to go on to reach the first team one day.
To back up my point, Sanchez Watt played an hour today as England won the Algarve tournament thanks to a 0-0 draw with Portugal, Kyle Bartley didn’t feature. Meanwhile Kieran Gibbs is likely to feature for the England u-19s tonight, although Henri Lansbury may miss out because of injury.
So, remember, the next time a rival fan brings up the old argument of Arsenal not having enough English players, then tell them to look at our Academy and he might change his mind.
Posted by Kent paul on February 5, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Yes we have alot of English youth players but i think it only counts if you can get them in your first team, and if and when that happens then we will be able to boast about it IMO
Posted by amadu on February 5, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Arsene Wenger does not have any hatred for english players but the problem is that due to english training most of the enlish players do not have the technical ability to play the football that Arsenal requires. They will be perfect in teams like Bolton, West Ham, Blackburn and co. but for teams like arsenal, barcelona, ajax, lyon and more they do not have the technical ability. the few that do have the ability are ridicoulously prced and bought by teams who do not proiritise effective financial management (lampard, carrick, rooney, ferdinand etc.
Posted by Iron Duke on February 5, 2008 at 5:54 pm
You obviously don’t know a man named Malden Blue.
Posted by TopGunPires on February 5, 2008 at 6:07 pm
I disagree, everytime I see a former Gunner playing well or scoring I feel proud, whether they are English or not. The other week I think we had Larsson, Stokes, Bentley and Paddy Cregg scoring for the teams on the same Saturday and I thought that was great.
No other club in England has produced so many players through their academy that are now playing top flight football and that is something to be proud of.
Posted by C Wade on February 5, 2008 at 7:24 pm
What you mean to say is that out 950 or so players in the English premiership over half are foreign.
Some English premiership.
Name another country who would allow this.
And what chance do young home grown lads of any race have if 10’s of 1000 of them are wanting to get in to top flight football with only halve the places available.
The English premiership even brings in school kids from abroad so again even less chances. Then you ask why we are crap at international football.
The answer is, the same old list of players years on past their best and no one to replace them. It has been engineered like this, that is blatantly obvious.
But it wont matter soon internationally as the English team will replaced the British team.
So there you are.
Posted by Fares on February 5, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Almunia ihas a British passport…. I guess he is an English now. So we have 3 in the first squad.
Almunia, Theo and Hyote.
Posted by Goofle on February 5, 2008 at 8:44 pm
You should not have done this post. It makes no difference at all wheather we have English players.
They are the worst players we have anyway.
Posted by roland on February 5, 2008 at 8:47 pm
The talk is now even getting boring, are the opponents saying absence of English players in arsenal squad responsibles for England not really doing up to expectaion? England team at themoment can come out of two good 2 teams, th result is now left to t managers and people in charge. i see all these speculations as envy****
Posted by jazbo on February 5, 2008 at 9:55 pm
I agree with Topgunpires, every time I watch another team with an ex Arsenal player it makes me proud as a gooner to know that my club has been responsable for so many players having a future in the leagues.
It does not matter were they call home all that matters is the at they were educated by THE ARSENAL !
Posted by eduardo on February 6, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Youth team goalie James Shea is English not Irish, he was born and reared in London (Islington I think) he has Irish roots but he is English.
Posted by TB look me up on February 7, 2008 at 5:03 pm
i dont think that Arsene Wenger hates english players the in all fairness are to expensive and frankly not all that good and they prov it in internationals.