Wilshere eligible for professional contract, Hoyte welcomed to Watford

Today is January 1st 2009, which means that Jack Wilshere has turned 17 and is now eligible to sign his first professional contract. 2008 was a breakthrough year for local lad Jack as he forced his way into Arsene Wenger’s plans. Now he is poised to put pen-to-paper on a six year deal which will keep him at the club until at least 2015. There was reported interested from Chelsea and Juventus a few months ago but that will be put on the back burner once the deal is done.

Elsewhere, Reserve team captain Gavin Hoyte has completed his loan switch to Watford which will see him stay at Vicarage Road until the end of the season. It looks set to be an eye-opening experience for him and recently-appointed manager Brendan Rodgers has been talking about his arrival and was full of praise for the England u-19 international

Gavin coming in – he is a boy I have watched over the last couple of years, he’s a wonderful talent and has got a big future at Arsenal.

This is a part of the process, when you are at the big clubs, you have to have a career before your actual career as such.

You’ll have seen it over the course of the years, the likes of Ashley Cole when he was at Arsenal; initially he spent time at Crystal Palace and got his experience there, came back and got into the team. You need that career before your career.

He also spoke about how grateful he was for Arsenal to loan out the player

“This is a great move for us and we’re very privileged,” added Rodgers.

I think it is also a sign of the belief that a club like Arsenal has in what we are doing. It’s one of the first boys that we’ve signed here [from Arsenal].

They know how they develop players, you can see it. They will only let players out to certain clubs and that club has to fit a criterion of which to develop their talent. Thankfully for us they have seen that of us in the early stages. For both it will work out really well.

He went on to discuss the qualities he feels Hoyte will add to the side

“He’s a terrific talent and hopefully there will be one or two more coming in as well.

“There’s many attributes I like, if you’re talking about physical attributes I like players to be mobile, I like them to be fast, but certainly not in every area of the team because you need intelligence in a lot of the areas.

I like technicians, people who are comfortable on the ball. There are many attributes that make up the players, but if we’re going to play the way I want us to play – and we’ve got a hell of a long way to go – then I need people who are going to be comfortable to have the ball.

He’s a boy who’s very, very quick. He’s aggressive and competitively strong for a young guy and he understands tactically his role.

He will have had the comforts of Arsenal but this is a great stage for him to come and progress the next part of his career.

Hoyte could make his debut in the FA Cup 3rd Round tie with Scunthorpe on Saturday and you can follow his progress with the Hornets throughout the campaign right here on Arsenal Youth.

Finally, there were reports in the English Press today that Partizan Belgrade winger Zoran Tosic could be coming to Arsenal after turning down the chance to join Manchester United. Personally I don’t think it will happen be we will have to wait and see.

Last but not least, I would like to take the opportunity to wish all readers a happy 2009 and here’s to success both on and off the pitch.