Arsenal sign goalkeeper James Dunn until end of season
Posted by Jeorge Bird on November 10, 2009
Arsenal have signed Southend United goalkeeper James Dunn on a deal to the end of the season. The stopper, who initially joined the Gunners on a temporary basis to cover for the injured James Shea and Sean McDermott, has impressed under-18s coach Steve Bould in his four Premier Academy League outings to date.
Dunn may have conceded eight goals in his first three games for Arsenal, but his agility and communication with his team-mates, as well as his excellent delivery have won him many admirers at London Colney. With Shea and McDermott both suffering in their respective recuperations, Dunn could be set for a prolonged run in the side as Arsenal look to retain the Premier Academy League title.
As a second-year scholar, the former Fulham goalie is also eligible to play in the FA Youth Cup this season, easing any concerns Bould may have had about that particular competiton. If he continues to impress, Dunn may even push into the Reserve squad whilst Shea and McDermott remain sidelined.
Slightly further down in the system, Arsenal have several promising young goalkeepers at under-16 level, but none of these are considered experienced enough to step up an age group just yet. Luke Chambers, Yilmaz Aksoy and Reice Charles-Cook have shared the duties for Steve Gatting’s side so far this term as well as being named on the bench for the u-18s. Arsenal have another talented goalkeeper out on loan in Damian Martinez, who was signed, and subsequently loaned back to Independiente last summer and who represented Argentina in the FIFA U17 World Cup recently.
eduardo said
so is this guy coming from Southend or Fulham, some reports say he was only on loan from Fulham at Southend
WEM said
How many GK’s do we really need?
First team: Almunia, Fabianski, Monnone
Reserves: Szczesny, Shea
U18: Dunn, McDermott, Martinez
U16: Reece-Cook, Aksoy, Chambers
More worrying is it that none of these have impressed me besides Szczesny, though I have yet to see Martinez or our U16 GK’s in action so far.
eduardo said
Jeorge I’m suprises you have not done an article on Szczsney getting called up to the senior poland squad for thier two up coming friendlies.
KWE said
He was already called up during the last round of friendlies though.
KWE said
oops.. Ignore my last post, just found out that he was only on stand-by at that time. Sorry.
lil z said
the under 16s keepers are very good two are international chambers a welsh and askoy turkey
John Brandon said
I know its not youth related but for me the strangest goalkeeping decision by the professor was not to go after Shay Given – he appears to be the most consistent and capable goalkeeper in the premiership and yet he has never been snapped up by a top 4 team. Theories anybody???
TJ DA GOON said
Cos he’s a liability on crosses mate.
dave93 said
why let charlie mann go if we are just gunna have to srcape and sign keepers who arent as good on short term deals???
Red said
We did not let Charlie go. He was told he would be the number 2 to McDermott an Irish kid who Liam wanted to bring in. Charlie believed he was better than McDermott (which many would agree) and was not prepared to sit on the bench so left for Palace where I believe plays every week for the Under 18’s and has conceded the least goals in the league this year. Good luck to the kid.