Decision time dawning on new Deacon deal

The Premier Academy League season has, from Arsenal’s perspective, reached its conclusion and, unless Chelsea somehow fail to ascertain two points from their two remaining fixtures, so has the Reserve League, so thoughts can begin to turn towards next campaign and what the 2011/12 season will hold for Arsenal’s vast selection of young talents.

Before then, however, some important decisions have to be made, not least regarding those players who will be out of contract in less than two months time. Much has been made of Oguzhan Ozyakup’s predicament, with the Dutch midfield player yet to provide any telltale signs as to whether he will sign a new deal, but another player who sees his contract expire at the end of June is Roarie Deacon who, unlike Ozyakup, does not have his future in his own hands as the club have yet to decide whether to extend his stay at London Colney.

For some, it may be a little surprising that the club have not offered him an extension already, with Deacon, who can operate effectively in any one of the three positions behind the main striker in Arsenal’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, having impressed in the recent Dallas Cup on the back of a campaign that saw him find the net four times at Reserve level in sixteen appearances. That may not be the most prolific return, but half of those appearances have come as a substitute and, tellingly, Deacon has also weighed in with several assists at key moments in matches.

Deacon certainly has cause to feel that the club have treated him unfairly since he graduated from Hale End. He was not awarded a professional contract until his the end of his second season as a scholar and even then was only given a one-year deal,  he was an un-used substitute in the Academy League Final at Emirates Stadium last season, and, more recently, found himself on the bench for the final Reserve game of the season due to the presence of Jeremie Aliadiere, a player who is not even contracted to the club.

It is true that he occasionally lacks a little decisiveness in the final third and, in the long run, will probably struggle to make the grade at Arsenal, but for his enthusiasm, evident love of the game, impressive technical ability and his dangerous crosses, he should be offered another season’s stay at least.

Two other players who see their contracts expire this summer are second-year scholars Jernade Meade and George Brislen-Hall. Brislen-Hall’s departure is already certain, with Academy Head Liam Brady having decided after four games of the current season not to offer him professional terms, whilst Meade, who recently returned from injury and has impressed for the Reserves and the under-18s, should receive a one year pro deal.