Three Arsenal youngsters have been included in the latest England under-19 squad for the friendly against Slovakia next month, with 2009 scholars Benik Afobe and Nico Yennaris earning their first call-ups for their country at this level.
Afobe has been promoted following a series of impressive performances at under-17 and, prior to that, under-16 level for the Three Lions. The clinical Leytonstone-born striker is highly regarded within the England setup and caught the eye with his displays during the successful UEFA U-17 European Championship Finals.
Yennaris’ inclusion caps off a pre-season in which, despite suffering from niggling injuries, he has been catapulted into the spotlight after being named on the bench by Arsene Wenger for Arsenal’s Emirates Cup match against Celtic earlier this month. Afobe and Yennaris are joined in the squad by Emmanuel Frimpong, who has seemingly backtracked on his decision to play international football for Ghana. Frimpong has not represented England since he played for the under-17s against Israel in February 2009.
The Slovakia game, which will take place on September 2nd, will provide useful preparation for coach Noel Blake as he readies his side for the upcoming EURO qualifiers.
Another Arsenal youngster, Zak Ansah, has been named in the England under-17 squad for the FA International Tournament which will see the Three Lions take on Turkey, Australia and Portugal. Ansah’s inclusion means he will miss Arsenal’s second Premier Academy League game of the season against Sunderland.
Jeorge Bird's Arsenal Youth 
Excellent news. He’s back to being my boy again. I just happend to check the FA site not expecting the squad to be up yet.
Danny Mills-Pappoe the Chelsea c/b still hasn’t had an England call up yet – I’m assuming he’s not interested.
rubbish
Oh yeah, England’s most naturally gifted player (Morrison)hasn’t been picked again.
And aneke hasnt been called up although they are relatively young for u19 level!
One of the unspoken prejudices that still pervade football is the racial profiling of, specifically black people. This has an effect on the positions that they’re considered capable of performing. Historically there were few positions that blacks were deemed suitable for, but thankfully that has largely changed over the years. However, the creative or attacking midfield role or the second striker, (think Cesc, Xavi or Bergkamp) is still very much considered out of bounds for nearly every talented black player. Even if a black player possesses the ability to perform the role he will either be converted into a holding or box to box midfielder, winger or striker, while the coveted number 10 will be given to someone else.
JET being considered a CD is a typical example of preventing a black player form playing that role. If anyone watched JET in the youth setup, he stood out because he had all of the attributes to play that role. He could both see and execute the final ball as well as scoring decisive goals. So why on earth would Steve Bould be so adamant that JET should play as a defender? If it was to round out his game, why didn’t they ask Jack Wilshere to play as a left back, as JET had to?
The poor management of JET has hampered his progress (I still firmly believe he will be an exceptional player for Arsenal) because he has not been allowed to play in his most natural position consistently, which has prevented him from consolidating a position and spending time learning and developing in that role. Sure, JET will no doubt excel as a number 9, but the decision to play him there seems as if it was based on his physical attributes and not what he is best at.
Racial profiling partially explains why Diaby has struggled to live up to his early potential (the injury goes without saying and I’m not ignoring some obvious issues of mental frailty) but he has also not been afforded the opportunity to play in his preferred position (on the few occasions that he has he has generally performed well) because AW saw him as a defensive midfielder (he’s big and black therefore he’ll be better at defending and not “intellectually” equipped to create)
I predict that Chuks, who is clearly the most talented midfielder in the current youth setup, will be asked to play a more defensive role in the future under AW. Not because he is not able to perform the “Cesc” role with distinction, (just ask Afobe) but because the youth setup will deem his attributes more suited toward a more defensive role, which, as already noted, is in my opinion nothing short of racial profiling!
AW likes his black players to be strong and (or) quick. The white players are allowed to be slow and weak if they are technical. AW has never had a slow and weak technical black player. Ever!
Ask yourself a question, how many black number 10’s have ever played for England or Arsenal?
So in conclusion I think that Chuks will probably have to convert to a DM position to have a future in the game!
I think you see what you want to see. You could argue that as a percentage of our population blacks are over represented on the pitch in all areas whereas Asians are massively under represented. So perhaps football is racist in favour of black people.
Of course we could just grow up and put aside our selfserving sensitivities and paranoia and accept the fact that football is a success driven business and if having an eskimo in goal won you matches then that is what every team would seek to do. Apart from you no one cares about the colour of a players skin it is all about how good they are.
The world has moved on from this tired merry go round catch up.
Ask Kanu if he agrees with you. Your ignorance amazes me.
i don’t see you complaining about there being 3 black left back in arsenals team. do white people not get fairly treated in that position!!!! theres evra and cashley along with assou-ekoto aswell. so shut up and stop playing the race card. wenger never played JET in the DM or CD position last year nor did Ian holoway nor the doncaster manager. i am pretty confident wenger doesn’t see JET as a CD or DM but more as a striker in the no. 10 role
Fifa says 70% of all professional footballers are black or partly black. So where’s the prejudice?
All very well but you forget Kanu was the slowest player to ever play for the club and yet he played the second striker role you could possibly add the beast to that.
Nice bit of playing the race card there mate.
Morrison is an unusually intelligent player – but then again he’s a bit of both.
The Ditch… I see where you’re coming from but dissagree with much of your argument.
I agree that in England BIG & STRONG = CF/CB/DM.. almost inevitably, but I believe it is a case of “needs must”. Why would you develop a small guy for those positions when you know they will get battered by idiots like Kevin Davis, Alan Shearer, etc. SO naturally you look for your big youngsters and prepare them for the appropriate position.
WRT arsene/arsenal, I think you’re wrong. Again it is needs must…For example, Wenger needed leftback cover and looked at his left-footed youngsters. Traore & Gibbs were tried and the latter seems to have solved the problem.
In fact I saw Gibbs play at CM a few times as a youth and whilst he had the touch, he lacked the CRAFT and I am glad Wenger has found a suitable position for him.
“AW likes his black players strong or quick?” So what about Denilson? Eboue isnt lightning quick either?
Look, I’m excited about JET too, and I’ve watched him perform best onthe wings. He’s definitely NOT a playmaker… those are rare talents and once you see them YOU KNOW… DB10, Cesc,Nasri(?), hopefully Wilshire!!! JET may end up as a CF ‘cos he has pace, good finish and we need someone to come through and save us from NB52.
Its nothing to do with colour my friend, more like pragmatism. If Anneke continues to develop then I hope we’re not desperate for a henchman DM when he breaks through, because it we do, then thats where he must play. If not then he may get a chance further forward… if he’s good enough. Believe me I want him to be, so he can come play for the “Super Eagles”.
To conclude, I ask you this question… did AW not use KANU as a no10? Yes he did, becuase the man was gifted. Unfortunately, there are only ever a few of those talents, black or white.
Dont get me wrong, racism exists bigtime (you probably only have to look at the payroll of most clubs) but thats a different topic. Lets not go there today!
Oh yeah. I wont believe Frimpong is back on board until he confirms it.
If he had his heart 100% set on playing for Ghana then he wouldn’t represent England
Instead of providing such a taut response, why not answer the question posed at the end of my comment?
AW likes his black players to be strong and (or) quick. The white players are allowed to be slow and weak if they are technical. AW has never had a slow and weak, technical black player. Ever!
Ask yourself a question, how many black number 10′s have ever played for England or Arsenal?
These are my opinions, but I’m open to being convinced otherwise.
And is it really such an outlandish claim to make, that players are chosen to play specific roles based on their race?
Shut up. England doesn’t have a massive black population. There’s not going to be a world class black player in every position. Africa doesn’t produce them because of the tactics that are popular there. Only France really produces solid black attacking midfielders, but none of them are better than what Arsenal have at the club.
African men are better equipped physically. Why do you think 90% of the world’s best sprinters are black?
William Gallas 🙂
different races have their own genetic traits.
Whats colour got to do with it? and im very shure Wenger doesnt care about colour.
now if you’re talking about physical build or attributes, thats obviously different. but it has NOTHING to do with the colour of their skin.
P.S What do you class Theo or vela as? its not all black and white is it?
John Barnes for 1 was a top no. 10 for England
the ditch-
that some straight no chaser critique; the things is both the players you mention are attacking midfield/no 10 type players who are 6ft plus and mad technical.
Wenger has a dilemmna in deciding how he uses these guys bcos neither are defensive minded players despite their physique. With England both wont get a proper look in until their first team apps kick in above the much hyped media darlings, no names mentiioned
The ditch…well thought out argument. I’m not necessarily in agreement or disagreement with it, but I am old enough to know that until relatively recently (late 80’s/early 90’s) you definitely only saw black players in certain positions.
LSOE….do you know who Ron Atkinson is? Do you remember who Clyde Best was? Do you remember monkey chants in the UK in the 70’s and 80’s, or in Spain a few years ago??
Yours is a pretty asinine response to a very well constructed argument.
Race card …lol !
I remember all that nonsense back then in the 70’s and 80’s but we have moved on and to deny that is weak and dishonest.
There are black players who are big and strong – Heskey, Powerful – Drogba, fast and nimble – Walcott and technical and quick – Henry. What are you actually moaning about? If you were asian you would have more of a reason to grumble but black people would really lose out if some sort of quota system was introduced.
I think you are desperately trying to be a victim.
walcott isn’t black he’s mixed race. you could just as easily say he’s white as black.
Who cares wether there playing for england or whoever, fuck england anyway, there arsenal players and that’s all that matters, england can burn in hell for all i matter
It’s 2010 now sunshine. Time to shut the fug up about the old excuse “the white man done me wrong”. You’ll be complaining there aren’t enought black scientists next (or at least teachers with a couple of half decent A levels to their name).
Who are these brilliantly clever English black players who aren’t allowed to play the no.10 role again? (Sorry but I only skimmed through the bullshit)
Duhhhhh.
At which point did you see me ‘complaining’ about anything..?? Nowhere !
And you say ‘I should shut the fug up’ – ooooh, look at you the internet hardman, sat at your PC waving your fist and acting tough. Lol
There’ll be complaints about that mate – everyone is apparenly equal in everything (So say the PC Brigade anyway).
Black West Africans to be more precise (for speed that is.
African American/Caribbean to be exact! Haha
Of the 200 fastest men at 100 metres – historically since records began – 196 or 98% – have a west African heritage!
so can i say that white men have better brains?
and indians are more flexible?
and south americans can climb trees better?
and cubans can punch harder than anyone?
Im sorry ditch, but youre trying to create a race issue where there isnt one.
Rather than claim institutional racism against black guys playing as playmaker why dont you say which black players have been good enough to play the #10 role?
Maybe not you foreigners – but true Englishmen do.
Some interesting points have been made but I would like to expand on my theory.
I believe that racial profiling occurs for most black players at around 7 or 8 years of age. Essentially as soon as they start playing in an organized set up. So even if a black player is the most technically advanced in their group and displays a talent for creating, most youth managers tend to deploy them as either a centre forward or as a winger. The rationale behind this seems to be that blacks tend to excel both in terms of speed and physicality so they would be better deployed in said positions. I would even go so far as to say that the only reason why so many black players as a group are selected to play professionally is because white people feel that black players add something that they do not have(at least not equal measure).
However, this view is not shared for the position of the number 10. There is a belief, that white players are at the very least capable of equalling what a black player offers, and so they are not required for this position. This would also explain why Asian players are used so little in the EPL. This is because the belief is held that they do not offer a significant advantage in terms of speed, physicality or craft to warrant position.
The situation is similar to that of American football, in that nearly all the quarterbacks are white and many wide receivers and running backs are black. The reason I believe can be explained by the following.
Imagine two kids of equal awareness and technical skills, one is black and one is white. Now imagine if the black kid is perceived to be quicker and strong than the white kid, the coach will be more inclined to use him as the runner and the white kid as the passer. This is what happens in football.
To illustrate how this becomes a self fulfilling prophesy, Malcolm Gladwell a celebrated pop psychologist has put forward the idea that 10,000 hours of study or practice is required to become an expert at any given pursuit. Logically, if this is applied to football then it could be argued that players who spend more time playing in a position stand a better chance of excelling in that role, than others who are played in multiple positions (especially if the positions are drastically different e.g. playmaker and CD). Players like JET and Chuks, who have been required to play various roles during their development are at a disadvantage to others like Jack who would have played almost his entire youth career as a number 10.
your just like paul ince saying that there is a bias towards white managers. Its absolutre crap.
If england are racist aginst black people being the number 10. then they are racist against white and asian people being CB. You have to see what options there is man. Diaby has got a chance to prove it but he was not as good as fabregas.
also the last u19 tournament had black as AM for england. For now there is not so many options to choose from for england. black people are stong and fast thats why they suits as wingers. Look at the 100m world champs… only black people man.
First claim:
“Blacks get typecast at 7 or 8”. Nice unsubstantiated claim. It might be your opinion, but its pointless to hold it since you can never prove it. What you can prove is fast and strong players at a young age are normally put into certain positions, influencing how they develop. It’s why a player like Gyan has almost no technical ability but Xavi does. Gyan never had to make up for physical deficiencies with technical ability. Xavi does. That’s what you’re getting at. But it has nothing to do with race. It has to do with early development.
Don’t even try to bring up American football. Within high schools you’ll find a 50/50 split between black and white quarterbacks. It’s not until you get into college and the pros that whites start to disproportionately outnumber blacks at the position, and again, that comes down to early physical maturation, not race. It’s because of white people’s lack of athleticism that you find more white quarterbacks. Middle linebacker, which takes just as much intelligence as quarterback does, is dominated by black players because it also requires athleticism.
Wilshere has played in that role his whole life because he doesn’t have the size to play CD. If he was 6’3 like Aneke and JET than you’d see the same thing. People aren’t having trouble categorizing them because their black. It’s because their unlike almost every other player in being both physically advanced and technically advanced. That’s why you’ll see them all over, just like you’ll see someone like Lebron James play multiple positions. They’re physical and mental specimens unlike most players, making it impossible to choose their best position on the first try.
Scott – very good post there, lots of food for thought there.
Can you give Tommo and LSOE any advice on how to express themselves better..??
One of the best post I’ve ever read so far. This is exactly what I have been thinking for many many years.
Small players are usually more technical because they have to. While big strong players can force their way through by shielding the ball, small players need to be smarter to go through.
I must say that you construct very well your argument. I could even add to your example. Micheal Essien could be one of the lad. He clearly has superior technical ability if you compare him to Lampard or Joe Cole. Nonetheless, coaches keep using him as a Dm or CM at the most. When he plays for Ghana, he is deployed as a AM. So, it is not a matter of talent or what ever the reason.
However, nowadays, a player doesn’t not need to be place centrally to be considered as properly said a number “10”. If “black” players are not given the typical “10” role during the game, they act as one if they please or if they have the given ability. As such, Touré Yaya, a proven DM, acted as a deep-lying playmaker sometimes which can be as much as beneficial as a “10”. The typical “10” tends to disappear in modern football. The need of such a player is not as much as required as it was in past. The function is distributed and the DM, the winger or the second striker have been attributed his task. So, in my eyes, if JET does not become a “10” as properly said, he will inherit its function in way.
Michael Essien and Obi-Mikel both play roles that are not necessarily attacking or defensive for Ghana and Nigeria respectively. What they have is more like a free role to be every where. This has much to do with the fact that it’s felt that the other players are of a lower quality. The teams are actually built around them. Neither played the world cup anyway – injuries of course!
The ditch is right on some of his points but this doesn’t come down to racial profiling, it’s more to do with fitting players into there natural positions. Black players have more fast twitch muscle fibres than white players hence why they win the 100m and are quicker than the average white man (I’m generalising). So you’ve got to ask what you look for in each position especially when they are young. Normally most coaches like a striker who has pace, same as wingers and fullbacks so black players tend to be played there from an early age in those position because they have the attribute of good pace. White players generally aren’t as quick so have to adapt and work on there technical ability, fitness and reading of the game to combat a lack of pace which suits them to playing as a NO10 or a central midfield player which is what coaches look for in those positions.
This isn’t racial profiling, and in JET’s case you have to ask – Is he better than Wilshire, cesc, nasri, arshavin or rosicky in that position? Because if the answer is no he’s not better than them this explains why he being tried elsewhere!!!!
John Barnes
Has Frimpong really “backtracked” on his decision to play for Ghana? Because he would still be eligible to play for Ghana if he was to go through and play for the England U-19’s.
of the greatest scientists and inventors of all time 99% have been white. (can i say that or is it racist?)
He was just making a point. It isn’t a contest.
Well said Keile
Your wrong tommo. It’s not 99%. Do you know that 95% of all scientists who’ve ever lived have been around in the last decade – BBC’s the source here mate? The west African thing has got to do with an evolutionary adaptation to hunting – or so it’s believed. Evolution has not been proved to give anybody an advantage on intelligence. The fact that most scientists maybe Caucasian – and not 99% – has got to do with culture. The fact that China now produces more engineers than any other country in the world is cultural, not genetics.
Who indeed you would count as the “greatest” emerges from a Eurocentric construction of history.
Black 10s? How about Jay Jay Okocha or Abedi Pele (3x African footballer of the year)?
Your argument about other sports is flawed – Michael Vick, Donovan McNab and Jason Campbell are all respected black quarterbacks. Perhaps less so Michael Vick today, but a couple of years ago he was outstanding
And Tommo I’m East African and so I don’t have that genetical advantage on speed!
And Tommo do take some time to read “THE REAL EVE” by Stephen Oppenheimer, a great English geneticist. Maybe then you wouldn’t have such stupid views!
A Mestizo and a Negro clearly.
Sorry mate but stating facts is not allowed – particularly in the current PC envioronment. They weren’t just white – they were male as well.
They weren’t all White/European some of them were Asian Khazar Turkic Jews.
Thanks for the concern mate, but as the best poster on any of these types of forums
I should point out I don’t need advice from anyone.
But cheers anyway mate.
I don’t necessarily agree that blacks are constantly positioned according to their race, but I must admit that sometimes this does appear to happen. I’ll use two examples. Seydou Keita, when he played at the 1999 World Youth Championships, was far and away the best playmaker on the pitch. Fast-forward 10 years, and he is now playing as a holding midfielder at Barca. What happened in that time? Same with Mikel Obi. When he originally signed for Chelsea, he was considered a playmaker, and indeed he still plays as a playmaker for Nigeria. But at Chelsea, he is played as a defensive mid, despite the fact that he is clearly uncomfortable in that position.
The Ditch,
…hmmm, interesting discussion you’ve started here. You’ve really riled up some folks apparently…HaHaH.
Can’t say I much agree with your point though. The two big problems for me are that 1)yes, JET, has been moved all over the pitch and it has somehow unfairly been labled ‘his own problem’ rather than his coaches’ problem, but for me, the fact still remains that given the choice between Wilshere in the #10 role or JET as the #10, I’d pick Wilshere comfortably. From me, Wilshere is better at the position on merit and should get the job accordingly. The reason for that choice is that Wilshere, for me, is a better #10 and also because I don’t see him playing striker or winger nearly as well as the #10 role, while I do feel JET could fill other positions almost as well. Also, you know I watched Villa dismantle West Ham today and Ashley Young was playing what was essentally a #10 role. I just don’t agree that Black players are restricted from the role. Okocha, Pele were mentioned above (and there’s a brilliant Ghanain youngster from the world cup…can’t remember his name…that I believe will have to be played in that role due to his brilliance).
to THE DADDY, HOLOFOX, LOSE, WONDRINFREE, and others,
I would love to know which of you support the new Affirmative Action rule for British footballers in the Prem. You go on and on about the Ditch playing ‘the race card’ and how the system is fair, i.e. the best players are chosen for the positions on merit, and any accusations of racial bias are based in “self-serving sensitivities”.
Well, for those of you who support the new affirmative action rule, how can you be against accusations of ‘racial’ favoritism and then turn around and support a policy of ‘country’ favoritism. It’s total bullshit.
Anybody who supports the new Affirmative Action rule and thinks the Ditch’s arguement is wrong because they believe in fairness and meritocrisy is being a flat-out hypocrite!
I would expect such hypocrisy from someone who regularly posts overt clownish ignorant racist comments like the Holofox dude, but others of you have seemed more rationsl in your thinking and commentary.
We have affirmative action in the US where I’m from and it’s complete and utter bullshit; causes all kinds of problems for botnh blacks and whites and fucks up virutally everything it touches. The new Affirmative Action policy adopted by the Prem will no doubt be exactly the same fiasco.
If someone is really about fairness and ‘selection on merit’ I don’t see how they can cry ‘fairness foul’ against the Ditch while still supporting this Premier League Affirmative Action bullshit for British players that couldn’t otherwise make it on the field.
For the dudes I listed above who see affirmative action for what it really is and don’t suppor the new Prem policy, please disregard my words…
Affirmative Action is blantant racism.
http://www.youtube.com/user/drdduke#p/search/2/uTxbl-NJ43g
Holofiox,
I’m sure a devout racist like yourself is sufficiently smitten with one of our country’s most ignorant racist, like the intellectual chiimp Duke. But Affirmative Action is bullshit because racist intellectual chimpanzees say so.
It’s bullshit because it’s wrong. That goes for the policy in the US and in the Premiership.
Dr Duke is a great man who fights for civil rights for all,I wonder why you (a Commie) would have a problem with that?
Meant to say, “But Affirmative Action is not bullshit simply because racist intellectual chimpanzees say so.”
Hollowhead,
Duke is a racist monkey from the KKK who got a face-lift to look less repulsive to right thinking people. Despite his new face, rest assured right thinking people, good people, consider his words to be just as ugly as his face used to be. He’s a backwater racist that rose up out of the muddy swamps of Louisiana. Unfortunately, the storm didn’t wash drek like him away.
It’s funny,for all your bullshit moaning about Affirmative Action you criticise the one Congerssman that actually voted against the Affirmative Action bill.Let me guess you hate Dr. Duke because he stands up to Israel,Zionism and Jewish Communism?
David Duke is a racist terrier gnawing at the pant leg of reason. Does a man really ever ‘hate’ a pathetic dog?
Not Jewish, not Israeli, not zionistc or whatever, and I could care less about “communists”. It’s a dead philosophy. Even the fucking Chinese are slowly morphing toward capitalism.
If you ever grew a pair of intellectual balls you might unclinch your fist and give up your desperate hope for security through hate.
Paranoid about Jews, Zionists, and “commies”…HaHaHa…really dude…really…???
How many caves must one dig in before finding the remains of a dinasaur like yourself?
A follower of “David fucking Duke”…come on dude… Have some fucking respect for yourself.
I suppose any ole’ desperate fish will bite if you throw the right bait in the water.
homohoax is in da house again…….hahahhaaaaa what a pathetic idiot this guy is
The ditch u ‘re right in some point but u generalize too much….first of all u need to analyse the way we used to play football in england….i mean the old 4-4-2 style no creative player on the pitch just 2 pacy winger, back in the days it was all a kick and rush, just a few player with quality , creativity on the pitch….hoddle,barnes,gascoigne,mcmanaman,scholes were the only english player with playmaking skill, quality,creativity in the last 20 years……5 in 20 years, so u understand how is rare and difficult to find that kind of player in england, in the premier league everything starting to change in the mid of the nineties with the come of foreigners guys like zola,okocha,bergkamp,kanu put the creativity desperately neeeded in the epl…..bergkamp,kanu and zola were forward so the first and original true n°10 player in the epl was jay jay okocha (a black man…)
with the come of mourinho and the chelsea style 4-3-3 especially the lampard role every team now are adopting this attacking midfielder….cause what u forget when u talk about fat frank is the lad is an attacking midfielder not a playmaker or a creative , is not a number tean more a forward who operate in th midfield …lampard same as gerrard can only play like that cause they got no playmaking ability, and are not so technical gifted….that’s why they always struggle when they play together with england….they are limited players…
michael essien same for many black midfielder mikel,yaya touré,keita is more complete…how? first he got a more qualities and abilities than fat frank , i mean chelsea play with 3 in the middle mikel (holding midfielder) essien(box to box) lampard (attacking midfielder)…..right but ain’t completely true, mikel same for essien is multidimensional player, he can attack and defend cause he got the pace, he is big, strong,intelligent,great technical ability etc…in some words he got it all……coach love this kind of player cause they can put someone like lampard in to increase the technical level of the team….do u follow me?
Technical level is the difference between a great team and a good one……So don’t think than coahc understimate blakc player….believe me they know how they are fundamental to increase the technical level of a team.
Talking about arsenal maybe u never saw ckhuks aneke play…cause he is the n°10 of the under18 (reserve this year) he is the n°10 of england under17….i don’t think AW will change his position…..the problem with JET is his versality, he can play almost everywhere (and he played almost everywhere)cause he got all the ability (technical and physical) required , and his not easy to find the right place for someone like that.