Arsenal have completed the signing of defender Renny Smith on a deal which will see him become a full-time scholar at the club from next season.
Smith, who is renowned for his tenacity and committed nature, was not offered a deal by Chelsea, who have already proposed deals for several foreign defenders for next season’s intake. The youngster featured for Arsenal U18s as a trialist in the victory over Newcastle United last weekend after replacing the injured Hector Bellerin, and, despite not turning in the most impressive performance, the 16 year old caught the eye in training to convince the Arsenal coaching staff to offer him a deal.
Smith was also offered scholarship deals by Manchester City, with whom he also spent time on trial, and Liverpool, but has opted to move to North London and will train full-time at London Colney from next season. It is expected that the club will make approaches to sign several further trialists, possibly including some from abroad, in order to swell the number of scholars ahead of the next campaign.
Smith joins Jordan Brown, Tafari Moore, Ryan Huddart, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Gedion Zelalem in securing a scholarship for next season. A firm decision is yet to be made on centre-back Elliott Wright, whilst several members of the U16 squad were released before Christmas, including the highly rated Denzeil Boadu.
Jeorge Bird's Arsenal Youth 
Do you know who else was confirmed released ?
If Boadu was highly rated why did we let him go? Shouldn’t we be trying to keep and develop our best homegrown players instead of bringing in some foreign lad from halfway across the world. Jermaine Anderson and Mahlon Romeo have both broke into the Peterborough and Gillingham 1st team squads since being released by Arsenal last season as 16 year olds so maybe the grass is greener for some or we are just letting go top talent
Wow! Peterborough and Gillingham hey! We need you at London Colney to stop this talent drain…Wonders never cease….
Its a numbers game and the coaches wont get it right they have to make decisions not just on ability but attitude. For all we know Boadu could have been disruptive etc not saying the lad is, just saying its not just ability and they wont get it right all the time.
I’m sure some Chelsea fans are worried if not offering a contract to Renny Smith will come back and bite them in the ass and I hope it does haha
That’s exactly what I was about to say. Ability doesn’t count for much if the youngster in question doesn’t have the right attitude to go with it. It’s about having the whole package, if a player is skillful but lazy, unfocused, full of himself then his progress will come crashing to a halt sooner or later.
Arsenal have a great track record when it comes to making these decisions, who in recent memory have we released and they turned out to be Arsenal first team quality? Yet there’s always a queue of moaners piping up every time someone is let go.
People always moan about players like Upson, who definitely isn’t good enough for Arsenal.
dann might have a point about Boadu though. 16 is very early to make a decision on attitude. A lot of players mature later. Was there any specific reason Jorge?
Anyone know how Bunjaku is doing btw?
I LOVE ARSENAL
Next season arsenal should by quality players that will be helping giroud in front.
Wenger must be credited 4 his talent 4 better selections. If only we could retain all our potential players!
i love arsenal
U are welcome to arsnal
Renny smith is shit, I dealt with him in a recent football match
Dead baller