Whatever happened to #12… Lokando, Monakana, Spicer, Chilvers, Hojsted

PEGGY LOKANDO 

Signed scholarship: Summer 2006. Arsenal apps: 0. Subsequent career: Southend United, Dagenham & Redbridge (loan), Leyton, Crawley Town, St Albans City, Carshalton Athletic, Billericay Town, Waltham Forest, Brentwood Town, Billericay Town. DR Congo caps: 1

A diminutive winger who made his debut for the Reserves against Chelsea within months of signing a scholarship, Lokando left Arsenal for Southend United less than a year later and has a led a rather nomadic career ever since. He featured in the League Cup for Southend, but quickly plummeted into non-league football and is now in his second spell with Billericay Town in the Isthmian League Premier Division. Despite failing to establish himself in the upper echelons of the game, Lokando has achieved international recognition, earning a solitary cap for the DR Congo in 2008.

JEFFREY MONAKANA

Signed scholarship: Summer 2010. Arsenal apps: 0. Subsequent career: Preston North End, Colchester United (loan).

A rapid winger who demonstrated much potential for Arsenal as a schoolboy, Monakana turned in some commendable performances for the club at U18 level but failed to establish himself in the second-string and was let go in the summer of 2012. Monakana attracted the attentions of Preston North End and proceeded to enjoy a superb debut campaign as a senior footballer, featuring regularly for the Lilywhites last season. Having found game time more difficult to come by this campaign he spent some time with Colchester United on loan, but will now be seeking to re-establish himself as a regular for Preston with his contract there set to expire in the summer.

JOHN SPICER

Signed scholarship: Summer 2000. Arsenal apps: 1. Subsequent career: Bournemouth, Burnley, Doncaster Rovers, Leyton Orient (loan), Notts County, Southend United. Currently: Free Agent.

A diligent midfielder, Spicer made his Arsenal debut the same night as Cesc Fabregas over a decade ago, but his career has taken a rather different trajectory to the Spaniard’s. He moved to Bournemouth in 2004 after initially impressing on loan, before featuring regularly for Burnley and Doncaster Rovers over the following years. Now 30, he is currently without a club after being let go by Southend United at the end of last season.

LIAM CHILVERS

Signed scholarship: Summer 1998. Arsenal apps: 0. Subsequent career: Colchester United, Preston North End, Notts County, Port Vale (loan), AFC Telford United, Port Vale (loan), Port Vale.

An FA Youth Cup-winning defender who left the club without making a single first-team appearance, Chilvers was sent out on loan by Arsenal on five separate occasions before finally joining Colchester United in a permanent deal in 2004. He was a regular for The U’s and also enjoyed successful spells with Preston North End and Notts County. Now approaching the twilight of his career at 32, he is in his third separate spell with Port Vale, for whom he has featured regularly in League One this season.

INGI HOJSTED

Signed scholarship: Summer 2002. Arsenal apps: 0. Subsequent career: B36 Torshavn, Birmingham City, B36 Torshavn, B36 Torshavn. Faroe Islands caps: 6.

An erstwhile Faroe Islands international who struggled to make the grade at Highbury, Hojsted’s career has been plagued by a succession of serious injuries. The midfielder returned to his homeland upon departing Arsenal in 2005, establishing himself as a regular for B36 Torshavn. A swift return to England followed as he joined Birmingham City, but Hojsted played just one Reserve game for his new side before going back to Torshavn. After a two year hiatus from the game, he returned to the same team in 2010 and has remained there ever since.

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