Ross County are looking to sign Arsenal centre-back Harry Clarke on a season-long loan deal, as reported by The Daily Record.
Clarke gave a good account of himself in Arsenal’s pre-season friendly against Hibernian as he made his first senior appearance for the club and it now appears that he could spend the season in Scotland.
The 20-year-old, who joined Arsenal from Ipswich Town as a schoolboy, impressed on loan at Oldham Athletic in League Two last season. He is also capable of playing at right-back.
Arsenal are looking to loan out a host of other U23 players before the transfer window closes next month, with Ben Cottrell, Ryan Alebiosu, George Lewis, Jonathan Dinzeyi, Tim Akinola and Zak Swanson among the players that have been made available for temporary transfer. Striker Tyreece John-Jules could also be loaned out again.
Arsenal U23s first pre-season friendly of a disrupted summer ended in defeat away to Bromley tonight, but there was a silver lining for temporary coach Ryan Garry as first-year scholar Amario Cozier-Duberry scored on his first appearance at this level and made a significant impact.
Cozier-Duberry, who can play as a winger or an attacking midfielder, was one of many U18 players involved in the squad tonight, with a plethora of more experienced youngsters absent due to various reasons including coronavirus, injuries and impending loan moves.
Garry’s starting lineup included seven players who are still eligible for the U18s, including the highly regarded Charlie Patino, who was making his return from injury. Meanwhile, 22-year-old Jordi Osei-Tutu, back from an injury-ravaged loan spell at Cardiff City, captained the side and there was also a runout for Omar Rekik, who has been involved with the first-team in pre-season.
Ovie Ejeheri started, which indicated that he has accepted Arsenal’s offer of a professional contract but Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, who has also been offered an extended stay, wasn’t involved. Kido Taylor-Hart, meanwhile, was in attendance at the game along with Tim Akinola and Jordan McEneff.
Goalkeepers James Hillson and Tom Smith, who travelled with the first-team to Scotland, warmed up before the game but weren’t in the matchday squad.
Henry Jeffcott and Charles Sagoe Jr started at this level for the first time.
There were also some notable inclusions on the bench, including Salah-Eddine and Zak Swanson, who made their returns from long-term injuries.
The Bromley team, meanwhile, was overseen by a familiar face in former Arsenal academy goalkeeping coach Andy Woodman.
It was a disappointing start for Arsenal, with Bromley taking the lead after just five minutes. Ejeheri and Rekik should have reacted quicker, with Michael Cheek managing to find the net.
Ejeheri later had to respond well to make a save before Arsenal eventually threatened courtesy of a free-kick from Omari Hutchinson which struck the wall.
However, five minutes before half time Bromley doubled their lead as Jude Arthurs finished adroitly.
Garry made a host of alterations at the break, which included Bradley Ibrahim, Cozier-Duberry and Henry Timi Davis being given their U23s debuts. Mazeed Ogungbo, Swanson and goalkeeper Hubert Graczyk also entered the fray.
Bromley continued to give a good account of themselves, with Cheek scoring again to make it 3-0.
Arsenal, to their credit, managed to respond as Cozier-Duberry scored in impressive fashion.
There were then further changes, with Salah-Eddine, Ben Cottrell, Taylor Foran, Amani Richards and Zane Monlouis coming on.
Graczyk made an impressive stop and then Bromley threatened again through a trialist, who shot narrowly wide.
Arsenal had an effort cleared off the line and then the talented Richards struck the post. Mauro Bandeira, who was also brought on, saw a shot saved but the young Gunners ended up being beaten.
The result certainly wasn’t what Arsenal wanted but there were mitigating circumstances with the U23 squad having been unable to train properly for a period earlier in pre-season due to coronavirus. There were also many players missing and some of the individuals on show tonight had never previously played together.
Garry will be looking for an improvement when Arsenal continue their pre-season preparations against Ebbsfleet on Saturday, with the traditional friendly against Boreham Wood to follow thereafter.
Players previously selected in U23 squad who were missing tonight
Tim Akinola, Ryan Alebiosu, Miguel Azeez, Tolaji Bola, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, Catalin Cirjan, Harry Clarke, Jonathan Dinzeyi, Karl Hein, Joel Ideho, Tyreece John-Jules, George Lewis, Joel Lopez, Jordan McEneff, James Olayinka.
Zach Awe, Marcelo Flores, Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Jack Henry-Francis, Luigi Gaspar, Remy Mitchell.
Arsenal goalkeeper Deyan Iliev has rejoined Slovakian side Sered on loan for the season.
The deal is set to take the 26-year-old to the end of his contract with the Gunners, meaning it is unlikely that he will play for the club again.
Iliev enjoyed his most productive loan spell so far with Sered in the 2019/20 campaign as he made 18 appearances.
Since then the Macedonian shot-stopper has had spells with Jagiellonia Bialystok and Shrewsbury Town.
Iliev was on the bench for Arsenal for the Europa League final against Chelsea in 2019 but hasn’t made a competitive first-team appearance since he joined the club in 2012.
Arsenal striker Nikolaj Moller will spend this season on loan at German third division side Viktoria Koln.
The tall Swedish youngster joined Arsenal from Malmö last year and proceeded to score seven goals in 18 appearances for the U23s, while he also provided three assists. Furthermore, Moller was involved in the EFL Trophy.
It is a first loan spell for the 19-year-old, who will hope to gain plenty of experience in Germany, but it would perhaps have been more beneficial for him to play in a higher division or instead go to League One or Two in England.
Arsenal have already planned for Moller’s temporary departure by agreeing a deal for Fulham striker Mika Biereth.
It is likely that a host of further Arsenal youngsters will be loaned out before the closure of the transfer window, including Tyreece John-Jules.
Folarin Balogun was among the scorers as Arsenal beat Millwall 4-1 in a friendly at London Colney yesterday.
The game was arranged at short notice after Arsenal had to withdraw from the Florida Cup and there were some familiar faces in the Millwall side including Daniel Ballard, who is on loan from the Gunners.
Former academy players Benik Afobe and Mallon Romeo were also involved for Millwall, while Arthur Okonkwo started in goal for Arsenal.
Eddie Nketiah headed over early on with Okonkwo then forced into an impressive stop to deny Afobe.
Okonkwo had a couple of difficult moments later in the half but that save will certainly give him confidence after the goal he conceded against Hibernian.
Arsenal eventually took the lead as Calum Chambers reacted well after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s effort struck the crossbar.
Karl Hein entered the fray in place of Okonkwo in the second half, while there was a debut for midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga, who joined from Anderlecht this week.
Alexandre Lacazette, who was also brought on, made it 2-0 as he headed in a cross from Chambers, and Pepe made it three following good work from Aubameyang and a dummy from Lacazette.
Balogun then got his first goal of pre-season having been played in by Willian before Millwall got a consolation courtesy of Alex Mitchell.
Lokonga gave a good account of himself, impressing with some slick passes.
Omar Rekik and Miguel Azeez warmed up with the team before the game but didn’t enter the fray.
Hector Bellerin was also an unused substitute, with Sead Kolasinac and Joe Willock not involved.
Arsenal are set to sign Fulham striker Mika Biereth, according to The Athletic.
The 18-year-old, who has turned down the offer of a new contract from Fulham, excelled at U18 level last season as he scored 21 goals in 21 league games.
Biereth also featured three times for Fulham’s U23 side, while his overall record for the U18s is 37 games, 25 goals and 15 assists. That includes a goal against Arsenal U18s towards the end of last season.
Although he is usually deployed up front, the prospect is also capable of being used out wide or as an attacking midfielder.
If Arsenal do sign Biereth then it will solve a significant issue in the club’s U23 squad.
Folarin Balogun has been promoted to the first-team, although it is still possible that he could feature for the U23s at times.
Nikolaj Moller and Tyreece John-Jules are both set to go on loan, which would leave the U23s short of striking options and emphasises the need for the arrival of Biereth.
Biereth wouldn’t be eligible to play for the U18s this season so it would be likely that he would be the main striker for the U23s, with highly rated U18 players Khayon Edwards and Amani Richards, who already possess fleeting experience of playing for the U23s, providing backup.
In addition to Edwards and Richards, Arsenal can also call upon further strikers at U18 level in Kaleel Green and Henry Timi Davies, who were signed from Southampton and Manchester City respectively. Billy Vigar, meanwhile, is closing in on a return from injury.
Miguel Azeez was involved in pre-season training for the first time this summer as he took part in a session with the Arsenal first-team squad at London Colney today.
The midfielder missed the trip to Scotland but was back in action today and will hope to play some part in the remainder of pre-season as he looks to edge closer to the first-team.
Two other members of the U23 squad were also involved in the session – goalkeeper Karl Hein and defender Omar Rekik, both of whom travelled to Scotland.
With regards to senior players, first-choice goalkeeper Bernd Leno was back in training following international duty.
Bukayo Saka, Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira have yet to return to training due to their international involvement, while Gabriel Martinelli is with Brazil at the Olympics and Gabriel is injured.
Karl Hein was brought on at the start of the second half as Arsenal continued pre-season with a 2-2 draw away to Rangers.
The Estonian goalkeeper could do little about Cedric Itten’s header but did later make a good save.
Arthur Okonkwo started in goal and even though he had little to do looked rather more assured than he did against Hibernian.
Rangers took the lead through Leon Balogun, with new signing Nuno Tavares levelling for Arsenal.
After Rangers made it 2-1 in the second period, Eddie Nketiah equalised with a composed finish.
Several other academy products were also involved in the second half, with the likes of Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson entering the fray.
Folarin Balogun started the game and was deployed on the left wing and had a couple of opportunities to score but was unable to find the net.
The likes of Omari Hutchinson, Harry Clarke, Omar Rekik, Jack Henry-Francis, Tom Smith and James Hillson weren’t part of the matchday squad although Smith warmed up with the goalkeepers before the game.
Arsenal youngster Tolaji Bola is on trial at League One club Sheffield Wednesday.
The left-back has been given permission to leave the Gunners and featured for Sheffield Wednesday in friendlies against Chester and Alfreton.
Bola was deployed as a centre-back and impressed as he looks to earn what is likely to be a permanent move.
The 22-year-old’s most recent contract with Arsenal was signed in 2018, so it is likely he has just one year left on his deal.
A product of Arsenal’s Hale End academy, Bola joined the club as a schoolboy in 2005 and signed scholarship terms ten years later.
Bola was part of the U23 side that won the league in 2017-18 and has been on the bench for the first-team in the Carabao Cup but hasn’t made a competitive appearance for the senior side.
Last season Bola gained experience on loan at Rochdale as he made 12 appearances.
A large amount of youngsters from Arsenal’s U23 squad were chosen to travel to Scotland with the first-team for the first stage of pre-season, with Karl Hein, James Hillson, Tom Smith, Harry Clarke, Omar Rekik, Jack Henry-Francis and Omari Hutchinson all making the trip.
However, there was also a significant contingent of youngsters who, for varying reasons, remained at London Colney.
Here’s an assessment of what could be next for the players that weren’t involved.
Having already made his first-team debut last season, Miguel Azeez appeared a near-certainty to play a prominent part in pre-season. However, it seems that the talented midfielder is missing through injury. Azeez could still feature in cup games this season and may go on loan in the second half of the campaign.
Tyreece John-Jules, who returned from loan, is training with the U23s and wasn’t selected for the first-team, with Mikel Arteta having most of his senior attacking options available. Another temporary switch is likely for John-Jules, who could head to the Championship on this occasion.
Ben Cottrell featured in the Europa League last campaign but the midfielder missed the end of the season through injury. The Hale End product has been made available for loan and is currently training with the U23s.
Charlie Patino didn’t travel to Scotland as he picked up a knock at the end of last week and was told to rest over the weekend.
Another midfielder, Catalin Cirjan, was called up for a friendly against Aston Villa last pre-season but didn’t push on quite as expected during the campaign. The Romanian youngster is still very talented, though, and will be aiming to showcase his credentials for the U23s this campaign.
Joel Lopez was on the bench in the Europa League but isn’t quite ready to step up and could go on loan soon while James Olayinka may be loaned out for the third time and Jordan McEneff may also gain experience elsewhere if he can prove his fitness.
Winger Kido Taylor-Hart, meanwhile, hasn’t yet officially signed his professional contract but is training with the U23s.
Other players have been made available for loan, with Jonathan Dinzeyi, Tim Akinola, George Lewis, Zak Swanson, Ryan Alebiosu and Nikolaj Moller all falling into that category.
Then there are those who could depart permanently if a suitable offer is made, such as Deyan Iliev, Tolaji Bola and Jordi Osei-Tutu.
With so many youngsters on the club’s books and most of the first-team players available, there were bound to be some prospects who were left disappointed but some of them still have a chance of success in the long term.
Jeorge Bird's Arsenal Youth 