The Premier League season is far from finished, with Arsenal still having five games left to play, but at Reserve level attention is already beginning to turn to those youngsters who could feature for the first-team in pre-season in the summer.
Arsenal Reserves played their penultimate game of the season on Tuesday night, edging a 1-0 victory against a determined Newcastle United side, with the returning Thomas Eisfeld, operating as a central striker, scoring the only goal of the game. Eisfeld was making his first appearance since his debut against Swansea in February, having spent a considerable period of time on the sidelines. Normally a midfielder, he impressed in the more advanced role and will seek to be involved in Arsene Wenger’s plans for the new season in some capacity at least.
Another notable feature of the Newcastle game was the return of Conor Henderson, who made his first start of the season having finally recovered from an injury suffered playing against Cologne last year. Henderson impressed with his familiar passing accuracy, and Wenger has already hinted that the young Irishman, who made his first-team debut against Leyton Orient last season, will feature in pre-season. The midfielder is highly rated at the club, and would have experienced a loan spell this season had he not been out injured.
Goalkeeper Damian Martinez and striker Benik Afobe, the latter of whom is currently on loan at Reading, are other candidates to be involved in the summer, where Wenger will find his resources considerably depleted by participation at Euro 2012 and the Olympics. Arsenal have thus far announced three pre-season fixtures, against a Malaysian XI, Manchester City and local side Kitchee, with the last two games to take place in China and Hong Kong respectively as part of the club’s Asian tour. Further fixtures will be announced in due course, although there will be no Emirates Cup this year due to the proximity of the Olympics to the dates on which the competition would usually be played.
Those youngsters mentioned will seek to play a part in the preparations for next season, but, at the other end of the spectrum, there are several other Reserve players who could depart the club this summer. Defender Gavin Hoyte played for Stevenage Reserves as a trialist this week having been told he is free to leave the club, whilst Rhys Murphy, Sean McDermott, Sead Hajrovic, James Shea, George Brislen-Hall and Sanchez Watt also have question marks concerning their futures.
is it just me or do we have the best looking youngsters…………damn you mikel , what have you turned me into!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have you seen these Kitchee youngsters play though? They’re no joke!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U1_Dlw_vO0
Just a hard tackle, those pretty boys don’t like it rough up them.
Pffft
I think now with the experienced spine to the team we have we are in a perfect position to bring these youngsters through.
Why didn’t Miquel go out on loan like Afobe, Ryo, Lansbury, Mannone, Bartely, Yennaris etc. As he’s nowhere near the first team picture surely he’d benefit from a loan spell. Is it that he doesn’t need it, or could it happen next season??
Bartley or Miguel should take the 1st team spot that will hopefully be left by Squillachi when he leaves. Though that would mean they’ll be 5th choice…maybe they should go on loan.
I’d have thought Lansbury will also return from West Ham and look for a place in the squad for next season. Although he might not be thought of as quite so ‘young’ these days.
He is better than Ramsey ffs.
At least ramsey would get some starts for west ham unlike lansbury, you sir are dumb as fuck
What finally happened to Alban Bunjaku?
And what about Bartley and Lansbury? IMO Bartley is a better prospect than Miguel, and Lansbury could be a good squad player in the future.
Of course, we’ll also have Ryo next season 😀
I actually think Miquel is a much better player for us, the few times I have seen Bartley for Rangers he has looked pretty average. Maybe he will prove me wrong though.
What are you basing this on? Miquel’s actually played games in the first team – both in the centre and at full back – and didn’t embarrass himself any time I saw.
Bartley on the other hand was clearly not ready the last time he put on an Arsenal shirt, which I’m guessing is why he immediately got sent out on loan.
I haven’t seen anything from Miguel which suggests to me that he could be a good player for us. He’s played a few times, it would be harsh to say he’s done badly, but I haven’t seen any signs of genuine talent. I don’t see how he’s going to be a good option for us in the future.
I haven’t seen Bartley at Rangers, but I’ve heard that he’s doing quite well there.
Basically I don’t think Miguel is going to be good enough to play regularly for us, while Bartley, going by reports from Rangers fans and blogs, might.
Thats ridiculous, Ignasi has hardly put a foot wrong in the first team and he has played in some very tough games. Either you didnt watch him play or are just bias seeing as your basing your argument on what others have said about Bartley.
I don’t even know what to say about this. Apart from his name has a Q in it.
Ummm, why would I be biased about Miquel? I’m not one of those ridiculous “supporters” who want to be right about players so much that they’d rather their team loses to prove a point. I can only remember Miquel (sorry, I just always assumed it was a ‘g’) doing decently in a few games. He does ok at best. I didn’t know ok was good enough for Arsenal. And basing your prospects for a player based on what people who see him play is hardly ridiculous, how many of us actually saw Ryo play at Feyenoord last season? I just… Read more »
the young players that are ready to play with first team i think it is:
GK – Damián Martínez (19) needs some loan experience
CM – Conor Henderson (20)
CM – Oğuzhan Özyakup (19)
CB – Ignasi Miquel (19)
CB – Kyle Bartley (20)
LB – Pedro Botelho (22)
ST- Benik Afobe (19)
AM – Thomas Eisfeld (19)
Eisfeld has played for our reserves twice, did you see him play a lot before or something?
He has a nice face.
So does my Granddad
Pedro is done. I cant see him making it at Arsenal. I remember going on Arsenal.com a few years ago and seeing his name in the player profiles and thinking he could do it. Sadly the Spanish 2nd Division has not helped with a work permit and all.
Its a disgrace that you don’t have Lansbury in here. The kid is pure class.
fuck right off. He’s our fourth best defender after Kos, Verm and Mert
misplaced reply
Pedro is at levante,look at the la liga log and eat your heart out,the boy is great,if you have never seen him play dont judge him.
He never gets into the levante squad, so actually it sounds like you’re the one that hasn’t watched him.
Miquel and Bartley are considered top talents, and having seen the former play on a number of occasions, it baffles me when I hear talk of Vertonghen coming to the club. CB is position that has seen a considerable improvement this season, and it would seem like a waste of money to buy a player that isn’t that much better than what we already have.
Yea its so baffling to want to get one of the best defensive prospects in the last 3 years. He’d take merts squad place easily and can play DM, if anyone has seen him play they would agree that he is a beast, technical, and captain of Ajax which is impressive for his age. Bartley and miquel have years of developing before they compete with verthongen’s type of player
Great to hear Eisfeld got a goal. Don’t know much about him, very much looking forward to seeing him feature in pre season to see what he’s made of!
Love Ignasi Miquel I can see him at international level for spain in the years to come to think he is only 19 is mind boggling never done anything wrong when playing for Arsenal.
Would like to see the kid do 6 months to a year at Bolton like Jack and now Ryo is doing he would come back the finished article.
P.S. I completely agree Goonarmy – plus i don’t think Djourou is anywhere near as bad as some people make out. That makes 5 CB’s at the club (not including The Squid in that). Vertoghnen, as good as he is, would be an expensive luxury at this stage.. The money would be better spent on the midfield/up top!
id kill for one of those jackets!
I think lansbury is really unlucky because of the position he plays and wenger looks as if he gonna buy em- villa so I can’t see how he gonna get a look in, for what it worth I think he better than ramsey at the moment but also I believe is future is else were a shame if you ask me and if wenger give him a chance we as a club we won’t regret it because this is what he as been waiting for but if not good luck to him he gonna be a good player for any… Read more »
Any word on Joel Campbells work permit? I think he too is gonna shine when he gets into the first team.
Looking foward to seeing Ozyakup, Ryo, Jack, Bartley, Eisfeld, etc. I do think Miquel should be loaned out a full season to get some playing time.
Any input on Boateng, Hajrovic or Gnabry?
He should get it. The kid is on fire with Costa Rica and is doing well on loan. I will enjoy watching him when CONCACAF (North America) have World Cup Qualifying.
Campbell is not doing well at lorient he started ok but has only 2 goals to his name and is now on the bench for lorient b.
Miquel has what it takes to be top class. The trouble is he has only had bit part roles to play, half of which he was out of position. He needs a good run. Bartley who has had a couple of seasons at Rangers should now come in and claim a place. This would also free up a place in Rangers for Miquel for all of next season.
Ignasi showed lots of promise.
Trouble is, he’s still a boy in a man’s game. He’ll need to fill out a bit more and get stronger so he can better cope in central def with the bruising strikers (Norwich’s Holt and Morrison come to mind) of the league.