It has been quite a busy week for Arsenal’s youngsters, particularly those involved in the club’s tour of Asia as, no sooner had six of the youngsters who travelled to the Far East arrived back in England, they were preparing to take on Dartford in a second-string friendly.
The Dartford fixture did not exactly go to plan, with the Gunners suffering a 2-1 defeat to the non-league outfit at Prince’s Park following a couple of defensive mishaps, but it did at least allow the likes of Nico Yennaris to play 90 minutes for the first time this pre-season, whilst giving coach Terry Burton a better look at some of the players who will be at his disposal during the forthcoming campaign.
It was a particularly memorable week for Yennaris, as he had earlier agreed an extension to his current contract with the club, whilst promising young German winger Serge Gnabry turned professional for the first time. Gnabry was lively against Dartford, as he was in the previous friendly, a fairly nondescript goalless draw with Stevenage, and looks set to be a key part of Burton’s plans this season, despite still being eligible to feature for the under-18s.
The proposed shake-up of the Reserve and under-18 leagues was also confirmed this week, with both competitions to adopt Champions League knockout-style formats, with the clubs eliminated at the first stage of the tournament which ends in December subsequently being invited in another competition which will run until the end of the season.
For the U21 League, which is replacing the Reserve league, Arsenal will face Blackburn, Bolton, Everton, Norwich, West Ham, West Brom and Reading before Christmas, with the games against Blackburn and Bolton to take place at Emirates Stadium later this month.
Some eyebrows were raised when it was announced that Arsenal’s home fixtures in the NextGen Series, a competition which enables the young Gunners to test themselves against sides from across Europe, will be played in the humble surroundings of Barnet’s Underhill Stadium, but that should at least guarantee cheap entry for fans interested in seeing Burton’s crop take on Marseille, Olympiacos and Athletic Bilbao.
With regards to the Asia Tour, two youngsters certainly enhanced their growing reputations throughout the course of the trip in Thomas Eisfeld and Chuks Aneke. Eisfeld, signed from Borussia Dortmund in January, scored twice in three cameo appearances, whilst powerful midfielder Aneke, who did not enjoy the greatest success out on loan last season, also found the net and demonstrated his impressive range of passing.
Benik Afobe, in contrast, was not at his sharpest in the Far East and is expected to conclude a loan move to Bolton Wanderers shortly. Afobe, who has previously spent time with Reading and Huddersfield Town, will be seeking to use his spell with Owen Coyle’s side to prove that he is capable of playing at the highest level.
Eisfeld just needs a little frimpong moments in trainning and I reckon he’l be ready. Toughen up lad! And afobe needs to be more clinical infront of goal.
The lad has already suffered knee injuries. Do you want Frimpong to put him out for the whole season? Better to just get him in the gym beefing up like Kos did.
I hope Aneke goes back on loan, but I would like Eisfeld to stay around for the first half of the season to see how he does in the Capital One Cup.
I agree with you, the Eis Man should stay and with our bad luck he will get minutes for sure. We need squad players that can come on and do a job, the Eis Man can do that and put pressure on our midfield or wide players to play well or prepare to be dropped. I will put Ryo in the team too.
Agreed! Keep him around to let him learn from his idol rosicky this season, could do wanders for him
Sorry to fucking busy following up the cazorla and sahin news while simultaneously laughing at litterpool over their mediocre victory.
eisfeld >pirlo
being a gunner from the future you maybe know more than we do… but here in the good old present pirlo is one of the best midfielders there is, I’m afraid..
This type of hype pushed by spotty teenagers is so fucking annoying.
Just let the lad play.
Someone clearly left the kindergarten gate open and now a small boy is on the loose!.
And heskey>messi…
Um, Are we gonna do this?
haha, well played
Unleash the Eisfeld….!
I love that boy, he is gonna be great for Arsenal.
With the expected arrivals of Cazorla and possibly Sahin, i would’t think it will be a bad idea to send Eisfeld to a mid-table side to get a handful of games under his belt.
Will the change from Reserve to U21 league stop us from giving our fringe players some game-time for the reserves?
I saw Eisfeld score in a reserve game last season and in general i have to say that this kid looks like a solid youngster.
I reckon we will see more of him this season. He still needs a bit of physicality to play the likes of stoke (cunts) but that will come.
oh dear. Just seen Fran Merida has gone to a second division Spanish side. How the mighty have fallen. He could’ve been someone here.
I guess he’s the blue print of what not to do for all the youth team players who might get too big for their boots. Let’s hope this doesn’t happen with Eisfeld, Aneke or Afobe. I’d love to see them step up eventually.
I hope Afobe does well in Bolton, but even if he does, he certainly doesn’t yet prove he is capable at the highest level. Premiership is a whole lot thougher than Championship..
The idea that the premier league is a whole lot tougher is around 5-10 years in the past. As shown by Norwich and Swansea, the gap between the PL and Championship is getting smaller and smaller. A lot of good players know they can go to the championship, do well, play first team football and then get picked up by a premier league team.
Yes Afobe isn’t ready for the Utd, Chelsea and City games (top end games) but the Wigan, Villa and Sunderland games (mid to lower games) aren’t exactly that far away from playing against good Championship teams
such a cute face,but such goal scoring abilities !! I am in love ! 😀