It is a time of considerable change for Arsenal at academy level, and that applies to players as well as coaches.
Arsenal confirmed this week that they will be releasing a host of players at the end of the month, and also provided details of some youngsters who have been offered new deals but haven’t yet accepted them.
Among them is Vlad Dragomir, the Romanian midfielder who enjoyed a productive season at U23 level as he helped Arsenal to win the Premier League 2 title.
Although he is perhaps most effective in the number ten position, Dragomir was used in various different roles last campaign as he had spells up front and also as a wing-back on either flank.
Possessing excellent technique, the 19-year-old has also become more mature tactically and ended the campaign having scored six goals in 20 appearances in Premier League 2.
Josh Dasilva has also been offered a new deal, with the powerful midfielder having also been hugely impressive for the second-string.
Dasilva was also involved with the Arsenal first-team last season, featuring three times in the League Cup, and he seems ready to gain further senior experience this season in some capacity.
Whether that will be at Arsenal, however, remains to be seen, as he has yet to commit his future to the club.
Losing Dragomir and Dasilva would be concerning at this stage as, although there is no guarantee that they will make the grade in the longterm, they are among the club’s standout current prospects.
Others to have been offered new deals include goalkeeper Deyan Iliev, who at the age of 22, must surely want to play first-team football somewhere whether permanently or on loan, and left-back Tolaji Bola, who has gained plenty of experience at U23 level.
Attacker Yassin Fortune has also been offered a new contract but the signs suggest that he will turn down the offer, with the Frenchman having been used sparingly last season.
Furthermore, Arsenal have offered professional deals to midfielder Robbie Burton as well as defenders Tobi Omole and Dominic Thompson.
It is the futures of Dragomir and Dasilva, though, upon which there is the most focus, and we should find out very soon whether they will be remaining with the club.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
Willock, McGuane, Nelson perhaps? Now we have Dragomir and Dasilva hesitating over a new deal.
There is a worrying pattern emerging…
Players need to see a path forward for them into the first team. Without seeing that path, they may look elsewhere. Is part of the issue that we are stocked at the academy level or does the Aldi signing unsettle the academy players.
These cheap European supermarkets do seem to have a habit of getting in the way of good British products.
I heard that one of the Aldi brothers owns Puma and the other owns Adidas.
keep eating your marmite, it’s the t.v. deals that are making it rain cash for kids everywhere.
i dont think dragomir and fortune have the potential to break through to the first team. but dasilva as far as i’ve seen is a player with potential. powerfull and penetrating runs with good close control . and he has been player all over the field for youth teams. loosing him would be a big loss
Dragomir is very, very good, he was a huge part of the u23s winning the league, especially after Willock, Nelson and Eddie were taken out to sit on the first team bench. I think he would be a big loss.
There was such excitement when Vlad Dragomir was signed. It’ll be sad to see him go if he can’t see a way forward with our senior team, and wants away with another club.
I’m glad that Tolaji Bola has been offered a contract. I hope he signs.
We cannot afford to lose someone with such a badass name as Vlad Dragomir
It’s ok, now we have Konstantinos Mavropanos xD