Today is Vlad Dragomir’s last day as an Arsenal player, for now at least, with the midfielder yet to agree a new contract with the club.
Dragomir’s immediate future remains rather uncertain as his agent claims that he is still in discussions with Arsenal over a possible deal, while Monaco are interested in signing the Romanian youth international.
A player around whom there has always been a considerable amount of hype during his time at Arsenal, Dragomir really stepped up last season as he produced some excellent performances at U23 level, helping the young Gunners to win the Premier League 2 title.
First-team opportunities, though, proved rather difficult to come by. He was named on the bench for the Europa League game away to BATE Borisov but didn’t get on and, aside from a few training sessions, had no further involvement with the senior squad.
Dragomir is determined to play first-team football and it looks as if he will have to fulfil that objective elsewhere.
Had he elected to remain at Arsenal then the most likely scenario would have seen Dragomir head out on loan, perhaps to a foreign club, but even then it would have been difficult to envisage him getting much of a look in with regards to first-team chances upon his return.
A player with excellent close control, Dragomir has started to add more goals to his game – he mustered six for the U23s last season. He has demonstrated his versatility, too, operating in both wing-back berths and as a striker at times as well as in his preferred attacking midfield position.
It was evident, though, that, despite the quality that he possesses, Dragomir was still some way away from being ready to make a major impact in the first-team squad. For instance, he is not especially strong physically and his decision-making under pressure still requires some work.
It is disappointing for Arsenal to be losing another player with much potential, but in the short term Dragomir’s departure, if indeed it does occur, won’t have much of an impact and will instead enable other youngsters opportunities to push closer to the first-team squad.
Perhaps elsewhere Dragomir will get the opportunities in senior football that he feels he deserves, but staying at Arsenal was never likely have a beneficial outcome for either party.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
Shame if he leaves. Best named player every
From the pic, i thought it was debuchy
It is clear that the Youth set up, like everything else under the old regime, had gone stale – badly.
In 22 years we got three people – Cole, Wilshere and Iwobi – through the system into the first team. That’s one every seven years. An extraordinarily poor return in comparison with our geographical rivals, let alone others.
Hopefully, things will now start to change and we get less hype and some actual First Team achievement, coming through the system.
What about Szczesny and Bellerin?
We also got Gibbs, Cesc (if you count him), Wojciech…
I’d agree it’s gone a bit stale, but hardly any worse return than any of the other big sides?
All those were nicked from other teams. The three I mentioned are the only ones who have come through our youth system. It’s a rank record ; and is way short of Man Utd or Southampton. It’s also short on Spurs and West Ham.
We need less hype and ‘next Tony Adams’ bolllix and a bit more end product.
You need to define what age you think kids need to be in our youth set up to be considered as products of our you set up, and then apply that to every other club. Personally I would consider them products of our system if they play in out youth team for at least a season. As for comparing us to Sotton, there is no comparison. In the last 20 odd years they can play lads with potential in their fight to stay in the PL, whereas a lad has to be more than just potential to play a run… Read more »
“As for comparing us to Sotton, there is no comparison.” Big on irony, I see. ? They produced Walcott and Chamberlin. We purchased both from them. And – in fairness – sold on for a decent profit. But making a profit on players purchased ; and producing them from your own youth set up, are two different things. Wenger’s reputation for producing great young players, was based on his ability to spot talent elsewhere and get it on the cheap. Nothing wrong with that at all. From Anelka onwards he did just that. And credit to him. But it is… Read more »
Yes mate, whatever you say.
Considering the club are on the lookout for a left sided attacker, surely if Drag had anything about him then he should sign the contract on offer and show Unai Emery (board) that he should be given a chance in the first team? A bit of fighting spirit needed from these young players is something Per might want to instill in his new roll as head of the academy. Joshua Dasilva is another case in point. Stay and fight during pre-season then go out on loan and show the club that your what we’ve been missing.
I can agree but I see the other side.
We have a pretty shoddy loan record, which in many cases has gone on to destroy careers.
Sometimes it’s just better to out there and learn your trade properly in a good league and regularly.
Also shows that many young players believe arsenal isn’t the great hype anymore and that they’re better somewhere else.
Good player, still has plenty of work to do, to play first team football at Arsenal is not an easy task, I kinda feel his agent is to blame for him leaving, probably some club (Monaco) offered better fees for the agent and so the rest is history. When a new manager comes in, the last thing agent wants to do is do just that, hold club to a ransom. Anyway, plenty have left and plenty will leave in the future, it’s footbal, players do migrate.
I heard – but have no way of verifying – that there’s still a possibility of a new contract being agreed to. We will know soon I expect.
You mean you also read the second paragraph of this article?
Yeah, very clever. My comment was intended to reinforce that speculation. I guess I should have made that more clear – but, hey, it gave you some jollies at least.