Arsenal’s youth policy has been given the backing of former manager George Graham who is also impressed by the work Mikel Arteta is doing at the club.
Graham, a legendary figure at the club having won domestic and European honours as both a player and coach, knows full well what it’s like to benefit from a conveyor belt of academy talent.
The Scot fielded the likes of Tony Adams, Paul Davis, David Rocastle, Michael Thomas, Paul Merson, Martin Hayes, Ray Parlour and many others during his time in charge in the late 80s and early 90s and believes the latest generation are worth getting excited about.
“The youngsters have been outstanding,” he told the Camden New Journal.
“Arsenal have always been famous for bringing in young players and have always been renowned for having a great youth policy.
“It’s a credit not only to the people at the club who run the youth set-up but for the club as a whole.
“They like to introduce their own young players and at the moment the club has a lot of talent in the youth that are doing well in the first-team.”
Much like Graham, Arteta inherited a squad in need of a rebuild and tasted early success with a domestic cup honour. It remains to be seen whether the Spaniard can deliver league titles like his predecessor but the style of play is moving in the right direction, according to the 77-year-old.
“I think Arteta has done a very good job since he’s come to the club. It was at a transition period.
“He’s bringing a certain philosophy to the club which he learned under [Pep] Guardiola at Manchester City – some of the possession play is really fantastic. It’s great to watch, I love watching it.
“Unfortunately, they just missed out on the top four last season but I really like the way they play.
“I hope they do well this season. I want them to qualify for the Champions League. The only problem is the standard is so high. Liverpool, Manchester City and even Chelsea are top, top teams and Arsenal have got to compete with them, which I’m sure they will.”
Well said George – 👍
I really think Per needs a shout out too. What a transformational character he has been on Arsenal youth football. I scratched my head a little when he retired so young and we immediately gave him that role. But you only have to look at the talent that has come through since he arrived. And lovely, well rounded lads too. Watching AON, the whole club is clearly run by good people, trustworthy characters that are clearly extremely passionate about what they do. I even like Josh a lot, which is a bit mental. The future’s bright, the future’s red and… Read more »
Per seems to be doing a fine job but it’s too early to say he has been ‘transformational’.
Like George Graham said, we’ve always brought through youth talent.
Saka, ESR, Nketiah, Balogun, Willock, Iwobi, Maitland-Niles, Nelson were all in the academy before Per took over and I doubt his appointment really accelerated their career trajectory with Arsenal.
The next generation, the likes of Patino, Waters, Salah, Flores, Biereth, Hein, Okwonko, Azeez, Awe, these are Per’s boys.
Steve Bould deserves a lot of credit too. He would have passed on a lot of good advice not only to the youngsters, but to Mikel Arteta as well.
Georgie Graham’s magic, he wears the magic hat….
And then there‘s coming Mikel and says I’m taking that.
And when he saw a bag of cash, he said I fancy that.
Too soon?
Not too soon, Johnny. Maybe some of the younger fans don’t know about it. Here, I’ll make it more explicit:
Georgie Graham’s magic, his players bust a lung,
And when he saw Rune Haug, he fairly cried out ‘bung’!
Aaah, come on fellas – Johnny, I’m surprised at you – leave the bung story to the hacks in Fleet Street and the rest of the anti Arsenal media, who can only drag up the dirt to feed their jealousy. George was clearly no choir boy, but then again, like his players, he was only a product of his generation and you can bet your bottom dollar that as far as the managerial brown paper bag shenanigans were concerned, they were ALL at it – especially – mentioning no names – the bloke with the twitch. Let’s remember Georgie Graham… Read more »
We’re all part of George’s Army, we’re going to win the league…..
Thansk to George for one of the greatest ends to the season ever, Michael Thomas scoring very late on at Anfield in 1989.
Legend!
And in 90-91 they were nearly The Invincibles – losing only one game. Incredible manager!
My favourite ever team. Must have watched that end of season video a thousand times.
Signing Seaman
Adams going to jail
“We’re going to get those 2 points back” after the fight at Old Trafford.
Anders Limpar
Mercurial Merson
What a team. Rock solid at the back, flair going forward and more fight than a Yorkshire terrier on crack and steroids
One of the?
It was the greatest.
A good ball by Dixon.
Finding Smith.
To Thomas, charging through the midfield.
THOMAS. it’s up for grabs NOWWWWWWWW!!!!
THOMASSSSSS, right at the end!
——
That game and that commentary will start with me until my dying day. THE greatest finish to a league season ever and will never be topped. No matter how much sky try and bullshit otherwise.
* stay with me. Ffs
Goosebumps
Yep, having to beat the reigning champions by 2 goals at their own fortress is much better than having to beat an already relegated team with 10 men on your own pitch.
Well said.
Sky and Co can fuck right off with their Man City and Aguero bollocks.
It was nothing compared to Anfield ‘89.
Don’t you know football only started in 1992?
The same year there were no more fans, only consumers.
Fuck sky indeed
The Premier League is by far the best league in the world. Sky’s cash is a contributing factor in that.
Side Note – the last team to win the league with only players from the British Isles.
George Graham ? Legend ! That is all ! But hey the academy kids coming through are looking good ! Could we try producing a couple of centre backs though ? Adams & Known or someone ? 👍
George Graham has won 33% of all Tottenham’s major trophies since becoming Arsenal manager in 1986. Compared to 35% of all Arsenal’s major trophies in the same time period.
He was so good even Spu*s won a trophy despite themselves. The phrase “turning shit to gold” was coined right after that. Because George indeed, had the Midas touch!
Alas, it only proved to be temporary. They went back to being sh*t again. Since, it is unfortunately the history of Tottenham.
Sp*r/s not a top top team, George knows!!
Legend
I love that George doesn’t mention Spurs at the end there!
Yeah, I noted that too.
Make no mistake, that would have been deliberate.
Some nice words there from the former Gaffer. As Andrew Allen has pointed out, there are certain similarities between the early Graham managerial era and Mikel’s reign thus far. George took over Don Howe’s Arsenal in the summer of ‘86, but truth be told, it was the last embers of Terry Neil’s squad that had struggled for over five years since the departures of Liam Brady in 1980, Frank Stapleton in ‘81 and Neil himself in ‘83. Tony Woodcock, Lee Chapman, Charlie Nicholas had been the last of the Neil signings and then Howe himself had gradually brought in seasoned… Read more »
👏👏👏👏👏
Brilliant post, thank you!
Quality Post Q.
That made for an interesting read, Qwaliteee. Thanks👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
I love Arteta. I really liked him as a player for us and even more now after watching all or nothing. He’s invincibles material.
Remember the Michael Thomas goal at Anfield