It has been a week of change in the Arsenal youth department, with one long-serving player leaving and two promising youngsters set to arrive at the club in the next few days.
Benik Afobe’s association with Arsenal, which started as far back as 2001, came to an end this week as he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on a permanent basis. The move was questioned by some, especially given Afobe’s performances whilst on loan at MK Dons this campaign, but his chances of making the grade at Arsenal were greatly reduced by the signings of Yaya Sanogo and Danny Welbeck.
The quest to produce more home-grown products who are capable of making a career at the club continues, but it is always a little disheartening when a player is let go after so many years of development. There is hope for the likes of Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Chris Willock and Isaac Hayden, but even they will face considerable challenges to establish themselves in the first-team set-up.
Hayden, especially in terms of him being afforded opportunities to play as a defensive-midfielder, could have his chances limited by the impending arrival of Krystian Bielik from Legia Warsaw. A deep-lying midfielder, who, like Hayden, is also capable of playing at centre-back, Bielik is set to go straight into the first-team squad and could even make his first-team debut this campaign, but will probably have to wait until next season before becoming fully involved with Arsene Wenger’s side.
Another youngster set to join Arsenal’s academy is Martin Graiciar, a 15-year-old Czech striker who previously spent time on trial with the club. During that trial period Graiciar (pictured above) scored a hat-trick for the U16s and he is set to feature again at that level over the next few weeks before officially becoming a scholar at the start of next season.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
Sheeeit
On a side note: how unreal is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain? People forget how young he still is..consider the impact he’s made at his age
On another side note: It’s a bit cold today innit…;-)
Not where I am 34℃ on the beach in Thailand,back of the net!!!!!!!
Git 😀
It was 39 degrees today I fucking hate summer!!!
Unrelated but living in Aus the best part of no winter break is the 4-5 games I get to watch while on Christmas holidays staying up til 3-4-5 am is much easier with no work the next / same day
Oh God you wouldn’t be long gettin’ frostbit
Not only is he underrated because of his age, after every performance his attitude is always to improve.
My hat goes off to his uncles for keeping his feet on the ground.
Don’t be surprised when he starts scoring 10-15 goals per season, including screamers from outside the box.
COYG!!!
Good luck Benik!
And good luck Bielik!
Graiciar looks like a kid. Oh wait…
on another note, when’s A S17 getting a proper song?
Ow about freddies ol tune.
We luv alexis
cuz e’s super cool
We luv you sanchez
You’re always on the ball
We luv you sanchez
Cuz you’re Arsenal fru n fru
Or maybe one of u artistes can come up
wiv sumfink betta
It wouldn’t be hard….:-)
c u at the etihad termorra then
leadin th chorus
Couldn’t be hard..
Snap!
Your spelling upsets me.
#sidenotes out
Arsene, you spoil us.
Yeah, definetly. 🙂 Spoiling us with misery.
Imbecile
Are you mentally retarded or something? Either that or you never follow the arsenal. The FA cup has been one of the very few opportunities where we have been able to feel happiness for 10 years at this football club. We suffered some of the worst defeats in this clubs history during the last few years. I am not gonna be positive ahead of the game tomorrow because I am confident that we are not going to win it. We have not beaten one of the big three in this league since 2011. But go ahead with your fucking ‘imbecile’… Read more »
Well since you asked so politely, I’ve been a season ticket holder since I was 5 over two decades ago, I’ve been to around 400 games in total, mainly home but a few away, including 4 FA cup finals, 1 league cup final and a champions league final. Arsenal is in my blood. It is my blood. I have friends who are stewards, met blogger twice at the tolly (local arsenal pub if you knew) and was even the interior design coordinator for 3 of the executive boxes at the Emirates – to my shame one was Alisher ”the hut’… Read more »
Very well said. At the end of the day if football was only about winning trophies there’d be about 72 teams in the football league who had no supporters.
Although, if for some reason you’re ever in the mood to be unspeakably irritated, try telling that to a Chelsea fan. Cunts.
Yeah man, it’s a fucking tragedy supporting a top flight football club. Don’t know how you cope. You’re a real trooper Striker.
wow so barbie and ken really DID hook up, and had a son…..and we signed him.
small, small world.
It was us or St. Pauls Cathedral Choir Boys.
1 or 2 signings? Done and dusted… (Sigh)
Afobe just scored on his début for Wolves.
If he carries his form into the championship, he could well establish himself as a PL player by only the age of 22.
Could be another Andy Cole situation.
We have plenty of young players on the up. Sanogo is still only 21 and some deem it time to judge him already Gnabry, Akpom, Zelalem, Crowley, Naitland Miles, now Bielik and this new kid coming in all have opportunity with us. Bellerin has shown that if you are able to make the grade, Arsene will play you. We always had 7 defenders this season which is one short at Cback but clearly not the 6 defender situation many were panicking about. Bellerin is more technical and crosses the ball in with intent. Add pace and some experience now at… Read more »
Let’s beat them Oil-guzzling team-with-no-heart City. It’s time we won at North Manchester
We need a few lessons from Southampton. If their academy graduates come together for a football game, you’ll be in awe of the talent that they have produced.
bit like Lyon in France probably the best academy in europe right now , big town, one club pro, 70% of their player from the academy, top of the league
we have like 20 club to fight for the best youngster , we cannot compare to us