Arsenal’s youngsters are set to reap the rewards of convincing performances at Barnet and Szombathelyi Haladas by claiming a place in the Arsenal XI against Austrian minnows Burgenland XI.
With the likes of Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna and Nicklas Bendtner likely to be rested, the door immediately opens for impressive performers such as Francis Coquelin, Jack Wilshere and Nacer Barazite to stake their claim in the Arsenal line-up.
Coquelin especially, seems to have already mixed-in with the Gunners’ stars after his recent signing from French Ligue 2 club, Stade Laval. Training with experienced first-teamers as well as fellow countrymen Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna and Armand Traore can only develop the 17-year-old’s game even more.
The physical Frenchman isn’t the only player to benefit from travelling to Austria with the Arsenal squad, Jay Simpson has also come in and shown glimpses of his talent. Tottenham-born Simpson netted the equaliser at Underhill last Saturday in front of the watching Arséne Wenger plus 5,500 supporters.
Wilshere, Simpson, Coquelin and Barazite are just three of the names that’ve been consistently mentioned, but by no means are they the only players looking to force their way into the Arsenal first team this season.
Collectively, Arsenal’s squad appears to be very small, but with the new crop of young talent developing faster than expected, Arsene Wenger will know who to look to if the going gets tough next season.
Tags: arsenal, barazite, barnet, burgenland XI, Clichy, coquelin, pre-season, sagna, traore, wilshere
July 25, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Yeah i wish these guys the fastest of development
July 25, 2008 at 1:48 pm
I didn’t think he had taken Barazite…?
July 25, 2008 at 1:48 pm
I can’t wait to see barazite aka Bergkamp junior, play on monday. What a talent he.
Also i have been impressed with the impact coquelin has made.
And is diaby going to play in the friendly
Ps where’s gallas
July 25, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Isn’t Nasri 21? And i was a bit gutted when he didn’t get to play on Wednesday i was kinda looking forward for him to play.
July 25, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Yep, Nasri is 21. Barazite is in Austria from what i’ve heard, we’ll find out tomorrow afternoon when an Arsenal XI take on Crawley Town.
July 25, 2008 at 2:00 pm
KWL
July 25, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Gallas and Fabregas were granted extended holiday’s as far as I know, I think they will be back for the Stuttgart game next Wednesday though.
July 25, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Will gallas, and fabregas play against stuttgart.
July 25, 2008 at 2:12 pm
You’ll see the likes of Adebayor, Nasri and Vela start against Stuttgart with maybe Gallas and Fabregas on the bench.
July 25, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Nasri,Fabregas and vela are the best
July 25, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Chris…do you know whether fabregas is back in training or not?
July 25, 2008 at 2:31 pm
He isn’t, I have Arsenal TV and all the players are back in training except Fab and Gallas.
July 25, 2008 at 2:32 pm
oh…thanks
July 25, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I don’t mean to be a twat but on every arsenal blog these days the author seems to write ‘of’ instead of ‘have’ – see beginning of third paragraph.
I know this makes me a twat for pointing it out but it really is basic English.
July 25, 2008 at 3:05 pm
I’m with you Twat.
July 25, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Thanks Some Twat.
The punctuation/spell check on here is shit, thanks for pointing it out mate.
July 25, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I hope ( but doubt) that Lansbury gets to play CDM this time out as hes not really had a chance to show what hes all about in the first two pre-season games as hes only just come back from illness so isnt fully fit and has played out of position.#
Team:
Fabianski
Hoyte Djourou Nordveit/ Senderos Troare
Wilshere Randall Lansbury/Coquelin Ramsey
Simpson Barazite
July 25, 2008 at 5:27 pm
I’m still thinking a lot about what ANR said about Arsenal’s financial situation and how it led to Edelman’s sacking.
Perhaps that gave the young guns a better chance to shine and perform before they’re considered too ‘old’ for the reserves and moved on to other clubs.
One can be talented but also require some luck and chance to show it on the big stage. Otherwise those talents would be given to another team while Arsenal continues to look for young but better established players with decent experience in their own league.
This season may be a very good one to see a batch, not just one or two youngsters to move up the ladder. Perhaps even getting a crop like the Man Utd’s mid 90s (becks, nevilles, scholes, butt and giggs – ok slightly older for giggs).
July 25, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Is this the team that will start against west brom
Almunia
Sagna
Song
Gallas
Clichy
Nasri
Diaby
Cesc
Vela
Bendtner
Walcott
i hope not
July 25, 2008 at 6:02 pm
is the game tomorrow?
July 25, 2008 at 6:03 pm
oooooops songs away aint he
so that fellow senderos might play
July 25, 2008 at 6:04 pm
thomas…song is at the olympics, so it’ll be senderos or djourou.
July 25, 2008 at 6:42 pm
barazite was sent home along with lansbury to play in the reserves game.
could be that they we’re short of players at home or perhaps they wer’nt up to it
Starting line up for WBA;
Almunia
Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy
(already back
in training).
Nasri Fabregas Diaby/denilson New signing
Adebayor V. Persie
July 25, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Josh we wont be signing a winger all we are signing is a CM
July 25, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Almunia reckons Ramsey’s the next Cesc:
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2008/07/24/rambo-s-gunning-to-be-gunners-new-fabregas-91466-21393736/
July 25, 2008 at 9:47 pm
barazite isnt in austria he is playing against crawley Town tomorrow
July 25, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Seems strange that they’ve all flown back to England instead of playing against Burgenland XI. :S
July 26, 2008 at 8:26 am
JohnV you don’t know that.
we’ve got plenty in there with denilson, ramsey, cesc, song, diaby, coquelin even.
arsene was talking about not pushing out any of the youngsters.
i reckon he’ll buy an experienced playmaker.