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cubeadvance

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Lucky

Lucky

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He left Chelsea for first team football, did he not? I assume Wenger made promises to him he hasn't been able to keep due to Flamini's form? If that's the case, fair enough.

It's probably also worth pointing he's played as many games for France as he has for Arsenal since joining.

I still think he needs to chill a bit. What with Flamini's excellent form that nobody could have expected, apart from Wenger actually, and the fact that he's been at Arsenal for about 5 minutes tells me he hasn't really given it a fair go yet. He should give it this season at least and maybe even half of next season.

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Lucky

Lucky

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Squad for tonight.

No Diarra - doesn't look ggod I'm afraid.

No big boys on the bench either, apart from RVP and Sagna probably.

Arsène Wenger has announced his 16-man squad for tonight's Carling Cup Semi-Final first leg against Tottenham at Emirates Stadium.

As revealed by Arsenal.com yesterday, Robin van Persie returns to action after a muscle strain. Theo Walcott is also fit to play while Bacary Sagna and Gilberto have both been named in the squad.

Arsenal squad to face Tottenham:

2 Abou DIABY

3 Bacary SAGNA

6 Philippe SENDEROS

9 EDUARDO

11 Robin VAN PERSIE

15 DENILSON

19 GILBERTO

20 Johan DJOUROU

21 Lukasz FABIANSKI (GK)

26 Nicklas BENDTNER

30 Armand TRAORE

31 Justin HOYTE

32 Theo WALCOTT

36 Mark RANDALL

40 Vito MANNONE (GK)

41 Gavin HOYTE

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Silent Runner

Silent Runner

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Alan Smith has an article in todays independent about the youth set-up at Arsenal with Steve Bould and Liam Brady. It's a decent read.

***

Here we go again: a Carling Cup semi-final with Arsenal's young bucks taking centre stage.

Tonight's date with Tottenham, a repeat of last year, means they've got this far three times in a row.

This competition, in truth, wouldn't be quite the same without Arsene Wenger's talented teenagers embarrassing a succession of seasoned pros with their uninhibited skill and big-match temperament.

Think back to last season's 6-3 quarter-final humbling of Liverpool, a stunning performance that not only reduced Anfield to resigned applause but also prompted Rafael Benitez to question why a similar brand of quality wasn't being nurtured on Merseyside.

It's been the same story this term, a strong Blackburn outfit being the latest to receive a sobering lesson on pass-and-move pyrotechnics. These kids are capable of that. They can ask all sorts of awkward questions, leave experienced opponents feeling horribly inadequate.

What's more, the youngsters keep on coming.

At 18, both Kieran Gibbs and Mark Randall have made their full debuts, while the huge potential of 17-year-old Henri Lansbury has been let loose briefly.

Note the names as well: not French, Spanish or Dutch. These boys hail from nowhere more exotic than Lambeth, Milton Keynes and Enfield respectively. Arsenal's Academy, it seems, is finally starting to churn out one or two kids capable of catching the manager's exacting eye.

Reason

As youth team coach, Steve Bould is better placed than most to give a reason why.

"Henri Lansbury's year is the first that started here from U9 level," reasons Bould, one quarter of the famous back four now ingrained in Arsenal folklore.

"Maybe that eight-year cycle is coming to fruition now. Maybe the Academy set-up is starting to produce. Over the next few years we might see a bundle of these kids getting in their first teams, not just here but throughout the country."

An encouraging thought, that, after so much negative debate revolving around England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008.

Yet that doesn't quite explain how Arsenal, in the meantime, have still managed to consistently produce players of the highest technical ability, in a different league to their peers, no matter that some might be imported.

How on earth do they do it? Some kind of magic formula, perhaps?

"First and foremost we manage to get hold of good players," Bould says. It seems a simple starting point -- recruiting the best -- but isn't so easy when every other club is trying to do the same.

"That's where the likes of Roy Massey and Steve Leonard come in. These are unsung heroes who do so much work at junior level.

"And we've got a lot of people like that who never get a mention but they manage to recruit the best players, whether it's from abroad or in and around London."

Wenger's importance as a pulling power can't be overstated.

"Yeah, Arsene is probably the biggest attraction," Bould confirms. "Every parent, you'd think, would want their kids associated with this club because they know the manager wants to play football ... I wouldn't say in the right way, that would sound a bit superior. Let's just say his way.

"It's a culture that infiltrates every level of the club. The emphasis is placed on technique, skill, practising with the ball. You can't repeat it often enough. Technique is king in Wenger's world."

In Liam Brady's world too. As head of youth development since the Academy's formation, this Highbury legend has a big say in how things get done.

"It's his vision," Bould says. "And no matter who was manager, I'm sure Liam would want our kids playing good football."

Typically, my old team-mate is being too modest. As leader of the U18s, it's down to him, after all, to put on the right training sessions, to keep his charges on track, fit and prepared for the day when the call comes.

"That's the first target for our boys -- the gaffer calling them across to train with the first team. It's a very high level over there so if you're short technically you'll get found out straight away.

"We do similar drills so that when they go across they can cope better.

"Our training is all about possession and technique, about small-sided games, making quick decisions."

It's all a far cry from the late 70s when a lanky centre-half took part in mass free-for-alls on a red cinder pitch as a Stoke City hopeful. Back then, training methods were totally different. Back then, the social problems now faced by many of Arsenal's inner-city kids were unheard of.

Bould gives an example.

"One of our lads had been struggling for a while so I asked him what was wrong. He told me that two of his mates had just been shot. I nearly crashed the car when he said that. I mean, the gang culture and the whole drugs thing wasn't something I ever had to deal with at their age."

Consequently, some of the lads need careful handling. A social worker's touch is often required. Yet when they reach this stage, when first-team football comes within reach, no allowances can be made from.

"You have to be self-driven, especially at a football club like this. That's a big attribute for Arsene -- a self-motivated player, not someone who's going to need pushing and checking on all the time."

On this particular issue, David Beckham's recent presence has proved a real bonus, with the entire coaching staff hugely impressed by the way that their guest has gone about his fitness work, showing great desire and indeed professionalism at the training ground.

In fact, on the day I popped in, Beckham had just spent half an hour or more practising free-kicks with young Randall. What an experience for the lad. More importantly, what an example to set by England's former captain.

Bould can only agree.

"If he's doing that at his age with all that money and nothing left to prove... Who knows, a little bit of that attitude might rub off on our lads."

Quite. As it is, some are doing pretty well anyway. And when they shine in the first team, as they have in the Carling Cup, everyone in youth development gets a huge lift.

"There's nothing like seeing one of your own breaking through. For someone like Steve Leonard it's worth all the effort.

"We should be looking to make sure that all the kids get careers but the icing on the cake is if they can get in our first team and look a proper player. If one gets through, maybe, with a bit of luck, we'll have a little run, with four or five following over the next few years."

Let's say amen to that. If they're good enough for Arsenal, Fabio Capello should have no worries at all.

- Alan Smith

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Benji

Benji

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There are still tickets available for the game at WHL tonight.

a CC semi-final... against our biggest north london rivals...

wassup wid dat?

It's at the Emirates, the cheapest tickets for adults are £38 quid as well, which i think is a rip off for a carling cup game when he's putting the youngsters out.

I'm still going though 8)

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Dude Ranch

Dude Ranch

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he can't really expect Wenger to drop Flamini to keep him happy when surely Flamini's the most improved player at Arsenal this season, probably the most imroved in the league actually.

If he wants to play for a club like Newcastle instead of fighting for his place at a club like Arsenal then maybe his attitude and commitment isn't right for us anyway.

Quite right.

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Cosmic_Guru

Cosmic_Guru

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There are still tickets available for the game at WHL tonight.

a CC semi-final... against our biggest north london rivals...

wassup wid dat?

Lots of room at WHL tonight.

Shame if it does not sell out - probably a combination of highish price, the post Xmas squeeze, being on Sky and another home game Saturday. They might sell a few today though to local Red members.

Re Diarra I seriously doubt Wenger made any promise other than what he would tell any new signing i.e you will have opportunities - the rest is up to you

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SeanR

SeanR

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It's at the Emirates, the cheapest tickets for adults are £38 quid as well, which i think is a rip off for a carling cup game when he's putting the youngsters out.

I'm still going though :(

dammit, I mis-read the arsenal.com website. 8)

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a big boy

a big boy

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I still think you're being a tad unfair. I doubt very much he's banging on Wenger's door demanding Flamini be dropped, more likely he simply appreciates that Flamini isn't going to be dropped - his form dictates that such a move would be impossible - but accordingly recognises that he simply isn't going to get first team football at Arsenal. As for the Newcastle comment, while such a move would be plain stupid, I can easily imagine Diarra playing first team football abroad at a club like Atletico, Juve or Bayern.

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Mars

Mars

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When are we going to give Flamini a new deal?!?!

A great article by Alan Smith and good to see a few of them breaking through in the FA & Carling Cup squads.

EDIT: Particularly liked the part about Randall practising free kicks with Beckham ;)

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Lucky

Lucky

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I still think you're being a tad unfair. I doubt very much he's banging on Wenger's door demanding Flamini be dropped, more likely he simply appreciates that Flamini isn't going to be dropped - his form dictates that such a move would be impossible - but accordingly recognises that he simply isn't going to get first team football at Arsenal. As for the Newcastle comment, while such a move would be plain stupid, I can easily imagine Diarra playing first team football abroad at a club like Atletico, Juve or Bayern.

I hear what you're saying but surely he hasn't even given it a go yet.

This time last year who would have thought that Flamini would still be at Arsenal now, and be one of the first names on the team sheet, and have been capped for France.

Not many people I'm sure.

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SeanR

SeanR

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I hear what you're saying but surely he hasn't even given it a go yet.

This time last year who would have thought that Flamini would still be at Arsenal now, and be one of the first names on the team sheet, and have been capped for France.

Not many people I'm sure.

Just need to work on Almunia and HIS (potential) international career... for England! ;)

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hercules

hercules

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Well the fact that diarra isn't in the squad for tonight pretty much spells the end of his arsenal career. It's a real shame as he has looked promising everytime he has played but if he is too impatient then sod him. Flamini has waited 3 or 4 years to get into the squad, Diaby and Denilson have also waited, they all know they need to really push themselves as there is alot of competition in the midfield. I just hope we get a decent profit.

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Lucky

Lucky

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Well that was shit wasn't it!

On the posistive side that was their best team and that was our reserves. If they can't beat our reserves when the reserves are having an off night I don't think Spurs should be getting too excited.

I blame Diarra, if he was playing last night I think we would have done better. I hope he stops moaning and starts trying to get in the side, but being honest it does look like he's off.

Djourou and Senderos are just scary. I feel sorry for Gilberto, he really looks finished.

Come on Diarra! stop crying like a bitch and start playing football!!!

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