Just Arsenal News

Arsenal’s investment in youth development and the Academy seems to be paying dividends, with the under 19s having reached the semi-finals of the European NextGen competition after beating CSKA Moscow at the Emirates Stadium last night. That means that the young Arsenal players are just two games away from winning the whole thing.

After a hard fought victory in Italy against Inter Milan in the last round, the Gunners hosted the Russian side CSKA Moscow in temperatures that would have suited the visitors better. The promising young German striker Serge Gnabry scored the only goal of the game, but Arsenal were great value for the win and could have scored more. 17-year old Gnabry has made four senior appearances for Arsenal this season, and proved again why he is so well thought of at the club. .......Read the full article here

A big part of the footballing philosophy at Arsenal, especially since Arsene Wenger has been in charge, is the academy and youth development set up. Jack Wilshere is the most obvious example of why this is so important for the club, with his talent being matched by his drive and passion. This season has seen five key young players sign long term contracts, and there could soon be more new talent coming through into the first team. .......Read the full article here

Arsenal have met twice against Swansea recently and lost on both occasions (3-2 and 0-2). Swansea are on good form and have one of the most potent strikers in Michu. The player will surely be looking forward to add to the two goals he scored against us earlier in the season.

The FA cup presents virtually the only chance for Arsenal to get a trophy this season. We have been paired with Bayern Munich in an impossible-looking Champions League Quarter Final and we are currently several rungs below Manchester United on the EPL table. If you are looking forward to seeing some rising stars from the reserves, then you are sure to be disappointed, as Wenger has promised to field the side with the best chance of winning (just like he did against Bradford). .......Read the full article here

Arsene Wenger will not put his strongest possible Arsenal side out tonight against Bradford in the Capital One cup, but there will be a good few first teamers involved, and the players will know that they cannot afford to take the League two side lightly if we are to progress to the semi-final stage.

Not only are Bradford on a good run of form in the league, they knocked out Premier league side Wigan in the last round at the DW stadium in Wigan. This time they have home advantage and will undoubtedly see this as the biggest game the club has had in years. .......Read the full article here

Arsene Wenger has vowed to play a strong Arsenal team in tonight’s COC quarter-final against Bradford, but that doesn’t mean that won’t be playing a certain amount of second string prospects. The little left-back Jernade Meade looked very competent against Olympiakos a couple of weeks ago and is hoping that Wenger will show his appreciation by playing him again tonight.

Meade said: “I grew in confidence as the match wore on and I can do better but hopefully I will get more chances.

“Hopefully the boss will have me in his thoughts for Bradford. I would love to do that, but it is all down to him. .......Read the full article here

Arsene Wenger has vowed to take an experienced squad up north to face Bradford at Valley Parade tomorrow, but due to injury, his Arsenal squad will have some notable absences. The most worrying situation for us is up front, as Olivier Giroud has joined Theo Walcott on the sidelines.

The French striker will not be out for long but will miss the cup quarter final due to an injury to his back sustained during the Premier league victory against West Brom on Saturday. His size and strength would have been very useful dealing with the rugged Bradford defence, and Chamakh might get to play in his fourth game of the season. The Moroccan was useful against Reading and already has two goals in the competition. .......Read the full article here

The 19-year old German midfielder Thomas Eisfeld made his debut for the Arsenal first team in the last round of the Capital One cup. It was an incredible game and has given the player a taste for more. So Gooners, do you think that he should get his second game for the Gunners when we take on league two Bradford in the same competition tomorrow?

Eifeld came on to the field at the same time as Giroud that night, with Arsenal 4-1 behing, He was part of a miraculous comeback, with Arsenal levelling with the last kick of normal time before going on to win 7-5. Many feel that his outstanding performances for the under-21s have merited more first team opportunities, but the league cup is probably his most likely route in to the team. .......Read the full article here

Arsenal are proud of the youth system and rightly so, as it has produced some key players for Arsenal. Arsene Wenger is keen for that to continue, and has revealed that he would prefer it if the players coming through were local, ot at least British, as he feels that they would then be more likely to stay at the club.

Wenger is confident that one of the best players ever to come through the Arsenal youth system, Jack Wilshere, will not cause problems with signing a new contract because he is a local lad who has been with the club since he was nine years old. .......Read the full article here

Thomas Eisfeld is vying with his German compatriot Serge Gnabry to be the next player to make the transition from the Arsenal under 21 team up to the first team. Eisfeld stated his case emphatically last night with a brilliant performance capped by two good goals as the Gunners beat Norwich 4-2 at Carrow Road.

17-year old Gnabry has the advantage over 19-year old Eisfeld when it comes to first team appearances this season. Eisfeld has come on just once in the Capital One cup, while Gnary has played in both cup games and once each in the Premier and Champions league. .......Read the full article here

Thomas Eisfeld – The next big thing? by AH

You know when an opponent’s player comes on as a substitute and nobody’s every heard of him and all the fans shout: Who?! Who?!
Well, that’s what it was like for most Arsenal fans when we announced the signing of 19 year old Thomas Eisfeld.

In the past 10 years Arsenal have unleashed some absolute gems unto the premier league, most notably Cesc Fabregas and Jack Wilshere and at the rate at which Thomas Eisfeld is making his way through the Arsenal levels, it seems he could be the next star to join up with the Gunners and by our youth star. .......Read the full article here

I know it’s called the under-21s but Sagna played for Arsenal while Hibbert and Hitzlsperger played for Everton, so I am calling them reserves. The good news is that Wilshere, Sagna and Frimpong all completed the full 90 minutes and must be about ready for some first team action now.

The game was a lively affair which will help the players to regain some of their competitive edge, and the early kick off will allow them enough time to recover for the Champions League game against Schalke on Wednesday night, if Wenger wants to include them in the squad. .......Read the full article here

Ivan Gazidis made it clear this week that Arsenal would not be giving in to Theo Walcott’s wage demands to persuade him to sign a contract extension, so it would seem that Arsene Wenger will need to cash in on the wannabe striker in January, but who is Wenger likely to replace him with?

Thomas Eisfeld is the obvious candidate to be promoted from the reserves. He has only been at Arsenal for a year but has come on in leaps and bounds and was especially impressive in the pre-season games. The Germany youth star believes he has improved since then. .......Read the full article here