Breaking Young Gun News; George Brislen-Hall

BREAKING

Contrary to recent reports, on reliable Arsenal blogs, George Brislen-Hall has not been released by Arsenal, stating on Twitter: "remember when i said hard work always pays off? I will be spending another year at arsenal next season." Maybe he will get a shot at the first team in the Carling Cup, or a loan spell to prove himself. Whatever the case, he will be an Arsenal player next season.

Other young guns Tom Cruise and Mark Randall haven't managed to earn new deals and have been released. See here for details.

Your thoughts? Let me know via the comments below, or through Twitter: @Goonernl

Released: Randall & Cruise + Former Young Guns

Both Tom Cruise and Mark Randall have been released, Arsene Wenger opting not to offer them new deals. Cruise made his one and only senior appearance for Arsenal on 9th December 2009, in the Champions League, away at Olympiakos. He was one of two debutants on the night, playing in a team with an average age of just 21. The whole side impressed me, losing only 1-0, and looking the more likely to score for much of the game. He had a relatively anonymous loan spell at Carlaisle in the 2010/11 season, returning to the reserves. Releasing him is an understandable move, although one I am disappointed with, I thought that he showed some real potential in his one senior game, but with Clichy, Gibbs and Traore ahead of him it was always going to be an uphill struggle to break into the first team.

Randall, would seem to have spurned his chances at Arsenal. A promising midfielder, he broke onto the scene aged 17 in October 2006, making his debut from the bench in the Carling Cup. Another substitute appearance in the League Cup followed in 2006/7, before in 2007/8 he looked to push on, making his first league appearance - again from the bench - and earning his first start, again in the Carling Cup, along with another substitute appearance in the same competition. 2008/9 saw 3 substitute appearances for Randall, coming off the bench once in the league, and twice in Europe. He also managed 3 Carling Cup starts. 2009/10 really should have been his breakthrough season, but he managed just two appearances from the bench in the League Cup. The beginning of the end. In 2008/9 he spent part of the season on loan at Burnley, the season they were promoted from the Championship, making 10 appearances - 8 from the bench. 2009/10 saw a spell at League 1 MK Dons, Randall's local club, where he made 18 appearances, with 13 starts. Yet in 2010/11 it all really started to go wrong. Randall spent most of the season on loan at Rotherham, making just 10 appearances, 7 from the bench. The Millers are in League 2. He had some bad luck, getting a broken bone on his debut, but much of his downfall was of his own doing. He missed an away game at Stockport after breaking down on his way from Milton Keynes where, unbeknown to Rotherham, he had been staying. His time there got so bad that he ended up playing in their reserves. Seemingly Randall is rapidly falling from grace, a meteoric rise to the first team at 17, before a rapid slide down the divisions, and it will be interesting to see where he ends up next season. But it is said that the higher you rise, the harder you fall.

I'd like to wish them the best of luck to them in the rest of their careers.

Trawling through the PFA database, I also noticed a couple of other former Arsenal youngsters available on frees. The first was Liam Chilvers, who left Arsenal at 22 for Colchester United, having won the FA Youth Cup, but without making his first team bow. He's spent his time since Arsenal playing in the Championship and League 1.

Another former Gunner on the list is Seb Larsson. The 25 year old Swede left for Birmingham a few years ago, and his career has blossomed. He's developed into a decent player, and one who I rate. He made 12 appearances for the first team, and I think that with the likes of Denilson and Diaby set to leave if he would be a good addition to the ranks as a squad player. Especially as he is available on a free transfer and has won something, and has been playing in a side where they've had to be resilient, a skill Arsenal need to acquire.

Your thoughts? Let me know via the comments below, or through Twitter: @Goonernl

Fulham 2 - 2 Arsenal

Just think about how differently yesterday's game could have turned out if Arsenal had been successful with our attempted £3 million move for Mark Schwarzer last summer. He produced two magnificent stops, one from a downward Gibbs header at 0-0 and another from an excellent Nasri free kick at 1-1.

It has to be said that it wasn't the best of games, Arsenal switching from the normal 4-2-3-1 of lat to a new look 4-4-2, with Chamakh, getting his first league start since the end of December, starting alongside on form striker Robin van Persie up front. Two goals would have seen van Persie beat the record of goals scored in a season from 1 January (18) currently held by Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo. In the end, he had to settle for equaling that record, and beating his own for the number of consecutive away Premier League games scored in - now standing at an impressive 9.

Fulham also playing 4-4-2 opted to play a counter-attacking, long ball game, Zamora and Johnson causing regular problems for Djourou and Vermaelen. Arsenal had the first real chance of the game, an intelligent through ball from Chamakh finding Samir Nasri near the byline in acres of space, he played the ball back to Gibbs, continuing to deputise for the injured Gael Clichy, who swung in what can only be described as on over-hit cross. It passed straight over everyone, finding Bacary Sagna on the opposite wing, who cut back, and dinked a delightful ball to the far post with his weaker left foot. Fulham's Hughes a spectator as Gibbs made a late run, before executing a superb downward header. Mark Schwarzer was at full stretch to deny the young full back his first Arsenal goal.

Minutes later though, Kieran Gibbs became the villain of the hour, some poor positional play saw him come far too far into the middle of the pitch, he and Vermaelen going for the same man, leaving Bobby Zamora in far too much space out wide, and he duly took advantage, collecting the ball out wide, and attacking the space where Gibbs should have been, before cutting the ball back, to former Gunner Steve Sidwell, who calmly slotted home from 10 yards, placing the ball through both Djourou and Szczesney's legs.

Arsenal stunned, Fulham ecstatic. Zamora was the next to pose a threat, getting in behind Djourou from another long ball, showing real strength to hold off the Arsenal man, before spurning his chance, shooting hopelessly wide from 15 yards, the ball ending up nearer the corner flag than the goal. 

The Cottagers conceded just 3 minutes after going in front, Robin van Persie scoring his 18 in the Premiership this season, and equalling and extending the records mentioned earlier. Some nice combination play from Diaby and Chamakh presented the opportunity for the through ball, which Arsenal's #10 duly latched onto, firing low, beyond Schwarzer, into the bottom right corner. His 22nd in all competitions. It was poor positioning from another former Gunner, Philippe Senderos, which may have given van Persie the space he needed, Hughes was again not aware, and should have been covering better.#

The equaliser was quickly followed by another Fulham chance, captain Danny Murphy breaking from a throw, nutmegging Szczesney, for what seemed like a certain goal, but Thomas Vermaelen tracked back, and cleared off the line fantastically, Murphy hot on his heels, following his shot in.

That was to be the last decent chance of the half. The second half was even more eventful than the first. Captain for the day, Robin van Persie entered the referee's notebook on 48 minutes for dissent, after appealing very strongly for a free kick about 30 yards out, when blatantly fouled by Brede Hangeland. Just one of many wrong decisions from referee Martin Atkinson, in a second half with 4 solid penalty shouts. The first fell to Fulham, just a minute after van Persie's caution, Andrew Johnson appealing for a handball against Djourou. Replays would suggest that the Arsenal man did nothing wrong. They make it look more like the Fulham number eight handled it.

Schwarzer's second magnificent save came on 51 minutes. The veteran Aussie, scrambled across his goal to tip a Samir Nasri free kick around his upright. A fingertip save from a fine free kick. Robin van Persie has a challenger for who can take them best. Another poor decision soon followed. Samir Nasri playing himself into and out of trouble on the right-hand edge of the box, just about to cross the ball from right on the byline, Atkinson blew for a foul. Use of the advantage rule would have been more appropriate. The free kick itself, wasted by top scorer van Persie. Shooting from a far too acute angle.

The second 'penalty' was a futile appeal for handball from Fulham, Atkinson definitely getting it right this time, the ball hitting Gibbs on the shoulder. The non-penalty was swiftly followed by a ball over the top, Jonathan Greening picking the ball up, before crossing the ball backwards, Bobby Zamora rising above everyone to head home. Szczesny undecided on whether he was coming or staying caught in no man's land, although in fairness even if he had stayed on his line, there was little he could have done about it. Fulham two, Arsenal one. For the second time, Arsenal had to show the mental toughness to pull a goal back and salvage a point. Soon after, Johnson wasted a decent chance to put Fulham two ahead, lashing the ball miles over the bar from a reasonable position.

The third penalty shout came on the hour mark, Briggs blocked off in the area, a good shout, and I think the wrong call from the referee. Virtually straight after, van Persie was released down the left, swinging in a half decent ball, straight to the Fulham stopper Schwarzer, but he fumbled. The ball unexpectedly spilled to his feet, Marouane Chamakh failed to capitalise, firing tamely and off balance, Schwarzer getting the slightest of touches, and Briggs preventing it going for a corner. A real chance.

Wenger's response? A triple change. A knock-carrying Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey and Abou Diaby making way for Theo Walcott, Andrei Arshavin and Emanuel Eboue. Walcott immediately causing problems down the right hand side. 70 minutes saw Fulham's third change, goalscorer Bobby Zamora off for Zoltan Gera. He had an almost instant impact, literally. Diving in studs up on Thomas Vermaelen, earning himself an early bath, and Fulham their first red card of the season, and possibly putting paid to their Europa League hopes (through the fair play scheme). Fulham down to 10 with 15 minutes to go. Minutes later van Persie was denied a golden opportunity for Arsenal's second, the linesman wrongly flagging for offside.

Walcott earned Arsenal a corner in the 80th minute, and it was then that the 4th penalty shout occurred. Thomas Vermaelen hauled to the ground right in-front of the referee in the build up to van Persie's corner. No more than 2 yards away, the referee missed it, and so seemingly did the TV cameras. A blatant foul and another opportunity van Persie was denied for that 19th goal since the turn of the year. After an end to end 10 minutes which didn't yield any chances, Walcott's pace burned Fulham, he latched onto a Vermaelen through ball, cooly slotting home, across Schwarzer and via the left post. 2-2 and that's how it remained. Some of the intricate Arsenal triangles creating a chance for Arshavin, who blazed his shot from 20 yards just over the bar, the last chance of the game.

A slightly disappointing end to a disappointing season. Perhaps it hinted at what we'll be seeing next season, a 4-4-2 formation, with what looks a promising van Persie & Chamakh partnership.

What do you think? Let me know via the comments below, or through Twitter: @Goonernl

Transfer Targets of the last Week

An Extra Defensive Mid: It's been a fairly quiet week on the transfer speculation front, a couple of names cropping up a lot, but not much else. One of those names being repeatedly mentioned is the tenacious West Ham's 30 year old defensive midfielder Scott Parker. The Hammers are down, and by the sounds of things there's set to be a fire sale of their best players and a mass exodus of  out of contract players. He isn't a bad player, and has shone this season at Upton Park, however, has he shone because he's played brilliantly or has he caught the eye because he's played alright in an ultimately poor West Ham side? I'm not sure, and at £7 million his price tag is a bit steep for someone who would be brought in to play second fiddle to Alex Song. I think that a move for free agent Owen Hargreaves, also 30, (as touted by the Daily Express last week) would represent better value for money. He is undeniably a fantastic defensive midfielder when he's fit, and could prove a real asset to the squad. Injury prone as he is, he'd be the perfect man to pull on an Arsenal shirt.

A New Goalie: As I mentioned in my previous post, I think that we'll be in the market for a new second/third choice goalie this summer. Having mulled the situation over, I feel that Rob Green's name should be added to Mark Schwarzer's as a possible target the former England #1 has suffered a significant fall from grace after that error at last summer's world cup; something which should mean that he's available for less, coupled with the whole relegation thing. I think last summer that I expressed my opposition to his signing, but that was when a new #1 was being considered - I also touted Szczesney at the time - and I don't think he is good enough to be Arsenal's number one, part of the back up brigade however, I think that he could be the man for the job.

One of the other regularly mentioned names has been that of Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema. I really don't see how he'd fit into the Arsenal line up, and at a reported £25,000,000 he'd be the world's most expensive sub. He's too similar to what we already have. I feel a poacher is what we need, there to come into the team and make an instant impact when van Persie is either injured or off form. I think that the striker to make way should be Niklas Bendtner, and with Bayern Munich reportedly waiting in the wings, I'd let them have him.

SkySports have linked us to the 21 year old Malaga striker Salomon Rondon. He's hardly the household name it seems that most Gooners are after, though with 16 goals from 29 starts, he certainly sounds like a goal threat. The relative anonymity in the UK of Rondon would make him a typical Wenger signing, although the rumoured £10 million price tag could put Arsenal off.

Kavin Gameiro, a Lorient striker who sounds set to follow in Laurent Koscielny's footsteps, and make the move from Lorient to the Premier League. The young Frenchman has some promising stats behind him, with 20 goals from 34 games this season. This is a move which has been infrequently reported since pretty much the start of the season, much like Chamakh's last year, so I can see it happening. Having turned down the offer of a new contract from Lorient he looks almost certain to leave in the summer, potentially for a knockdown price, rather than Lorient risking losing him for nothing in a year's time.

Morgan Amalfitano is another Lorient player with a soon to expire contract who has recently been linked with Arsenal, with 5 goals from 36 he's not too bad going forwards, and could be a cheap replacement as a squad player for the likes of Diaby and/or Denilson.

Eden Hazard and Serdar Tasci have again been linked, and I don't have anything to had to what others have said before. The only thing I would question is where Hazard would fit in with the likes of Nasri, Arshavin & (hopefully next season) Miyaichi already playing on the left of that front three.

Leigton Baines is still being linked with us, but he's also being touted for a move to Man City, and we don't have the financial resources to get into a bidding war with them - and also  he's not fantastic either. I'd rather play Gibbs than buy him - assuming we sell Clichy because he won't sign a new contract.

Hector Bellerin is the new name today, SkySports claiming that he's been frozen out of the Barca youth side for turning down a new contract. They have also said that it looks likely that he will be joining Jon Toral in leaving Barcelona for Arsenal in the summer, in what seems to be a busy window already for the reserve and youth squads, Charlton youngster Carl Jenkinson already said to have signed, who may or may not go into the first team squad.

Someone commented yesterday that they'd like to see the back of Eboue, but I feel that he brings a  lot to the squad, he's the joker, the morale booster, and I feel that he can occasionally add something to the team on the pitch too.

What do you think, let me know via the comments below, or through Twitter: @Goonernl (mostly Arsenal related updates).

90 minutes to go... and who should still be here next season?

The last time I posted about a game was just after we beat Chelsea. Since then we've lost to Wigan, Birmingham, Stoke, Villa, United and others. We've also had a fall off in form as alarming as Colchester United normally do (2 wins in 14 in 09/10 and not much better in 10/11). With our Champions League fate now in the hands of 2 Citys (Stoke & Man) the season has gone from extremely promising to awful.

 

Bad Luck & Bad Refereeing:

 

I feel that rather than being down to any particular failing from Arsene Wenger and his team, the poor ssecond half of the season has be down to - generally - bad luck. We've had some very poor refereeing decisions:

• Robin van Persie red card vs. Barcelona.
• 102nd minute penalty vs. Liverpool - it didn't take RVP 4 minutes to take his.
• Offside and penalty decisons vs. Sunderland.
• Penalty and foul (Chamakh's goal) decisons vs. Villa.
• Saha's goal in the 2-1 win over Everton.
• Nolan not getting sent of for getting Szczesney in a headlock at 4-1 vs. Newcastle.

And I'm sure there've been others. There have been occasions when some of the players haven't shown quite enough heart for my liking but it's the same for the fans - you only hear groans at the Emirites when something is going badly. There are also the occasions when the opposition 'keeper has had the game of his life, and nomatter what we tried nothing went in - van der Saar in the FA Cup defeat. There have been other games which we've dominated from start to finish, but for some reason the chances just wouldn't go in - such as versus Man City, by the third time the ball hit the post you just knew it wasn't Arsenal's day.

 

Wembley:

The Carling Cup defeat whilst disappointing also demonstrates how desperate we are as fans for a trophy. A couple of years ago and a trophy other than it in the future it'll be a Mickey Mouse cup which isn't worth winning. Yet this season we were fielding very strong sides in a competition which has been purely for blooding youth recently - a policy which got us to the final and earnt us a runners up medal against a very strong Chelsea side in 2008. I personally would like a return to this next season.

 

Defence:

In a season which has seen us hit with injuries to key players at key times, we could be doing worse with one game to go. We've had 4 keepers play (with 5 making matchday squads), and I believe that we have now discovered our long term number 1. We have also played large parts of the season with a makeshift back four, even Wenger admiting that Koscielny, Squillaci and Djourou have played more games than expected and I feel that Koscielny and Vermaelen will be a strong pairing next season. One player whose injury troubles I have been thankful for is Diaby. I feel that his is overated, and whilst occasionally very skilful, that he really isn't the right player for Arsenal. All to often the ball has been fed to him and a flowing counter attack has ground to a halt and the opposition have got men back behind the ball.

Midfield:

 

One player who has come on this season is of course Jack Wilshere, ever consistant, ever passionate and always with superb passing, movement and vision, Jack is another player who Mr Wenger can point to to prove that putting faith in youth works. He has had my vote for player of the season. Sadly I doubt that he will reach the heights of this season again next term, with a long summer ahead of him, it might be the second half of the season before he's fully ready to start again - our players do not get on with summer tournaments; look at how average - by last season's standards - Cesc Fabregs has been. Who, coincidentally, I think is almost certain to be here next season.

 

The Forwards:

Robin van Persie has been a revelation since his return from injury, just imagine what he could do if he was fit for the whole season! I think that Marouane Chamakh also deserves a mention, scoring an impressive number of goals in his first season in English football, before getting burn out. Since March, I think that he's been near back to his best, we've always looked more dangerous when he comes on, and he's always shown desire, which I like.

 

Moving Forward:

 

I think that the core of the squad is strong, however I feel that some changes are needed. I feel that Mannone will probably leave in the summer (maybe going to Hull), I also feel that Manuel Almunia has come to the end of the line at Arsenal. He has had his moments of brilliance, the first leg against Man United in the Champions League 2 seasons ago, the first leg against Barca last season and the bit of the second leg he played in Barca this year, but I will remember him for his gaffes rather than his top class stops. I think that we need to bring in an experienced third choice goalie for next season - such as Mark Schwarzer - and give James Shea a Championship loan spell to gain some experience. In defence, I am undecided about Seb Squillaci, but I am not convinced he is of the necessary standard, Miquel looks promising, but is another player who would benefit from a loan spell. Kyle Bartley could breakthrough next season and he too shows promise, however Rangers are reported to be sniffing about, and I can see us selling him and him turning out to be one of the one's who got away. If he doesn't renew his contract, I personally would look to sell Clichy, as I feel Gibbs is good enough to step up to the mark. New cover might be needed but potentially that could come from within in the form of Tom Cruise.

 

In midfield, I can see Diaby, Denilson and Rosicky leaving. I think that Denilson should get a season-long Premiership loan, to see if he could make it at Arsenal before either being sold or becoming a more important Gooner the following summer. I would be disappointed to see Tomas Rosicky go, but I feel that injuries have overshadowed his time at the Emirates and that he may have missed his chance. To be brutally honest I would't be sorry to see the back of Diaby. We will have Henri Lansbury returning from yet another fruitful loan spell, this time at Norwich, and I feel that next season he will break through. Maybe one new squad player is needed in the midfield, but I don't see the need for wholesale changes.

Up front, I would be unsurprised to see Niklas Bendtner leave after another disappointing season, and he is another player who I wouldn't mind seeing leave. He has bags of potential, and shows moments of promise - especially when playing for Denmark - but has never really lived up to his self-hype in N5. I would sell him to someone abroad though as he could come back to haunt us in the Premiership. Sadly, I also expect Carlos Vela to leave, he's a tricky forward who I rate, although his first team opportunities have been limited. A permanent move to West Brom may beckon. Andrei Arshavin is another player who could leave in the summer, and I would be disappointed if he did. He has never really lived up to his potential, but his occasional moments of brilliance remind everyone why we signed him. He's another player who I wouldn't sell domestically - in any case I would only sell him for very good money as he's an asset to any squad. I'm not sure who I would bring in. Ryo Miyaichi looks like he will be fantastic for us, and he may be able to win a work permit for next season, if not, another season on loan at Feyenoord is likely. One player who I wouldn't mind seeing in an Arsenal shirt is Tim Cahill. He would bring some steel and experience to our frontline, along with his aerial and wide capabilities, he really could be a success at Arsenal.

 

Who would you like to see come in or leave over the summer? Let me know on Twitter (see below) or in the comments.

 

Until next week (maybe!!)

 

In the mean time feel free to follow me on Twitter @Goonernl for mostly Arsenal related updates.