"It's an English club but not an English success," were the words of Gordan Taylor, the Professional Footballers Association's Chief Executive, back in 2006 during Arsenal's tremendous run in the Champions League that season.
Arsene Wenger has been criticized for a lot of things recently. But something which he has been targeted for time and again by the media, and certain other managers, is the fact that Arsenal don't have enough English players in their starting lineup. In fact, "a lack of an English spine" is what many believe is the reason for Arsenal's "softness."
Alan Pardew also added at the time of the raging debate in 2006:
"I saw a headline saying Arsenal are flying the flag for Britain. I kind of wondered where that British involvement actually was when I looked at their team."
Little did he know that there were a bunch of youngsters waiting to come through the ranks at Arsenal and compete against the likes of Chelsea, Newcastle, Tottenham, and Wigan in the years to follow.
Last night's game showed the amount of English talent at Arsenal today. There were no less than 13 teenagers in the squad yesterday and seven were English.
Skill and technique are not necessarily the terms that come to mind when one thinks of an English footballer. Let's face it, not many Englishmen have done well abroad, with most coaches finding themselves reluctant to gamble on English footballers due to their adaptability to the respective countries' footballing culture.
However, when you look at the likes of Jack Wilshere and Mark Randall, you can see the skill and composure on the ball. They have the eye for a pass and are almost the antithesis of what most traditional English players are all about.
The England national team has been criticized for not having enough flair in the side. Too many long balls and one dimensional play were cited as the reasons for not qualifying for the Euro 2008, which contributed the abject performances of the team at the time.
With Theo Walcott now in the England side, there is an element of pace and direct play which wasn't there before. Walcott has combined the pace with excellent link play and dribbling which makes him such a dangerous player.
All that is down to the coaching that he receives at Arsenal.
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about 1 month ago
I hope these English talents do really well. It might stop teams like Arsenal from stealing 14 and 15-year old talents from other countries, to get past the home-grown rule.
from about 1 month ago
Yeah, so do I - I have a completely different take on the "stealing" though. :)
from about 1 month ago
Naturally. You're not losing the best youths in your academy to foreign clubs.
about 1 month ago
What Arsene Wenger has created is English Players, with the Traditional Physicality, Strength and Resiliance of English players, but with the technical ability and Intelligence of Continental Players... He is trying to blend the best of Both worlds...
about 1 month ago
Great article Shyam.
I can see why some in England may have complained over the years that Arsenal have not always brought through and played young English guys but to blame Wenger for the pitfalls of the English side is pathetic, once again he just became an easy target.
But if these young guys can continue their progress England may have a really good squad in the future. There is a probably that some may not make it but you can see in Randall, Wilshere and Simpson that they definitely have the ability.
Using the Carling Cup is an excellent way of seeing just what these young guys can do.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks Mary.
The Carling Cup is a good way to show the youngsters what competitive football is really like - I'd like to see a couple of senior players in there, just to ensure that we get the trophy this season.
about 1 month ago
good article shyam. it's good to see arsenal are developing young english players, let's hope they get the chance to show what they can do on a regularly enough basis. also, ex-gills 1st team player luke freeman, currently in arsenal's u-18s, is a top talent, look out for him in a few years time.
from about 1 month ago
Yeah, I'm aware of him as well.
There are so many more players who I didn't mention in the article.. Gilles Sunu, Pedro Botelho, Harvard Nordveit, Nacer Barazite and Vito Mannone - albeit non-English, are phenomenal talents.
Let's hope that Arsenal get a good mix of English and foreign players this time around!
about 1 month ago
Nice article Shyam. I'm not one to care much about the National team but I would like to see English players coming through at Arsenal. When an English club relies completely on foreign players they might be a good team but in my eyes, and probably most English people, it just all becomes irrellevant really. Walcott and these youngsters are bringing a bit of integrity to the club, which is just as important as success for me. I hope they can make the grade.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks Anthony - yes, it always gives Arsenal fans a considerable amount of pleasure to watch the Carling Cup - for us, winning and losing in the competition at times, is almost secondary!
Just watching these youngsters play the way they did against Wigan - was awesome.
about 1 month ago
Good article Shyam,
Though I have to say that Walcott isn't much different from most other push and run wingers that England has.
He has an abundance of pace but sadly just no skill. And his ability to frustrate when presented a clear goal scoring opportunity also puts him in the league of players like Jenas and Heskey.
I would like to be proven wrong though and see Wenger turn him into a world class star like Henry.
from about 1 month ago
What Walcott has on his side, Alden, is age. You talk about Bentley and Lennon - Walcott is younger by a year or two to the latter. He is a natural finisher of the ball, has a phenomenal amount of pace.. and his link play has improved tremendously..
He's also becoming very intelligent on the pitch - believe me, he'll only get a lot better in a couple of years.
from about 1 month ago
Valid point, but I am afraid he may be already stagnating as a footballer.
Though as I said I want to be proven wrong and go on and see Walcott be one of the best strikers in the EPL.
about 1 month ago
firstly, walcott will become the best english striker, even ahead of rooney. remember this boy only started playing football when he was 11! so he has only played for 8 years and see what he is doing now.. he will only improve and one things for sure is that he is a fast learner.
secondly, yes, it is great to see english talent coming through. i think wenger has wanted this ever since he took over as manager 12 years ago. but it is just during these 12 years, the amount of british talents really rare in our academy. yes, there were bentley, hoyte, sidwell, harper, upson (who was not actually brought up by arsenal - but bought). but none of these were good enough in my opinion..at least not ahead of the likes of the invincibles.
about 1 month ago
I'm loved the Wigan game. What AWESOMENESS!
about 1 month ago
This young squad is bound for great things but what I'm worried is other clubs attempting to snatch them away from us with big money contracts. They had wonderful performances against Sheffield united and Wigan, this has brought attention to other clubs.
about 1 month ago
Wenger is all about creating a 'culture' at a club, and he has been quoted as stating this in the face of other clubs just splashing cash to attract big names, as opposed to building upon a players love of playing the game and focusing on that.
If you had talent and you loved playing the game, and you love the watching the way Arsenal play, why would you care about anything else? Wenger is insulating the Club against the forces he can't control via the mechanisms he can; building upon a style and flow that is sometimes breathless to watch, and which involves most of the players on the pitch, and when executed by skilled and determined players, generates a reaction and response from fans and neutrals alike that is amazing. What 'kid', who cares (not yet) of fame and money and all those trappings but just wants to play wouldn't want to be a part of that? What group of like minded kids wouldn't gel around that?
Considering the Carling Cup as a Trophy, to Wenger, is "nothing" when weighed against playing in the Champions League each year, its proving to be a great vehicle for Wenger to field a team under no pressure but given lots of support and encouragement. The trophy is not the goal; beating the best of any other team in the competition is surely the goal here.
What a stroke of masterclass man mangement. We were used to Wenger finding rough diamonds from abroad and polishing them to an Arsenal shine, now he's got us and the League hooked on fostering local English talent to their fullest potential blending steely determination and commitment with wonderful technique and quality.
We're by far the greatest team, The world has ever seen....
from about 1 month ago
Another thing about the Carling Cup is that the games at the Emirates are pretty much selling out, so the "kids" are getting to play in front of and experience a crowd of in and about 60,000
from about 1 month ago
Thanks Maire.
and I am sure Wenger is keen to point out to the Board about how gate receipts are comparing to players salaries for these games ;-)
A proper business indeed ;-)
from about 1 month ago
Yep :-)
I hope we get drawn at home again for the next round, I want to try and get a ticket :-)
£20 for a match ticket, €2 return for a ryanair flight :-)
about 1 month ago
Great article, Shyam. I think you've hit on something really big, too. I've been keeping up with the youngsters as best I can and I must say, I'm very impressed with what I'm seeing and hearing. The great thing about having these youngsters in the Arsenal system is that they'll develop a lot more quickly than they might at another club. Capello may be able to select these young talents sooner rather than later.
from about 1 month ago
Yes, absolutely Joe - why can't he select some of them in due course of time? England have been crying out for some flair players who can change the game with a piece of brilliance and almost every player I've mentioned is capable of that - Wilshere in particular.
Thanks for the comment.
about 1 month ago
I really think this is a very special bunch of kids. Arsene Wenger has been doing a great job with their development and i believe they are the future of English football. I really hope to see many of them filter through into the first team in due time. Great Article Shyam!
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