Written by Mean Lean on Sunday, 05 June 2011 14:32

Much has been made of the need to improve the squad via the transfer market, various names have been linked with Arsenal from the press and whether or not those names are correct, it is highly unlikely that Wenger will not bring in new talent from outside the club but new faces will not only come in externally, the Arsenal set up has been designed so that we can always have internal solutions. Not only that but Arsenal is now regarded as one of the clubs that give youth a chance to play at the highest level.

This strategy was introduced to the club in order to get the best youngsters from around the world to consider Arsenal ahead of most other clubs. This is also why our younger players are paid higher than most other youngsters in the country and possibly Europe. A sort of Chelsea of the under 16s if you like without the obvious lack of class.

You would like to think that if a 15 year old Zinedine Zidane was around today and was thinking of his future then Arsenal and Arsene Wenger would be quite high on his list of options.

Jack Wilshere and Wojciech Szczesny's rise to stardom this season proves that the youth system is far from a failure, in fact it is a roaring success. Many people who write it off are actually missing the point.

The idea of 'project youth' is to run an organic revenue stream into the club, developing and improving teenagers and then moving on the ones that are not good enough for the club in the long term, for a healthy profit. The youngsters with the best talent and attitude can hopefully get a chance in the first team like Jack and Wojciech.

Arsene's idea was never to produce a whole squad full of developed players to win trophies, it was always supposed to be a mixture of external and internal players. Hence the signatures of Sagna, Nasri, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Arshavin, Chamakh et al.

Arsene will be making decisions over which of his youngsters can make the step up for next season as well as which players he needs to bring in from outside the club.

Currently we have a vast amount of players out on loan at other clubs and I suspect that as well as the need for experience elsewhere, I would imagine that it is also a chance to see which players sink or swim.

Many people are hoping for Henri Lansbury to be given his chance in the Arsenal squad and I for one admire his fight and work rate, a trait that has been missing at times this season but I would question why an Arsenal youngster is not the first name on the team sheet at a Championship club, regardless of the fact that said club were pushing for promotion.

If Jack Wilshere did not manage to start all or most of his games at Bolton then I doubt that he would be an established Arsenal regular today. This isn't to say that Lansbury does not have the potential to be good enough to play for Arsenal but I wonder if he is ready for at least one more step above Norwich City.

The same must apply to Carlos Vela, a player who I feel has most of the attributes needed to play for Arsenal. Pace, finishing and ability but clearly something is missing if he is warming the bench for West Brom.

Players who have muscled their way into their clubs are the likes of Ryo Miyaichi, Francis Coquelin, Benik Afobe and Kyle Bartley to name a few. The likes of Afobe are still too young and will almost certainly go back on loan, perhaps at a higher level. Coquelin could return to Arsenal, perhaps dependant on the future of Emmanuel Eboue as the Frenchman has performed well in both right or central defensive midfield positions at Lorient.

Kyle Bartley has performed very well at Rangers but his lack of chances at Arsenal so far would almost indicate that Wenger may feel that Bartley would not fit his system. That is just a guess and perhaps his experience will push him further up the ladder at Arsenal for a place in the Carling Cup squad next season.

Possibly the most outstanding loanee performer this season has been the new boy Ryo Miyaichi, hitting the ground running for Dutch club Feyenoord. Miyaichi has lit up the Eredivisie with a mixture of pace, dribbling and no fear. He will return for the pre season while Arsenal try and gain a 'special talent' work permit.

Personally I hope he does manage to transform his form of last season into his next and hopefully that will be at Arsenal.

While it would be foolish to expect Miyaichi to be an integral part of our first team, it would be nice to have a player of his pace and direct running as an impact player when full backs tire and pitches are stretched.

Emmanuel Frimpong almost made his way into the first team set up last season after a string of impressive pre season displays. His tough tackling, strength and commitment impressed the Arsenal support almost instantly but his injury just before the season started put an end to his season. He is back and has played reserve games so perhaps a loan move  beckons.

I expect plenty of the current youngsters to be sold on to make space for other talented players. Tom Cruise and Mark Randall have already been released and I expect more to join. Spaces will become available  so it will be down to individuals to impress during pre season just as Wilshere did last June/July.

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Comments (34)

• 05-Jun-2011 15:19 | | Gunner2301mk2
  

  I'd like to know which teenagers we're moving on for a healthy profit? You already cited Randall and Cruise who are being let go and that is the usual story they are let go not sold. If we consider the amount we have paid out on wages for these youth players who never make it and our burgeoning wage bill can you call the academy a success? Under Wenger we only have Fabregas before him it was Cole, since Fabregas we have only Wilshire and possibly Ramsay. Szczesny was fortunate that the other keepers were a joke and that Arsenal didn't buy an established keeper which has contributed to our problems otherwise he would not have emerged for another few seasons or would have tried to hold us to ransom over playing time and left. He is promising but hardly convincing. All in all the bringing through of youth players has not been a big success as everyone is thinking and out of those mentioned above how many have not been bought in from elsewhere by the club? We are not capable of nurturing our own youth through, which to me is a failure.

• 05-Jun-2011 15:36 | | MeanLean
  

  Seen as the transfer window has barely opened, it would be impressive if I could show you the amount of profit made on players that have often turned up for free.
  
  Off the top of my head I think of players like David Bentley, Steven Sidwell and Fabrice Muamba who were all sold on for 'healthy profit' as well as future sell on clauses.
  
  I think it is somewhat unfair of you to say that Arsenal do not produce all these players when Arsenal as well as every Premier League team only have a 90 minute distance radius to find their talent unlike clubs like Barcelona who can pick up who they want before a certain age.

• 05-Jun-2011 15:54 | | LovesTheArsenal
  

  There are many players currently plying their trade in the premiership who graduated from the arsenal academy. As you rightly state we dont always get a huge fee from them but there are usually many clauses, such as sell on fees, percentages of profit or payments after certain goals are met. This all brings in 'healthy profit'.
  
  To add to the names given by MeanLean there are also Seb Larsson, Quincy, Anthony Stokes, Justin Hoyte, Jay Simpson.. all off the top of my head. Admittedly none have been good enough for the arsenal first team but are playing at a high standard and brought in good money.

• 05-Jun-2011 16:02 | | Danish Gooner  - Failed Youth
  

  For fucks sake Meanlean,get your head out of the sand.Arsenal is supposed to breed these players so they can play in the first team not being some sort of resale outlet,we are not fucking Tesco,you think like Wenger more about profit Arsenals youth academy is failing big time with the odd success like Wilshire or Fab but the day we have a team of 5 or 6 quality home grown players in our side it will be a success,like Barcelona,like Ajax etc.

• 05-Jun-2011 16:10 | | MeanLean
  

  And I am the one with my head in the sand. Are you suggesting that we should not be trying to generate our own cash? We bring through the best of what we have. What is wrong with that?

• 05-Jun-2011 16:31 | | A friend
  

  Man, some of the guys who post on here are amazing. Arsenal brings through so many players, while remaining in a respectable position in the league and occasionally challenging for titles, while running at a profit, competing in the champion's league AND playing decent football. No club has some kind of divine right to win trophies, and i, for one, am happy to wait until we achieve it. Some 'fans' here want Wenger to spend 50 million each summer, shut down the youth academy ( what's the point if you don't use the players? ), make huge losses each year, win the prem each year too. AND stay viable in the long term. Sorry but only real madrid can do this and that's because they're funded by the spanish government and play in a league with the most unfair tv deal ever. Get real and get behind the club. COYG!!!

• 05-Jun-2011 16:34 | | A friend
  

  Yeah, mean lean, we bring through the best we have and sell those who don't quite make it. Sometimes decent players also leave, but in most such cases, they do so at a profit to arsenal. @ danish, please explain to me what's wrong with that?

• 05-Jun-2011 17:17 | | Man United Killer  - what a joke?which youngster do you speak of?
  

  "Not only that but Arsenal is now regarded as one of the clubs that give youth a chance to play at the highest level."
  
  You forgot to add the part where they get paid extremely high wages which they tend not to appreciate 2 years down the line so they hold the club Tto ransom.You also forgot to add that once they become good enough they want to leave because our club shows no footballing ambition.Finally how did you miss the fact that the only success that we are now concerned about is the one in the financial books.
  
  "Arsene's idea was never to produce a whole squad full of developed players to win trophies, it was always supposed to be a mixture of external and internal players. Hence the signatures of Sagna, Nasri, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Arshavin, Chamakh et al."
  
  Our youth system is a failure because either the players dont live up to expectation or they just realize that the Arsenal levels of ambition is a joke.To sign players such as Koscienly,Chamakh and expect them to supplement the youth is a joke.They are simply not good enough to supplement our youth policy.Barca signs world class players to complement their youth system not some substandard players who dont know a thing about winning.
  
  Wenger wants to get credit for winning trophies with a bunch of spoiled,overrated youngsters (who keep talking crap like Wenger is like a father to me) and substandard so-called experienced world class players who cant even get into half of Europes first teams.Wenger is running Arsenal like his project.In life nothing lasts forever neither will his reign at Arsenal.He must be excited about the fact that he has no one to answer to.when he is leaving he can take Gazidis with him.another blood sucker.

• 05-Jun-2011 17:19 | | Man United Killer
  

  BIG BIG FAILURE.I AGREE!

• 05-Jun-2011 17:21 | | Man United Killer
  

  And where is all the healthy profit? In Gazidis pocket?

• 05-Jun-2011 17:26 | | Man United Killer
  

  What did we do with all that money?Signed some more youngters who never make the cut? Spend some more on high wages to players who wont bother to work their socks off for the Arsenal? Or maybe spend the some of it on some more substandard players?

• 05-Jun-2011 17:30 | | mr h
  

  I love how many people came out to praise the Barca team, a team that is the very definition of project youth, and then in the very next breath condemn and Arsenal system that is doing something so similar. To praise vision and then condemn the exact same vision is unbelievably narrow minded.
  
  The system at Barca, that is so obviously successful and the better way to manage a club, has been in place for half a decade longer than our system. By the laws of logic, we therefore are on course for achieving similar honours to Barca. If you bring up players that have been playing together for as long as Xavi, Iniesta and Messi, when they reach their peak, they way they play together CANNOT BE BOUGHT... Not at any amount.
  
  Learn, build, grow... NOT buy buy buy.

• 05-Jun-2011 17:35 | | sam
  

  dont forget walcott, djourou and song. this time last most fans considered walcott as failure including pundits like andy grey. the patience arsene has on these youth is incredible. rewarding that we finally get the best out of them but its also costing us trophies. bendtner is ungratefull and should be sold. if walcott has chosen man u he would be playing championship football by now.
  personally i am feeling vela will surprise us next season and armand traore will defend better, afobe and miyaichi as our super subs. still arsene needs to spend in the summer i hope

• 05-Jun-2011 17:50 | | sam
  

  in my opinion youth project hasn't been a failure, its arsene stubborn policy that cost us.
  he should apply his patience only on youth who are still developing and senior players who are underperforming should be strictly dealt with.
  why is almunia still on arsenal payroll? arshavin, clichy, rosicky,diaby, denilson. especially arshavin, it will be irresponsible if he stays and sleep on the pitch like last season. a senior player with poor attitude on the pitch doesnt help the youth.

• 05-Jun-2011 19:51 | | andy
  

  The 'youth project' should work to supplement the club's ambition of winning trophies. Unfortunately is hasn't worked. The with youth/promising talent, is that its a gamble. You don't know if they are going to become the player you envision. And Wenger's refusal to buy experience players (because it would halt the progress of youth players) has cost the club dearly in terms of trophies. And now senior players want to leave because they realize that they are unlikely to win anything while Wenger persist with this vicious cycle of developing youth. Cesc comments summed it up earlier this season....at some point the club has to say are we here to win trophies or develop youth. Even Patrice Evra said Arsenal become nothing but a training ground.

• 06-Jun-2011 10:14 | | Danish Gooner  - Youth System
  

  It is very fine getting a profit out of players not good enough to wear the Arsenal jersey but we are supposed to produce our own world class stars and save us money but basically we havnt done that.Bentley,Muamba etc are all players that was either the new one exciting talent or one up and coming but they all failed miserable like Senderos and so many others before him.What Wenger is trying to do is failing miserable,not one bar Fab have been produced from the "famous academy" United have had much more success about them but they dont run around mouthing of all the time.Wilshire could be the only Englishman with quality coming through our ranks with any talent since Ashley Cole that is simply not good enough when you think of the droves and droves of players coming through Arsenal.Our scouting system need to vastly improve if we are to succeed like Wenger want us to.

• 06-Jun-2011 17:38 | | Podge
  

  Have you any idea how many players in La Liga and Segunda division came through at Barca pretty much every team in the top2 divisions in Spain has an ex Barca player. Walcott spent time in our youth system we signed him when he was 16 Clichy arrived at 16, Song at 17,Djouruo at 15, Ramsey another who arrived as a youth player and developed here so when Fabregas is added thats 8 of our better regular first teamers as a result of our 'failed' youth system. If you don't think those players are good enough you're an idiot as Barca and Real have both stated they want Clichy. Song and Djouruo are among the best in the league in their positions Ramsey is already a top player and Walcott was our best player at the start of the season. Also Barca and Ajax academys didn't pop up over night they took years Barca went 6 years without a trophy while they built their team and the likes of Xavi and Iniesta were considered not good enough.

• 06-Jun-2011 17:44 | | Podge
  

  But Evras a cunt

• 07-Jun-2011 07:00 | | Waterboy
  

  I think the notion of Arsenal's youth system is fanastic! The problem in my view has been that Arsenal as a club hasnt maintained the same tactical setup which Wenger initially used when he came to the club, and in certain positions he hasnt recruited youth player with similar physical attributes or natural inclinations as his previously successful team. That said, with the current crop of youth players adopting a tactical approach similar to Barca seems to be an more realistic progression than reverting to our formerly successful structure. However for a tactical approach akin to Barca to work some changes to our forward personal (barring Walcott) and a taller defensive midfielder (as back up for Song) appears needed.

• 08-Jun-2011 01:45 | | richie
  

  Ridiculous statement Muk, we now have arguable the best training facility in London. It cost millions and it was paid for by Arsene's transfers. I can personally remember when a large part of our first double team did their training in a local park. I remember it well because it was my job to deliver refreshments to them from Avenal Rd on my push bike.
  
  The pace of change and how quickly we have moved from being a local club into a world super club is truely unbelieveable. Don't even get me started on the magnificient stadium, and before anyone criticises me for that statment, yes I am P'ed off with the ticket price hike, but not for the reasons most people are. I'm P'ed off that it might prevent some of our core local supporters with kids from being able to attend.

• 08-Jun-2011 02:10 | | richie
  

  It took a lot more than 15 years to establish Barca's academy, and Ajax's academy started more than 15years before Barca's. Establishing a successful academy takes time, get real!!!
  We didn't even have a bloody training facility never mind a school until Arsene sold players at a profit to pay for the building of one. Success will breed success once the school is further established. One JW coming from the school will now encourage 50 potential young kids to want to join and emulate his success. Just as ML thinks it might happen.

• 08-Jun-2011 02:15 | | richie
  

  Well said my friend. Far too many can't see the wood for the tree's.

• 08-Jun-2011 02:21 | | richie
  

  Very well put Mr H - As you have pointed out logical thinking eludes far too many who post here at times.

• 08-Jun-2011 02:24 | | richie
  

  2nd that emotion!

• 08-Jun-2011 04:13 | | Man United Killer  - Another load of crap
  

  Another load of hogwash from Mr. AKB Know-it-all.Anyone who does not agree with you is not thinking straight like you.What have we done with all the best training facilities in London?Become losers!Dont get you started?No you dont get me started.Paying exhorbitent wages to a bunch of overrated kids who dont know ish about winning.
  Dude!Dont give me any crap about a world super club.What makes a club a super club?Good traning facilities?coming forth consistently?singing a bunch of youngsters half of who never get good enough,and whats worse wanting to leave when they realise they are surrounded by losers?or the tippy tappy game that never yields any results?The lazy bunch of players who feel they can just show up and win a game?Or the fact that we are officially Arsenal LLC? Oh I know,we are a big club because we failed to muster a single shot in a champions league game.
  I really dont give a flying cow if you are blind to the facts because you have been a water boy for the team before.Fact is I get paid to do my job.Now why the freaking heck wont these overrated bunch of botters just do theirs.For whats worth,I wont earn a quarter of what they earn in a week in a whole year.Dude!dont even go there!
  Dont conclude that just because you have met a few people from the club you know all that is going on in the club.The current players in the club are crying for signings and changes.who are you to act like all is nice and rosy.talking crap about training facilities.Weak joint.come again.

• 08-Jun-2011 10:51 | | richie
  

  Muk As usual there is no point in arguing with you because everytime you make a points that draws a respose you twist things around. talking to you online is like watching the Pepsi football match where the goal keeps moving. You stated the money made by selling players ended up in Gazidis pocket. I correctly pointed out that the money made by Arsene for Arsenal FC in player trading built us one of the best training facilities in the country.
  
  Whats your answer to that? You don't have one! Why? Because if you took the trouble to find out you'd discover that my statement is true. Arsene's transfer dealings paid for our London Colney training ground. So you move the goal posts and start talking about paying too high wages and that our players haven't won anything, therefore they are all losers. Next you bring up your old favourite criticism tippy tappy football. When the current kings of tippy tappy with their mainly home grown academy raised players handed Manu'er a footballing lesson I don't remember you saying tippy tappy doesn't work.
  
  As has been pointed out to you by many others on this blog its very difficult to converse with you because your arguements are contradictory and illogical. I often engage in banter with you Gooner but seriously if you want to make a statement that claimes our transfer profits end up in someones pocket then justify the statement with a logical thread.

• 08-Jun-2011 10:58 | | richie
  

  Mr H answers you below perfectly Muk.

• 08-Jun-2011 15:11 | | Man United Killer  - The pot calls the kettle black...
  

  Well, you find it pointless arguing with me.true..it goes both ways..but I still do..I wonder why..Let me tell you something else I found out..
  I find it funny that you skipped the fact that the tippy tappy kings scored 2 goals from a distance during the game with Man U.When was the last time we did that?go figure.Our tippy tappy is not effective.period.
  Saying that the money ended up in Gazidis pocket does not literally mean that Wenger gave Gazidis the money.harumph!what were you thinking?What has all the money we apparently raised from player sales done for our squads quality?We have not replaced half of the quality players that we sold.Yet,you sit here in oblivion and talk about winning trophies with this squad.Joke!
  If you really want to find out whose arguements are illogical,look into the mirror.The only reason you dont find anything wrong with our beloved club is that, you have been their water boy in the past or you have spoken with a few people at the club in the past.who cares?Yes,I will agree that I dont always sing the same song as far as my arguement goes that is becasue I dont think it's all dark and gloom at our club.There are always positives but the fact that I state both the positives and negatives does not make me contradictory.It makes me a truth-speaker.Whiles I praise the truth and criticize the wrong you sit here and act like this club is on an unprecedented road to success.Let me not remind you that,you are the number one question evader on here.you never answered my questions about why Cesc and Nasri might want to leave.You only kept going on about a totally unrelated issue and ended up with words that seemed to ask me if I knew what you meant.Chances are,you didnt even know what you meant.
  If not agreeing with you makes me illogical I'd galdly register myself at a psychiatric facility.But dont for a second think that having a beer with an Arsenal affiliate or giving a player a chilled glass of water makes you a 'Mr. Know all about Arsenal'...Wenger will not be manager forever.Maybe you will follow him to his next club.Oh!How I will rejoice that day!I will have a party and you are invited!

• 08-Jun-2011 16:57 | | Man United Killer  - haha..project youth
  

  Half of Barca's players started playing in the youth system at 10,11,12...and they play for ages and live up to expectation for most part thanks to an effective system and experience from world class players.. . we on the other hand buy players at 16,17,18,19... and then half of them never end up being good enough.so now who is really running an effective youth system.It seems to me that we ruin half of the players.you either do it and do it well or you dont do it.as it stands it's a waste of money.players never get good enough or when they do,they leave.

• 09-Jun-2011 02:52 | | richie  - Muk the truth speaker (-:
  

  You obviously didn't read my response to your question about why I think Cesc would want to leave? I gave you a list of so many reasons why cesc might want to leave that maybe it overwhelmed you. As for Nasri I said I didn't know why he'd wanna leave, so maybe his agent was telling him not to sign until they got what they wanted. £££££ I always answer any questions asked of me especially if I start the tread and know the answer.
  
  Above you made a statement I answered it and told you clearly where the money made on transfers went. Next up don't continue on the same thread because you realise that what I'd said was the truth. So you begin raving on about how we can't win anything with Kids an arguement that Taggart won years ago by proving that kids could win. Next you moved on to paying too much in wages and finished off with that our team are all losers. Are you really a Gooner?
  
  I've never claimed to know all about Arsenal, I knew every inch of highbury stadium though and I didn't give the 71 boys water. Nutrition wasn't big back then I delivered mini bottles of milk and a bag of oranges halved. Yes I still know people who work at the club and I might hear a whisper now and again but that don't make me part of the inner circle. I wished!!

• 09-Jun-2011 03:05 | | richie
  

  I guess you think JW is a waste of money and he'll leave when his contract runs out. Shame on us if Arsenal doesn't do enough to hang on to the talent it produces.

• 11-Jun-2011 01:40 | | Gooner  - Youth System
  

  I also think our youth system has been a success. Have a look around the Premier League and see actually how many outstanding talents are produced by clubs in a given time period. Liverpool produced 3 or 4 over 15 years. Mancs got very lucky with the "fledglings" Chavs got John Terry. It's not like a youth system can produce a World Class player every year or so. Arsenal in my opinion have done extremely well. Having produced a couple of worldclass midfielders in just the last 5 years. If you dont want to count Cesc as he's spanish, then we've still produced Jack, Cashley, Gibbs, Bartley could well be in that category too, by the sounds of Rangers. Anyway my point is that a youth academy will not churn out a world class team every 3-5 years so it's not a failure. Ramble off

• 11-Jun-2011 10:38 | | sapman
  

  lol muk you dont know anything mate
  
  barca has had one johan cruyff there for the last 40 years setting down the principles of their play and organising their academies ...
  
  from 1992 till 2006 barca was considered losers. that was their nickname ...and in 2006 they shrigged off that tag and the 4 decades of working hard paid off in a spectacular manner.
  
  the dutch have been hugely influential there.
  
  back in early 2000;s xavi and puyol were getting b*itchslapped by real madrid...now they win world cups euros champions league ..everything.
  
  can u imagine them selling xavi puyol and co cause at 22 23 24 they couldnt beat zidanne figo raul and ronaldo ?
  
  united has had a head start of a decade and more
  
  arsenal has just started ...

• 11-Jun-2011 10:43 | | sapman
  

  and why are you unable to reply to richie about his comments for the clubs history indicating that 6 years with no trophy is nothing to worry about
  
  do u know that arsenal went nearly forty years with only one double to show for it ? .... lol
  
  richie is right
  
  from local traditional english club into world super force..recognised and appreciated and respected worldwide
  
  but in england we have to deal with bigots who think they know better than wenger ...lol..and a media mechanisation who likes to mock him.
  
  and the arsenal fans...lol consider themselves customers and not supporters ..

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