Written by Mean Lean on Friday, 08 July 2011 12:37

After being starved from football for a couple of months, I cannot wait for the pre season games to start. It is the same every year, it usually comes hand in hand with the sunshine, a new kit and usually a new player or two. This time the latter might not happen apart from young Carl Jenkinson. Sometimes just as exciting as a new signing on display is a youngster being given a chance to mix it with the first team.

Jack Wilshere has lit up the Emirates cup since the age of 16, while Aaron Ramsey and Francis Coquelin took over at Barnet a few years ago.

The slate seems to be wiped clean and the youngsters who have been working hard at their game in the reserves get to rub shoulders with the established performers. The level in the reserves seems to be rising and is getting closer and closer to the first team so these young players have a real chance to push themselves into Arsene's thoughts before the cheque book comes out, or at least that is what we hope.

While the likes of Phil Jones are being transferred for £16m to Manchester United, we have a player who is of similar age and has Champions League experience under his belt, not only that but he has slipped into defensive midfield in Scottish football without any problems. Yes of course I am talking about Kyle Bartley. While Arsene Wenger will already have his fingers stuck into Gary Cahill shaped pies, he is unlikely to jump in head first without seeing what he already has on his doorstep.

Why fork out a massive chunk of your transfer budget on a defender to do the same role as one you have in your squad? If Bartley comes through the tests in training and matches and shows the requisite strengths that our current squad is missing then it is a no-brainer.

The pre season gives Arsene Wenger a chance to see how much a player has grown, if that player is physically ready for the demands of a long season in arguably the toughest league in the world. He also gets a chance to see the determination, hunger and maturity of a player.

One thing that struck me whilst standing in the stands at Barnet last pre season was how mature and strong Jack Wilshere looked. I remember Jack having a go at Andrey Arshavin for some reason or other. He no longer looked like a kid amongst men, he looked ready and was given a chance. Emmanuel Frimpong was equally impressive in a different role for the team. Physically he looked stronger than everyone else, thundered into tackles and gave it simple. We know what happened to him shortly after but the slate is wiped clean and he can get his chance to prove himself once again.

Arsenal have been very clever by giving youngster Ryo Miyaichi a picture special on the official website just before we fly out to flash our Arsenal coloured knickers in Asia. Ryo will be a big attraction in Asia and he will be on display but anyone who has watched anything of him will know that he is not just a money magnet. He is a very talented, quick and skilful player who has the potential to make the difference in tight games.

Arsene has said that he wants to take a close look at him over pre season and then try and push for a special talent work permit. I would be very surprised if he was sent on loan if there was a chance that we could bring him here. Going from school boy level to the Dutch league and impressing massively shows that he has plenty about him. I am looking forward to seeing him skinning full back's in China and Malaysia.

While we may not yet be in a position to draft through five reserves into the first team, looking at the younger players we have, it will not be long before a number of them are knocking on the door.

I am looking forward to having a good look at some of these players in the next week or so. While it would have been ideal to have had new signings during the tour, it is not always possible to get the players you want instantly. I have no idea why there is a hold up of the Gervinho deal but hopefully that can be pushed through before the players fly off. Mainly because I want to see him and nothing to do with adapting to Arsenal and his team mates you see.

According to the Evening Standard, we are set to offer Samir Nasri £110,000 per week to commit his future at the club. With the amount of bull that we have had to read over the last few weeks, I automatically do not take much notice of anything anymore but lets go with it for now.

If that is the case then Nasri's agent has done a sterling job for his client. He has pushed us to the limit and if his intentions were to stay with us all along then he will sign the deal if not then so be it. Such is life, move on and replace. Like I said yesterday, I no longer give two hoots.

Ah, the Evening Standard have said that paperwork issues have held up Gervinho's signing and that he may not be able to make the trip. That would be rubbish wouldn't it? Having a signing that cannot take part because of paperwork probably sat in a Spurs supporters desk in France.

I would make a joke of the Motta, Mata transfer rumours but I just couldn't make it funny if I tried, so I just won't. Not even a lame secondary joke about it either.

Motta wants to stay at Inter Milan according to his agent and Mata story is just confusing. One person says that the buyout clause cannot be activated by non Spanish sides while others are saying we are in talks with him and his representatives. I don't actually know that much about him really apart from that he looks like an American actor who I cannot remember the name of, which is rather pointless I guess.

Anyway about to go and listen to Arsene's exclusive interview on the Arsenal player thingy.

Back tomorrow.

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Comments (24)

• 08-Jul-2011 12:54 | | Terry
  

  All 3 will be on loan next season and will not make Arsenal squad of 25.Disappointed that we may sell Lansbury to Norwich.Dont think he has been given a chance.He has to be better than the usless Denilson and Diaby.If your face fits

• 08-Jul-2011 12:59 | | MeanLean
  

  I like Lansbury's passion and commitent but I was concerned that he was sitting on the bench for Norwich. They were playing Championship football last season and he wasn't starting most of their games.
  
  Norwich to Arsenal is a massive jump in quality. So that would be my concern.
  
  "He has to be better than the usless Denilson and Diaby"
  
  Fitter not better. If he was better then you would expect him to be the backbone of a promoted club.

• 08-Jul-2011 13:01 | | Terry
  

  As someone who watched Bartley about half a dozen times last season i have to say i wasnt impressed.He will do well in the SPL but looks too slow for the EPL.As for judging him on how he plays in pre season friendlies are you having a laugh?We need a commanding CB with premiership experience.Thats where Cahill ticks all the boxes.Ryo and Frimpong to go on loan to championship sides.

• 08-Jul-2011 13:08 | | Illybongani
  

  Anyone who goes on loan to a lower level team and is not an automatic choice is no good for us. That goes for all of them, the only possibles from last year is Miyaichi and Bartley. That includes Vela.

• 08-Jul-2011 13:12 | | Jack  - Another young gun
  

  What about Henri Lansbury? He looked good against the spuds in the cc. I think he could be just the medicine for our squad, full of determination and passion (I guess a bit like Jacky boy). I hope he gets a decent cance in pre-season

• 08-Jul-2011 13:14 | | podge
  

  Uefa cup experience for Bartley not champions league but still excellent experience for a 20 year old. One thing that makes me confident of Bartley's ability is how he became a crucial part of 2 teams in the course of a season despite his season being cut short by injury. The reviews of him by local media and the 2 clubs are excellent “He’s fast, obviously he’s a big, strong boy, he is good in the air and he likes a tackle"-Keith Jackson. That is exactly what we are looking for at centre back add to that how well he performed in the old firm games and you have a mentally mature and physically gifted centre back with the qualities we need. Bartley may be a better option than signing Samba as we know Bartley is suited to the Arsenal defence and offers a strong aerial presence at 6'3 and 80kg(Samba is 91)80kg is roughly 13 stone. Samba is bigger but a lot slower Bartley has very good pace for a centre back. Samba is overkill in terms of strength, he is much stronger than anybody in the premiership, Bartley is a strong presence who should improve our set piece defending without hindering our open play defending as Samba most likely would.If we promote Bartley and sign Gervinho then that would be 2 title winners added to the squad.

• 08-Jul-2011 13:14 | | Anonymous  - .
  

  yerp, I'd leave ryo with the dutch side, he's doing well there and truthfully, probably won't see much football at the arsenal this season. He should be somewhere where he's geting as much games/experience as he can under his belt. As for frimpong, I'd love to see him remaining this season, we need him far more than ryo simply based on player roles. Just to bulk add a bit of strength too the team
  
  frimpong = big+strong, not too many in the squad
  
  ryo= small+skillfull+tricky, we have plenty of them
  
  
  overall though two very interesting players with a big future

• 08-Jul-2011 13:22 | | Anonymous
  

  relying on someone who is unproven in the premiership is crazy. Thats exactly what people have been getting so annoyed about. We seriously need a quick fix with our defence, one more cb and and a lb, and to rely on a, with respect hyped up 20 year old, with no premiership or big league experience is not the answer. We need not just a good player but an experienced leader at the back, my vote goes to samba. Already a proven as a leader (blackburn captain), solid, good technically (positioning, tackling), and for the record he's actually quite pacy

• 08-Jul-2011 13:23 | | Anonymous
  

  thats @ podge btw

• 08-Jul-2011 13:51 | | Eric
  

  Bartley is still young & more for the future Arsenal team.
  Who know, he may be another Tony Adams in the making
  
  Be patience with the boy, give him a go when he is ready

• 08-Jul-2011 14:14 | | Maria
  

  Would like to see Armand and Coqulein get a chance this pre-season.

• 08-Jul-2011 14:24 | | Petey  - James Caan
  

  James Caan

• 08-Jul-2011 14:28 | | jake  - funny
  

  haha that last bit about the american actor is soo true!! just cant put a finger on who it is

• 08-Jul-2011 16:05 | | Gbenga  - ECL
  

  @Podge, Bartley has both Champions league and Europa league experience. He played arsenal's ECL last match against olympiacos in 2099/2010 group stage and played Europa Cup for Rangers in 2010/2011.
  
  Saying he is too slow for EPL is absolute rubbish. Bartley is a gem in the making who has played in England (Championship), SPL, Europe and has been good in all those competitions with rave reviews.
  
  Remember, he was almost the best Defender in the reserve league same season Jones (Man Utd) was playing reserve football for Blackburn

• 08-Jul-2011 16:33 | | Bala
  

  Looks like Bartley will not travel to Asia which is really sad but hopefully he will get his chances at the Emirates cup. I am a big fan of him and since he was brought in from the Bolton academy, he should possess the English grit and steel everyone asks for. I would love to see Lansbury at Arsenal, if not I hope he goes on loan to a premier league club.

• 08-Jul-2011 18:36 | | podge
  

  No he isn't. He isn't slow for a man his size but he is certainly not pacy he can move a bit when his momentum gets him going but his acceleration is poor. He isn't exposed to quick forwards that often as Blackburn defend deep more often than not but there have been a few occasions where he has been caught out famously against Wigan when Rodellega scored from a ball over the top Samba had a couple of yards head start and Hugo just flew past him and took it round Robinson. His open play positioning isn't amazing he does leave his man unmarked occasionally in a game and he goes to ground a bit too often for our style of defense he takes himself out of the game for that play. I'm focusing on the negatives of Samba here but I do think he is a good player just maybe not what we need because although he will help us at set pieces he would likely be a liability in open play Senderos looked like a very good prospect until we changed our system and look what happened there as a worst case scenario example of how Samba could flop at Arsenal

• 08-Jul-2011 18:51 | | feeno
  

  how bout "you say motta I say mata, lets call the whole thing off "
  
  
  badam tisch.

• 08-Jul-2011 19:31 | | MeanLean
  

  *Shakes head*
  
  

• 08-Jul-2011 19:32 | | MeanLean
  

  Where did you hear about Bartley not going to Asia? That would be bad for him if he doesn't get that chance.

• 08-Jul-2011 19:32 | | MeanLean
  

  Scratching my head like crazy but I cannot think of who it is. To be fair, I do not know the bloke well, I just know that he looks like him

• 08-Jul-2011 19:33 | | MeanLean
  

  Would love to see how Coquelin has progressed but apparently he will not be available for the tour

• 08-Jul-2011 22:52 | | Maria
  

  Let's hope his withdrawn for the squad. Pre-season with Arsenal so much more important to Francois.

• 09-Jul-2011 01:05 | | richie  - Questions?
  

  ML Did bala reply to your question about Bartley not going on tour? Or anyone know where the story about him not going emenates from? Like many I've been hoping for a promotion.

• 09-Jul-2011 12:18 | | Wayne  - Mr
  

  Pretty much agree with all your article. I reckon if Kyle Bartley had of been playing with Bolton or Blackburn like cahill and jones have been then he would of been in the same bracket in them in terms of how good a player he is. Really hope we keep him. I just really want at least 1 or 3 signings to show we mean business and if the current crop couldnt do it last year, then more than likely not next season especially if our team is being weakened.

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