Arsenal Banter Archive December 20 2013

20 Dec 2013 21:39:03
I don't really follow the reserves like I use to many years ago. We use to have quite a good youth development policy over the years, ie Ray Parlour, Ashley Cole, Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere to name but a few.
Does anybody know if we have any youngsters who could bear fruit in the next year or so?

Well of course there are Gnabry and Ryo who are making moves towards the first team. Ryo has a bit to go but Gnabry will definitely make an impact in the next couple of years.

The other prominent ones as far as I can see are Eisfeld, Toral, Bellerin and Zelalem. Eisfeld has a lot of potential, was considered as being on par with Goetze a few years ago at Dortmund, set back by injury but could be a great player in the making. Toral and Bellerin both came from La Masia, attacking midfielder and full-back respectively. Bellerin is currently on loan at Watford and playing well apparently. Then there's Zelalem, who has been compared to a young Fabregas (no pressure mate!). Seen him a few times and he really is a class act, excellent positioning, distribution and reading of the game, and only 16 I think.

On top of that we have English players like Hayden, Akpom and Afobe who have shown a lot of potential. And two good young keepers in Martinez and Iliev. I think, overall, we have a very promising young group of players and at least 2-3 of them will become big names for us, same way Wilsh, Gibbs and Szczesny have done.

Thanks Oleg, I also take my hat off to your knowledge of our youngsters, thank you kind sir.

I watched the U21 game against Manchester United yesterday.

Strictly from watching the game, I was impressed with Semi Ajayi, Tafari Moore, Gedion Zelalem, and Eisfeld. (Gnabry didn't play but would most likely be on this list)

Semi Ajayi, the Nigerian center-back we signed on trial, played pretty well, apart from a wayward pass that almost caused a goal. He looked very comfortable on the ball, which is something not seen from tall defenders. A couple times when he was under pressure, he showed great awareness to dribble himself out of it and find the open man. As a center-back he has a solid touch and not afraid to take his space (which could be a good and bad thing).

Tafari Moore, only 16 years-old, plays right back. He's not too tall but reminds me of more offensive Sagna. Moore was at the heart of our crosses and would constantly make runs down the line. In the second half, he made about 3 runs in a row down the line, one of them produced Eisfeld's one-touch goal about 15 yards-out. Moore looks very promising.

Gedion Zalelem, 16 year-old German midfielder, looks like our most promising prospect. This is not an overstatement: his touch, movement, and awareness is like Ozil's! (Not very surprising considering Ozil is his favorite player.) Zelalem played in an Arteta-like role and connected well with his defensive backs and midfielders. What I liked is in his play is his movement particularly; he would give a little shimmy to fake the defender before receiving the ball. Very intelligent and crafty player. I didn't see him lose the ball. His passes were good and made many 1-2 passes. As someone who has played against him when he was in the US, I can say that he is the real-deal. Very cool to watch someone you played against play on your favorite team, I might add.

Eisfeld, another German midfielder, plays similarly to Rosicky. He's very agile and quick. His passes didn't connect very well in the game (primarily due to the fact that the field was essentially mud.) However, I saw what he was seeing and the passes he was trying to do. Very creative player. He also scored nice one-touch goal but missed sitter that was fortunately outsides.

Olsson was aggressive, Hayden made a couple nice tackles (impressed with Hayden's leadership), and Myachi was dangerous on the wing.

Thanks messenger,
It seems Eisfeld and Zalelem get mentioned a lot and could be stars for the future.

20 Dec 2013 13:55:50
Suarez signed a long term contract at Liverpool.

Wonder how many ' get-out clauses' are in that

If Liverpool don't get CL, can't see him sticking around.

It keeps the wolfs away for a while,, Sorry dagenham gunner mate, it looks like
that dream has gone, Maybe you will go all out for benzema

Lol no clauses u really are a moody goner with that news. Salah Fernando next. Sturidge Gerard to return v soon also. I smell a title. Maybe u mite tie giroud down :)

Phew
Hope there's a clause that says never to Arsenal :-) :-) :-) :-)

Lol Deano,

I just posted on the Liverpool site about Suarez signing a contract.
Glad though, let's keep all our top players in the EPL and stop the rot of them going abroad.

Deano, I guess Suarez must have thought to himself "If I can't go to Arsenal, I might as well stay at Anfield" lol

Nice one

Salah. What I have seen of him at Basel I thought he was a quality player. I would have liked to have seen him at Arsenal. Maybe push Theo up front a bit with Giroud and let Salah play on the wing . Any thoughts?

He looks like a decent player Golds and he has goals in him.

20 Dec 2013 09:52:06
If you fancy a little chuckle look up Arsene Wenger, Andre Arshavin "Fairytale of North London"
Flybo

Very good flybo very good

From our dear friend I do believe?

20 Dec 2013 06:50:29
RED ANT. Thanks for your support mate on the Jack Wilshere ban. I think it works like this.
When Suarez did it he used a one finger gesture, therefore it became a one match ban. Evidently with Jack they believed he made a two fingered gesture, therefore it became a two match ban. Now I've heard that players have been told not to wave at the crowd before or after the game as this is far too many fingers on show and this could lead to a ban for the remainder of the season. SMILES LOL!
Yes I agree with you there is no consistency absolutely ridiculous. Next thing you will know is that players will have to play with balaclava type wooly hats on with just there eyes showing just in case they swear and someone lip reads it and gets offended. I think Suarez's and Jacks acts came out of emotions end of.

Lol Gold, I like it

So will any Liverpool player who gives the United fans the 5 times salute
get a five match ban? just a thought

My take on the situation is this. The panel is set up to look at incidents that refs etc miss. The incidents if seen by the officials would be deemed to be a sending off offence. Therefore the minimum punishment would be 2 game ban for a straight red as opposed to 1 game for 2 yellows. This only came in recently to my knowledge but I may be wrong.
This is why probably it was appealed and why it cannot be compared to Luis ban previously. Good luck for the season and here's hoping we are still fighting it out for title come May,
YNWA

Simon I do believe you are correct my friend, good post.

19 Dec 2013 23:40:03
Hey Gooners, Liverpool fan here. I see Wilshire will have to serve his 2 game ban following his hand gesture to the crowd. If that wasn't a joke enough can you explain why it was 2 games yet Suarez only got a 1 game ban for doing the exact same thing? The FA really are a bunch of Buffoons who seem to make up policy as they go along. My dislike for these old farts at the FA grows daily, I would even go as far to say I will have a little chuckle to myself if Suarez and Uraguay dump England out of the world cup next year. I know what happens at Arsenal should not bother me but the inconsistent punishments, fines etc handed out by the FA does (as you can probably tell) Grrrrr.

They never have got it right and doubt they ever will, people been moaning about them who ever they are since I was a kid and nothing has changed.
But on the bright side I think it will do Jack good and give him a chance to calm down and come back in a better from of mind

Red Ant, totally agree mate. They are a very inconsistent bunch at the FA.
Agree with G62 though, will give Jack some time to reflect on his actions.