Youth team development: Page 187 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Youth team development

Klaus

It sounds like Freddie might recall Nketiah in January if he's still in charge: https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/marcelo-bielsa-eddie-nketiah-message-17368720

“I need to be careful but I think Eddie is a great player," he told football.london .

"If he goes on loan we want him to play football and get minutes otherwise they (players out on loan) can maybe be here. We want them to be on loan to get minutes.

"I feel a bit sorry for him because he is a great player and the future of this club. When he has had his chance he scores goals and that’s what he is about."

Before Ljungberg added: "I’ve been calling him (throughout the season) and he texted me as well two days ago.

"Like I said I go on a game to game basis but you asked for my opinion and that’s my opinion."

I think it's the right thing to do at this stage. It seems like Leeds duped us with this loan move. They sent their sporting director, a friend of Emery, to make a pitch for a player that it turns out Marcelo Bielsa clearly didn't ask for and doesn't want. Can't help but think that it was at least partly motivated by keeping a lethal player away from one of their main promotion rivals in Bristol City. Eddie was practically done for them when Leeds entered the picture.

The Leeds fans love Eddie and I don't think anyone could have done more to stake a claim - his average is something ridiculous like 50 minutes per goal over there - but it's time to move on from this. Leeds knew the agreement was for Nketiah to start games and they haven't delivered. It would be really naive of us to assume that things will get better during the second half of the season when he scored every time he touched the ball and still couldn't get a start despite Bamford going 11 games without scoring or assisting.

Another point of interest is how highly Freddie thinks of Nketiah. I've watched Leeds closely this season and I really think he will surprise Arsenal fans in the future with how good he is. In my opinion he's easily as talented as anyone we have coming through. Lad's just a badass baller, and he has a very rare edge to him.

Qwiss

Bielsa is a dickhead, Eddie did everything he could to break into that team. I'd cancel the loan and send him out again somewhere else if I had to.

Claudius

Isn’t Sheffield mentioned as an option? If they can be serious about his development, send him there. We have Lacazette and Aubameyang ahead of him. And League Cup is done.

Klaus

Qwiss! wrote:
Bielsa is a dickhead, Eddie did everything he could to break into that team. I'd cancel the loan and send him out again somewhere else if I had to.

Bristol still want him I think. We should send him there to mess with Leeds. I just checked and they have 22 games left of the season in the new year, plus possible playoff games. He could easily score 15-20 goals for them if we get him there very early in January.

Klaus

Claudius wrote:
Isn’t Sheffield mentioned as an option? If they can be serious about his development, send him there. We have Lacazette and Aubameyang ahead of him. And League Cup is done.

The problem is will he start for Sheffield? Maybe if he had a couple of months to establish himself, but realistically he won't go there and nick a starting spot during the business-end of the season when they're gonna have to really dig in to avoid sinking in the table. I think it would be another missed opportunity. Give him to a Championship club where he can hit the ground running and then we can look for a better loan next season.

Qwiss

Sheff United play 2 strikers though and neither score much so there would be a chance to nick one of those spots.

Meatwad

or maybe marlo isn't who you all think he is.

Qwiss

Or maybe you didn't pay attention to how good he was when he got minutes for Leeds.

Klaus

Eddie came on at half time for Leeds yesterday after they struggled to find the target in the first half. Nine minutes later he drilled a shot across goal and not even Bamford could miss the rebound:

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

The one from this crop who actually looks like he could make it and he's probably least likely to due to circumstances.

MistaT

What a fucking first touch

Klaus

He's top-notch technically. I never realised that about him until I watched him for Leeds, probably because he's so efficient in his movement.

There was an interview with him recently where he talked a little bit about being coached by Henry (he was just coming through the youth teams back when Thierry worked for the academy) and his friendship with Ian Wright. He comes across as a really grounded person: https://gaffer.online/features/football/the-calling-eddie-nketiah/

Claudius

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_CONMEBOL_Pre-Olympic_Tournament

This tournament is problematic. It’s the South America Olympic qualifying. Two weeks in early February that will deprive us of Martinelli.

GooneriC

Where are the fullbacks in our reserve/youth teams? Is there no one at all than we could promote? Is it that bad?

DiabyKungFu

Jordi Osei-Tutu is somewhat of a prospect, but he's on loan right now.

Ray

Joel Lopez.

Clrnc

Claudius wrote:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_CONMEBOL_Pre-Olympic_Tournament

This tournament is problematic. It’s the South America Olympic qualifying. Two weeks in early February that will deprive us of Martinelli.

It's not compulsory not to worry

flobaba

Bigger problem is if we are seriously relying on Martinelli for any significant contribution in the league this season.

Klaus

Will have to see what Arteta thinks about him, but I reckon the kid is just that good. The left wing has been sewn up for the foreseeable future now.

Big Willie

Don't see why we can't rely on Martinelli if he's good enough. I think he can contribute quite significantly and develop a lot of we give him the time. Let's face it, our season is fucked anyways. May as well build for the future.

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