I hope he plays most of the pre season, get's some time in the Emirates Cup and also gets a few sub appearances at home against lesser teams when we've got a comfortable scoreline.

Seen rumours on Twitter that Chris Willock has been offered around on loan for next season. Birmingham is the club I saw mentioned but apparently a number of others interested.

Birmingham will be a good move for him, especially when they used Toral to such great effect this season. Their young manager is pretty impressive.

Nwakali's Facebook description:

Kelechi Nwakali, Footballer at Arsenal FC, London and Nigerian Golden U17 Eaglets Captain, Brother, Son, Friend and an Inspiration to other footballers.

Arsenal first eleven in ten years time

-------------Macey
Bellerin--Chambers-Bielik--Moore
-------Nwakali---Zelalem
Iwobi----Crowley-----Willock
-----------Giroud

No more strikers in Europe, est.

"Noone was available."

Top top post Dules

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

Arsenal first eleven in ten years time

-------------Macey
Bellerin--Chambers-Bielik--Moore
-------Nwakali---Zelalem
Iwobi----Crowley-----Willock
-----------Giroud

What do people make of his chances overall with us? I've been impressed a few times when I've seen him but I always tend to think (to an extent) it's somewhat easier for more physically blessed players to stand out at a lower level amongst their peers. I'd like to see him develop a bit more then see how he plays against some real men. 

Another season or maybe two in the reserves then a loan?

Tony Adams is appointed the assistant manager of our U18 team alongside Thierry Henry. Good move I would say, our youth team's defence is pretty poor and hopefully this move can help improve things.

Yep good to hear.

Whaaaaat?

That's bloody fantastic if true! Wanted Tony back involved with the club for so long.

Immense stuff.

Tam wrote:

What do people make of his chances overall with us? I've been impressed a few times when I've seen him but I always tend to think (to an extent) it's somewhat easier for more physically blessed players to stand out at a lower level amongst their peers. I'd like to see him develop a bit more then see how he plays against some real men. 

Another season or maybe two in the reserves then a loan?

He had a very, very good last three months of the season. In the first half he played well but struggled to keep his game simple enough when playing centreback to not make mistakes that costs goals. He has adjusted to the new position really well now though, looks much more comfortable and is taking the right sort of risk with the ball and when trying to win it early etc.

I watched him live a couple of times at the Emirates and whilst his strength and power was a clear advantage, what really stood out was his anticipation; he just read the play so well, almost Mertesacker-esque. His ability and composure on the ball was impressive too.

He still has to work on his defending inside the box, from crosses in particular, but from everything I've read about him - turning down playing in a couple of friendly matches with Poland during the international break we had toward the end of the season because he was desperate to stay and work with the coaches to improve himself, for example - he seems really determined to do well here.

Not sure what to make of his potential contribution next season. He is still new to playing centreback, can't imagine he's going to be thrown in agaisnt Premier League attackers and not come off badly for a while at least, but I'm not writing him off altogether because he looks a serious talent.

Maybe a really good loan for a season playing centreback somewhere will serve him best?

Ricky1985 wrote:

Whaaaaat?

That's bloody fantastic if true! Wanted Tony back involved with the club for so long.

Curious. Thought he was always being a total wanker about it?

I think he's always been a little bitter that he didn't get offered an important role of some sort when he retired. Had delusions of grandeur to an extent. But his struggles in coaching and management since have humbled him a little and it looks like he's put all that crap behind him.

He's Mr Arsenal - it cannot be a bad thing to have a man of his stature, that has achieved what he has achieved and that loves the club like he does in and around the training ground. Mixing with the kids and the players. Apart all of that, he's had a checkered managerial career, but I do remember him doing a phenomenal job when he was in charge of coaching the defence down at Portsmouth with Harry Redknapp as manager - so the guy can obviously coach.

Certainly noone better for the young defenders to learn from that's for sure.

Yeah pretty great news. Hope it works out.