Chris Willock will get game time at LW next season I hope.

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.

7 days later

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.

😆

13 days later

Arsenal first eleven in ten years time

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

No more strikers in Europe, est.

@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.

Whaaaaat?

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

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.

Ricky1985 wrote:

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.

I hope this is true Ricky. He's not a stupid man, and he was a wonderful player and leader in so many respects. He did really seem like he'd lost the plot after he based himself in Azerbaijan.

When it comes to set pieces Adams would know it all—whether defending them or setting them up.

I did think he was too far gone to end up back at Arsenal. As you say, the whole Azerbaijan thing was just strange. Very pleased to have him back at the club though.

Crowley to join Oxford United on loan
Dan Crowley will join League One side Oxford United on loan for the 2016/17 season.
The 18-year-old midfielder gained experience in the division last term with Barnsley, where he made 13 appearances during a three-month loan spell.
A regular with Arsenal’s under-21 side over the past two seasons, he has also represented the club in Europe in the UEFA Youth League, and captained the Gunners’ FA Youth Cup side.
Last year, Dan went on the pre-season tour to Singapore with the first team and appeared in the win over Singapore Select XI.
Everyone at Arsenal wishes Dan the best of luck as he looks to gain further first-team experience.

Good move for the kid. Hopefully he gets a full season under his belt. Interested to see what he does, in theory he has the talent to light the league up.

Shouldn't we be aiming a little higher than a newly promoted League One club if the kid is really that talented?

He needs to play though. That's the important thing. And, talented or not, the kid has a ton to learn about making that talent count for something on the pitch.

He has made mistakes with his loan in league 1 last season, it's a good chance to put things right.

Think Klaus' reservation is valid. An 18 year old from the academy playing for a newly promoted League One side? Doesn't sound very impressive at all. If I remember the comments of his manager for his previous loan club correctly, then he is a show pony rather than a footballer so far.

I'm just sceptic towards these type of loan deals I guess. We always say that the most important ting is playing time, but I honestly can't remember a player who has benefited more from loan moves than staying put at the club, working with our setup, and then jump at the first team opportunities when they appear. Szczesny maybe...? Although he was arguably breaking through anyway, and things are a bit different for keepers. We sent Crowley out last year and it didn't help him; instead he got a manager who was telling him to stop showing off just because he's technically superior. You should nurture those traits in special players, but it's a bit much to expect Barnsley to do it for us.

Iwobi didn't need a loan move in order to get first team opportunities last season. I'd wager that two league cup games in an Arsenal shirt would similarly do more for Crowley's development than an entire season at Oxford.

I agree, not going out on loan didn't seem to do Iwobi any harm either. I think Wilshere benefited massively from his loan, so did Song. Difference is though they were both 6 month loan deals to Premier League teams rather than multiple season long loan deals to League One sides.

I think Crowley, if he is to make it, would benefit from impressing in the reserves and cup games enough to attract a Premier League team, rather than go for a season to Oxford United. He'll need to do really well there to make any sort of impression.

Crowley doesn't bother trying for the reserves though. Has played like crap since he returned from his loan. Iwobi is a really good kid, with a great attitude and a maturity on and off the pitch that has seen him take to first team football like a duck to water. Everything I've seen of Crowley suggests he still has a lot to learn.

Crowley has an absolutely superb 180 degree spin.

Isaac Hayden is now on the first team squad on Arsenal.com

Jeff R-Adelaide has been given the number 20 shirt.

Savz wrote:

Crowley has an absolutely superb 180 degree spin.

Do you think if he made it a 220 or 140 degree spin he'd be harder to tackle?

No. But his 360 degree spin on the ball are half as good as his 180 degree spins.

Arshavin did those spins superbly.

Done like a turnip.

Ricky1985 wrote:

I did think he was too far gone to end up back at Arsenal. As you say, the whole Azerbaijan thing was just strange. Very pleased to have him back at the club though.

I presumed he went to a Muslim country to dry out.

speedy wrote:
Ricky1985 wrote:

I did think he was too far gone to end up back at Arsenal. As you say, the whole Azerbaijan thing was just strange. Very pleased to have him back at the club though.

I presumed he went to a Muslim country to dry out.

Poor choice for a Muslim country then, alcohol is widely available in Azerbaijan.

jones wrote:
speedy wrote:

I presumed he went to a Muslim country to dry out.

Poor choice for a Muslim country then, alcohol is widely available in Azerbaijan.

Probably is but you can get alcohol anywhere, i still reckon he went to get away/ find himself / dry out.