Youth team development

Clrnc

One of the best thing to happen this season

Claudius

That’s incredible. Class of 2019. Remember them.

flobaba

Good for them. They’ve got it all to prove now to reward the manager’s faith in them. Looking for improved contributions from the lot next season.

Meatwad

we need the academy to produce a world class center forward.

lorddulaarsenal

Talking of odd bods - Matt Smith seen photo bombing the FA cup celebrations is a bit of a lesser known prospect. Thought he must be quiet good with a body like Chunk from The Goonjes

The fat controller.

Claudius

Matt is one who will appreciate the Europa League. Should enable an ESR recall. Maybe convincing to Balogun as well. And might give Azeez a look in.

BWoolley

Osei Tutu should be back from his loan as well. Supposedly did well in a wing back role at Wolfsburg?

Clrnc

He played as a right winger at Bochum in Bundesliga 2. He excelled there although many youth watches still think he can do a job at RWB.

Don Pacifico

Re: Matt Smith

Looks to have decent feet and a decent range of passing from that comp (albeit with minimal pressure from the opposition and some pretty awful defending). Hadn't heard any hype about him until Arteta added him to the squad, anyone able to shed some light on him and whether he's a real prospect or just another Craig Eastmond?

Pepe LeFrits

YEah one time I set his potential to -10 in FM and he was awesome

Sicario

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:
Talking of odd bods - Matt Smith seen photo bombing the FA cup celebrations is a bit of a lesser known prospect. Thought he must be quiet good with a body like Chunk from The Goonjes

The fat controller.

I literally thought he was a fan that came on the pitch.

Looks like he house shares in Clapham, went to Uni in Durham and should be playing county cricket on Sundays. Oh and he looks like Bojo’s son.

Most random Arsenal player I’ve seen in a long time.

Don Pacifico

Pepe LeFrits wrote:
YEah one time I set his potential to -10 in FM and he was awesome

Fingers crossed no one tries to lower his stats.

Meatwad

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:
Talking of odd bods - Matt Smith seen photo bombing the FA cup celebrations is a bit of a lesser known prospect. Thought he must be quiet good with a body like Chunk from The Goonjes

The fat controller.

if fat frank could be an all-time great with his body, maybe fat matt can as well. btw, frank is looking slim and trim as a manager.

goon

Feels like he’s come out of nowhere. Looks decent in the vids though.

Apparently he might be going to Swindon on loan.

banduan

So that's who the 14-yr old looking lad was.

Claudius

It’s so funny how everyone’s behaving like this guy’s a stranger. He’s been on several
Team sheets now since Guendouzi‘s demotion. He just never plays.

He’s our main central midfielders in the u23 team. Joined this year from u18. He’s quite good. Probably not an elite talent like Azeez. But still probably one of the most important people on that team. He’s been initiating offense more this year from a more reserved CM role but can certainly play higher up and is a good playmaker. He’d be good cover for Ceballos in the current set-up in our lesser Europa games against Traktor Whomever.

HomeSteak

Another million added to the bank. If we can sell some other 44 youngster, we would be able to activate Partey's release clause.

Arsenal are demanding at least £8m for Brentford target Folarin Balogun.

The Gunners' price is considered high for a 19-year-old striker who has never played a first-team game and can leave for free next summer. [@SkySportsNews]

Meatwad

balogun just wants to play, so we should give him to brentford and the only condition being a 10m buyback clause after they turn him into a player.

Claudius

Make it 15. Must be worth their while to develop the player. They’re a proper well organized outfit with a good system in place.

Also remember that Brentford are one of the first teams to decide to abandon a youth academy after super clubs like Chelsea and City were allowed to suck up every decent young player within a few hours drive of their stadia. It’s horrible what the FA allowed. So Brentford has focused on their first team and u23 to great effect. They probably see an enormous payday in Balogun

banduan

Claudius wrote:
Also remember that Brentford are one of the first teams to decide to abandon a youth academy after super clubs like Chelsea and City were allowed to suck up every decent young player within a few hours drive of their stadia. It’s horrible what the FA allowed.

At the same time, this change meant an overall improvement in the quality of English academy grads. Can't have it both ways.