Arsenal News Ahead of JJB Trip 12 December, 2006

Theo Walcott won the 2006 BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award on Sunday, he came second one year ago but this year he picked up the main prize. 2006 has been a fantastic year for young Theo, In January he joined Arsenal FC from Southampton after an impressive spell at the Championship club. Then he was picked by Sven for England’s squad that would represent the country in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Also towards the end of this year Theo has made several appearances for Arsenal and is proving to be a massive member of our squad. I think Theo definitely deserved the award this year and hopefully it will give him the confidence to go on to greater things.

Two other Arsenal youngsters have been in the news this week. Arturo Lupoli and Niklas Bendtner have been saying how it is quite likely that they won’t return to Arsenal in the summer. It’s something that has been in the news for a while now and I’m sure most Arsenal fans do not want to see these two leave. They are promising strikers who could possibly one day be the future partnership up front for Arsenal; they’re both scoring goals for fun at their respective clubs and obviously enjoying their time there.

Lupoli is currently on loan at Derby and is looking at his options around Europe for his next move:

“The contract with Arsenal expires in June and there isn’t an agreement for the renewal. To remain I want guarantee, and I’m not referring to financial matters. I’ve accepted the loan to Derby because I know there is not space at Arsenal. Should it be up to me at this point, I’d like to come back to Italy. In England I’ve had two important years, it’s been really constructive. Offers? Valencia and Liverpool have followed me. In Italy there are Fiorentina, Udinese and Napoli.”

It’s good that other clubs are noticing Arturo but Arsene Wenger must be hoping that he’ll return to Arsenal soon. He might need a couple more years out on loan but if he is patient then he’ll been in the first team squad at Arsenal; surely that is worth waiting for?

As for Bendtner, well he’s said it’s pretty much Arsenal or Birmingham:

“Arsenal need to give me a sign they are going to play me. I’ve had a taste of regular football and I don’t want to be back in the reserves again.”

A bit of a cocky attitude you might say but it just shows this boy is keen to play his football. I don’t blame him for wanting assurance from Arsenal before he returns, maybe another year loaned to the Blues is a good idea but if he did come back now then I think he might get a place on the bench. Aliadiere has been a substitute a few times this season and in my opinion the Dane is much better than Jeremie. However Nicklas would be behind Thierry Henry, Robin Van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor in striker selection.

I hate the way good, promising youngsters go out on loan and then don’t bother coming back. I know that they will like it at their temporary clubs because of all the first team football and they will be treated as a very valuable member of the squad. However if they wait a few more years they will be playing for Arsenal instead of Birmingham and instead of Derby. If they just have patience then their footballing career will be so much better than what they think it might. But there’s nothing I can say that’ll change the minds of these two ambitious strikers.

Arsene Wenger reckons that Gael Clichy is definitely the man to replace Ashley Cole long-term at Arsenal:

“Gael is the answer, 100 per cent the answer. When we lost Ashley Cole, we were thinking ‘OK we have got Clichy, injured’ but with a lot of potential. What he is doing now at the moment after being out for one year is quite amazing. He is handling it very well and he is getting stronger with every game. It is a good challenge for him, because he will be compared to his model. He always said ‘Ashley Cole is my model’ and he will be compared to his model. Ashley is playing well and I am not surprised because we lost a player who is 26-years-old, the best age for a football player. But Gael has the potential.”

Clichy is only 21 and is very much still learning his football but I also think he is the one to replace Ashley Cole. The two came up against each other on Sunday and swapped shirts after the game and now Gael must learn to be just as good as our old left back. He’s got alot to live up to though, Cole is probably the best left back in the world, so committed, a great football and very quick too; obviously I wish the whole thing with the book and the money never happened but it did, and now we have to move on and find someone new. Someone said something the other day tat made me think, Ashley Cole always gave 110% when he was in an Arsenal shirt, even at the end of last season when it was obvious he was leaving he still gave everything his body would give. I remember when he came back after his long injury last season, it was the Middlesbrough game when we won 7-0. Ashley wasn’t quite fit yet but Cygan picked up and injury and we had no other option but to bring him on, in the end he aggravated his own injury by returning to football too soon but he got a great reception. Ah! What am I saying? I feel dirty. Cole, you twat. Fuck off. That’s better…

And finally, Jens Lehmann has been saying that Fat Lampard likes to tease players in the game. Apparently Lampard is an ‘insult specialist’ whereas Drogba does nothing wrong and is actually a nice bloke. He’s what Jens said:

“Nothing happened with Drogba, I like him. I think the handshake between us says it all. You can have passion in the game but, as long as you get on with people nicely, it’s okay. He didn’t insult me in comparison with his team-mates – I never insult anyone – and I can’t complain about him. Some of his team-mates insulted me terribly but Drogba never does that so I have no problem with him. Lampard is a specialist in insulting people very badly but Drogba doesn’t say a word.”

Interesting. Drogba and Lehmann never seem to get on and I don’t think Jens actually likes him but possibly more respects him.

Possibly a Wigan preview tomorrow if I’ve got time. Thanks for reading.