Compared to United’s set-up, do Arsenal get unwarranted praise?
We almost take it for granted these days that Arsenal’s youngsters are going to be something a little special. Every year, Arsene Wenger seems to blood another product of his acclaimed academy into the first team set up for the Carling Cup fixtures. But are we too quick to announce these young guns as the next best thing? Are they ever really good enough to play a Premier League title pursuing team?
The logic to my argument is that I can’t recall too many players who have failed to make the grade at Arsenal, yet gone on to achieve Premier League status at another club. David Bentley and Steve Sidwell are currently in that mould, but how many others, really? Compare it to that of Manchester United. The Old Trafford club churn out youngsters for fun who aren’t deemed good enough for Sir Alex Ferguson but seem to go on and do a job for other Premier League clubs. Ryan Shawcross, Keiran Richardson, David Jones – I could go on. Even their on-loan stars who seem to be built for the English top flight, whether that be at United or not. Is this really the sign of a good academy system?
The counter argument is to obviously look at the amount of players Wenger plays in his first team who are actually good enough to stay there. Jack Wilshere is a perfect example. Cesc Fabregas signed when he was 16, so he could be included in that, too. They’re obviously world-class players, which is a result of the way things are done at the Emirates. But nobody seems to remember the ones that got away. What happened to Arturo Lupoli? How about Jeremie Aliadiere? Neither of these are playing top flight football anywhere at the moment. Again, the simple argument is that Arsenal now have better options coming through. Aaron Ramsey would arguably be playing regularly for the Gunners now if it wasn’t for his horrific injury and there is a lot of talk about Henri Lansbury who is earning quite a reputation on loan at Norwich.
I am taking nothing away from the Arsenal’s youth system. They produce quality players, some of which make the next step up. But my point is that we constantly talk up the prospects who we very irregularly see at the Emirates but then let the majority of the rest slip off the radar without another word. I used Manchester United’s system merely as a comparison, but it is worthy of some thought. O’Shea, Fletcher, Gibson, Brown and Evans have all come through, but we never talk about United’s youth system because these players aren’t as aesthetically pleasing as your Wilshere’s or Fabregas’s. And then there are the likes of Phil Bardsley and Fraizer Campbell. Maybe not good enough for Old Trafford, but they certainly do enough to warrant being a Premier League player.
It would be good to see some of the youngsters who managed to get Arsenal through the earlier stages of the competition, be given at least a place in the squad for the forthcoming Carling Cup final, but given the importance of securing the trophy, we all know it won’t happen.
But next season, if Arsenal set out in the third-round to defend their first trophy in six years, take a look at the starting eleven. How many are really going to be around the Premier League in another three or four years time? Are they really the best at bringing through the next group of stars or should we be praising the work of other clubs, like Manchester United?
Like what you see? Follow me on Twitter @joino
Football News 24/7
arsenal obviously keep the players that they feel would become world class! they do not sell them on do they!!! so world class players who came through the ranks at arsenal will still be at arsenal, the players that might be deemed not good enough for arsenal but still premiership standard are in plentiful supply in the premiership. players like matt upson, jermaine pennant etc. since man utd golden generation (giggs, neville etc) i dont think theyhave produced anything of note.
Reply
uday Reply:
February 26th, 2011 at 4:20 am
EXCUSE ME! united produced fletcher who was in pfa team last year
Reply
james Reply:
February 27th, 2011 at 7:40 am
U will find that Celtic produced fletcher who was signed by manu when he was 18-19 so his development was done else where
Reply
Seb Larsson, Fabrice Muamba, Jermaine Pennant, Ashley Cole, Steve Sidwell, James Harper, David Bentley, Antony Stokes (Celtic), Matt Upson, Stuart Taylor . . . . all former gooner youth players. Writing utter drivel is often a result of a complete failure to get your facts right.
Reply
Naz Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
Wow, all that typing only for GoonerDave to p*ss all over your argument. To add one..Jerome Thomas.
Reply
greg Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 4:55 pm
justin hoyte, oh and Andy Cole was rubbish wasn`t he. Got a feeling this is written by a manure fan upset about the dull football his team now play
Reply
Uday Reply:
February 26th, 2011 at 4:35 am
Phil Bardsley, Fraizer Campbell, Craig Cathcart, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake ,Jonny Evans, Darren Fletcher, Darron Gibson, Keith Gillespie, Jonathan Greening, David Healy, John O’Shea, Danny Higginbotham, Gerard Piqué, Kieran Richardson, Giuseppe Rossi, Robbie Savage, Ryan Shawcross, Danny Simpson, Jonathan Spector, Danny Welbeck
All of them produced by United and atleast have played for some club in premiership. You talk about developing potential?? Man utd is the best in world in that aspect
Reply
Praise whoever the hell you like James, it doesn’t really matter. I’m happy with what I see Arsenal producing. Do you specialise in starting arguments in an empty room?
Reply
I have thought this too.
Arsenal get a lot of praise but many of their 1st team players are not actually from their academy, but taken from other academies at a young age once they have already formed into great prospects.
If you think about the players United have churned out, yes some dont make the cut at United but do go on to do well for other teams. There are also a few recent ones who got away who i think will do well in the future like James Chester.
Also, as much as i think Wilshere is a great prospect for Arsenal & England, i do think Tom Cleverley has equal potential, but nobody seems to be talking about him in the same light.
It’s a shame because United isnt as aesthetically pleasing as Arsenal but they do deserve credit too..
Reply
james Reply:
February 27th, 2011 at 8:12 am
I agree with u entirely they are picked out at about 15-16 we polish the diamond alla cesc and give him the chance to become world class but the question I ask u is how much did we pay for these prodigious young talents next to nothing.
I feel an am not having a dig cause arsenal are following the similar road that manu humid years ago when their golden generation came through, man u hav lost their way and pay silly money for these young players which is a silly risk to take alla tosic an that other fella who came with him where are they now an Alex paid 15-17 million for them nani an anderson 16 million each smalling 15 million fletcher 10 million rooney 30 million fabio an Rafael 7 million each obertan 15 million valencia 15 million an that’s not including what the paid for bebe an diouf.
They just seem to have lost their way spending more that they need to to stay competitive
Reply
two words….
Real Madrid
Reply
james Reply:
February 27th, 2011 at 7:54 am
What! No way they like chelsea for that matter hav no development system they just pay stupid amounts of money for players who were already developed by other clubs. They take the piss out of truly great clubs like arsenal,man u and barca who have managed to find the best combination between purchasing and development to built good title challenging squads
Reply
David Jones? Kieran Richardson? Hardly as good as say Jermaine Pennant or Steve Sidwell. Or Seb Larrson, Francis Muamba and Bentley should be a true International by now if he wasn’t such a pratt and B went to the Totts where they ruined him. Rubbish, ill thought out article.
Reply
Arsenal do it differently, they take a punt on talented youth & not all are guaranteed to make it. Utd meanwhile spend £18 million on their youth projects, like Nani & Anderson.
Wenger is by far the superior coach to Fergie. You could widen it out too. If every team had the same budget each season, Arsenal would win the League every year.
Reply
Okay so manure churn better players than Arsenal! *yawwwnnn!* i love Arsenal and all it does and all rational fans who are not glory seeker agree that we do have a great youth system.. so take yo spin and shove it.
Reply
your question should have been, what prem team has produced a world class star in the last 10 years? answer Arsenal, everybody else bought theirs!
Reply
I kind of expected this response from Arsenal fans. I’m not having a pop at the youth policy, my point is that yes, they have produced quality players, but many don’t make it. United produced many that have made it at United and plenty more who are in the Premier League.
The point about Anderson and Nani is ridiculous – I’m not going to argue that because it’s irrelevant. Van Persie? All of your centre-backs? Nasri? Walcott? I could go on.
I’d also argue that Richardson isn’t as good as Pennant as someone has argued. I know who I’d rather.
I can’t believe Simon, you’ve also stated Wenger to be a ‘superior coach than Ferguson.’ Even fans who hate him the most can appreciate what he’s achieved in the game?
Reply