Arsenal News » Arsenal’s Golden 30. There’s so many brilliant reserves we need a new training centre

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Untold recently published some thoughts on the players who are part of the club and could be on the edge of breaking through.  I asked for gaps in the list to be completed and for the details of loans, along with thoughts on the future to be added.

Below is a simple compilation of the thoughts and ideas sent in.  I am in fact running the piece again, simply because the results, when seen as a unit, are overwhelming.

And I can add that if you sent in an idea and I have not listed it, my apologies – it proved a bit difficult to pull everything together.

The list, as far as it has got, is below.  But it is not complete – please help add more information and ideas.  It is being kept on the site as a permanent feature so that we can keep upgrading.  I like the notion of their being 30 men on the list.  My thinking is that if some of the names do fade out (and one or two are listed with a suggestion that this is so) we find someone else to replace that player on the list.

Arsenal’s Golden 30

But before we get to the detail, just contemplate what we have got here.  None of the 30 players listed below are in the first team regularly, but many could be in the next year or two.

The point is that when these players are a year or two older, just think of the options and choices we will have.   We’ll have

• The double first team squad we need,  to cover the fact that they will be subject to Shawcross style assaults
• A double Cup team to play in the FA Cup, Diddley Cup and odd Champs games
• A team of young players who can turn out for England other countries.

And that reminds me – can we clarify the nationality (in football terms) of each of these players.  I’m guessing at some.

Here’s the list…

1. Ayling – Yeovil – certain for bigger things.  England
2. Barazite. One season too early I think.  Had a bad injury for a while, now battling back.  Holland
3. Bartley – Sheffield Utd – in the squad for next year, been doing really well at Sheffield United recently; back up CB Carling team.  England
4. Bothello.. Celta Vigo (i don’t think is quiet good enough – or not good enough yet).
5. Chesnay…Brentford (future Number 1 ) definitely the forgotten man off the original list.
6. Coquelin. I thought he could come through this year, but he didn’t.  Surely not another year in the reserves?  I really think he is a talent – it just depends how long it takes to finally make it to the top level.  I hope he stays.  France
7. Cruise. Too early for him, but in the Diddly Cup team for sure.  England
8. Djourou – I just want him to be there as the backup to Gallas/Vermaelen.  I have no idea what goes on inside Gallas’ head, but he really ought to understand where his best interests lie.  But if h goes Djourou should be ready to step up.  Switzerland
9. Eastmond. I sure didn’t see his promotion to the first team come through.  But there he is, and building his strength all the time.   A few more games next season I imagine.  England.
10. Freeman who is improving in every game.  England.
11. Frimpong.. he needs as many chances as Eastmond.  England.
12. Galindo (don’t know if he will need to go on loan to Spain next season though to get his EU passport).  Bolivia.
13. Gibbs – trouble is where does he play?   I can imagine him being in the England team and not the Arsenal team.  Actually that could mean at last that we welcome internationals, as a chance for our reserve squad to get a game.  England.
14. Gilbert… Peterborough (leaving).  England.
15. Hoyte – Brighton.  England.
16. JET – Doncaster.   Oh yes – he really ought to be breaking through somewhere – not least because he can play every position under the sun.  He is getting great reviews. Doncaster is the sort of club that sounds like it should be in the obscurity of league 2 but with JET playing well they are surging up towards the Championship play-offs.  English.
17. Lansbury..watford on loan.  Maybe another loan.  England.
18. Merida. So what’s he doing?  Going to the Athletico Madhouse, or staying with sanity.   That goal he scored against Liverpool (I think) was something special.  Maybe we could play one team at the weekend and the other midweek.  Just to give everyone a chance.  Spain
19. Nordtveit, I know that he’s not doing really good in Nurnberg, because he doesn’t get the chances.  Another loan.   Holland.
20. Ozakhup young Dutch international
21. Pedro – Salamanca
22. Randall…MK don (leaving).  England.
23. Simpson. Is he turning out to be not quite good enough?  I am not sure.  Problem is he has got so many other people blocking his way through at the moment.  England.
24. Sunu is way too young to break through.. it’ll be early.. if you throw him in now he’ll find it hard to adapt to the physicality.. but surely in the diddly cup.  France.
25. Szczesny. Brentford.   I really think Szczesny might be taking over from him soon, maybe as soon as next season. He looks like one of those rare goalkeeping early-developers like buffon, akinfaev, cech or lloris.  Poland.
26. Traore. again, I don’t   know where he will play.  But on the basis that we need two or three teams, and given that he can play midfield or full back, I guess there is a chance of some games.   Come to think of it, we are going to have a second squad that ought to win the League Cup this coming season.  France.
27. Vela.  2010/11 must be his year, surely.  Mexico
28. Watt. Been on loan at Southend for a month where he got four games.  Just returned.
29. Wellington Silva. Young Brazilian striker who is currently playing for Fuminense in Brazil.  Joins Arsenal in January 2011.  Brazil.
30. Wilshere. the time out doing his stuff in the lower part of the league will have done him no harm.  And if he has learned that he just has to come on and play, then that will be fine.  No fancy tricks, no Bergkamp finishes, just play the game, and you are there.  England.

Please add names, correct errors, add positions (sorry I forgot to do that) – anything.  This list will stay forever as one of the permanent pages listed on the home page.

It will also be a permanent testimonial to the Wengerian revolution, to our youth policy, and to World Wide Scouting.

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