december 3rd
08.43 – Can we play all our games on a Tuesday evening from now on?
Arsenal’s kids spanked a Premiership side 5-1 last night. A back four of Hoyte – Simek – Tavlardis – Clichy with the Stackman managed to keep Wolves at bay until the last 12 minutes, and even then we were 4-0 up when they managed to score.
Jeremie Aliadiere showed Francis Jeffers how to take a chance with two goals, the second of which prompted the BBC 5Live commentator to say “It’s just like watching Thierry Henry.” Kanu and Wiltord both got on the scoresheet (this was Kanu’s first goal since 1973) and to top it all off, Spanish youngster Cesc Fabregas became the youngest scorer in Arsenal’s history as he rolled home the fifth. As well as that, we saw Patrick Vieira come through 90 minutes as he played his first game for two months.
It’s been a while coming, but I think now we’re beginning to see the fruits of Wenger and Brady’s academy. We really have got talented young players who are going to push for first team places and create competition in the squad. When a 16 year old like Cesc can play against two experienced old pros like Paul Ince and Alex Rae, and have the BBC commentators purring about his performance, you know we’ve got more than just reserves now.
It’s great to see the youngsters take the chances they’re being given by the boss, and even though the progression from promising youth to first team player is not an easy one to make at any club, let alone Arsenal, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that the kids that played tonight are going to make up the backbone of this side the way Nevilles and Beckham and Scholes did for United way back when.
When Arsene Wenger says this – “We have seen players who are good enough to be the future of Arsenal. They are the most exciting young bunch I have seen here and certainly the best since the generation of Adams, Merson and Parlour.” – you know there’s something special going on.
Lee Dixon on Thierry Henry – “Henry is the best forward I have played with. He is also an intelligent footballer, and ultimately a team player.”
Still got a cold. Will take revenge by sneezing on the children I have to teach today.
