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What a difference a week makes. The press is eulogistic over Arsenal youth, despite knocking Wenger’s policy over the last quarter
The Daily Telegraph quotes Liam Brady:”I was pleased to hear Arsene say after the game that the thing that pleased him most was the culture of football we have running through our teams,” Brady said.
“If you come to see our under-14s play, the emphasis is on passing, attacking and moving. A player like Armand Traore is an example of how our European scouting network operates. We spotted him playing in a tournament for Monaco [a club Wenger managed]; he impressed us greatly and we moved on from there. I think he showed at Anfield he can be a top left-back and can play midfield, too.”
And in the Liverpool Daily Post & Echo he says “Tuesday night’s match at Liverpool was a fine indication of how all the various departments at Arsenal are pulling together and showing that the club is functioning very, very well in all aspects. You could see how well run and how healthy it is.”
Many words have been written about Tuesday night, which was one of Arsenal’s great nights. Most noteworthy perhaps is the Daily Mail which said Liverpool’s season fell apart at the hands of the Islington Youth Club.
Not to be outdone, The Express has quotes from Arsenal scout, Don Howe, “You coach up a player and Arsene just says ‘Does he have good technique?’ “If he does, the conversation can continue. But if not, then Arsene is not interested.”
“All Arsene asks of young players is good technique. Of course he wants pace, power and all the rest, but he puts that ahead. In training, he is terrific. He never misses a session. He might not always take the session, [assistant] Pat Rice or the Slav fella, [first-team coach] Boro Primorac, might do. But he’ll always be there, in his tracksuit, watching.
“He will not say much. He is not a shouter and he is not all ‘Here I am, I’m the boss’. But he expects his players to be decisive themselves. He puts a lot back on them. If you are forever shouting and telling them what to do, in the end they stop thinking. That’s the last thing Arsene wants.
“There comes a time when he just says, ‘Son, it’s up to you’. He just says, ‘Let’s play. You know how to play so let’s play’. It’s straightforward.”
And as if to re-affirm his confidence in youth, in the Daily Star, Peter Hill-Wood said: “It’s absolutely rubbish to suggest we don’t have any money for Arsene to spend if he wants to strengthen the squad.
“But when we asked him about a month ago if he wanted to make any signings, he said ‘no, I’m very happy with what I’ve got, thank you’.
He’s got every confidence in these young boys and where are you going to get better players than them? You can buy someone for £5m and they’re not going to be an improvement on the ones we’ve got.
“Arsene’s been saying he’s not going to buy anyone and I can assure you he is being true to his word. He’s a very sensible man and he understands everything about the game and the club. He’s not going to just spend money for the hell of it.”
And so to transfer rumours.
The Mirror has a quote: “My mate drives the lorry that delivers pies to Freddy Shepherd’s house and he says that Fat Freddy told him that Arsenal have offered £8million for Newcastle midfielder Charles N’Zogbia” – Paul Marriner
The Independent says the 24-year-old Livorno goalkeeper, Marco Amelia, has claimed that Arsenal are interested in signing him. “Do I leave now or in June?” Amelia said. “Arsenal may be a topic for June.”
And adds, Lauren has reportedly been told he can leave the club, with West Ham his most likely destination. A guy down my gym who goes to all the away matches says both Ljungberg and Lauren had medicals at West Ham yesterday and are set to go for £7m.
The Irish Examiner pours cold water on the tower of Babel stories, quoting the Ajax player as saying: “I will play at Ajax next season. I have a contract for another one and a half years and as far as I know I will hold on to that.
“Just like every other player I have my dreams. In the past that was playing at Ajax. Later I found AC Milan a nice club. In recent years Arsenal and Barcelona have also impressed me.”
The Birmingham Mail says Sebastian Larsson could well move from Arsenal on a permanent basis, soon. The loaned Swedish midfielder is poised to kickstart his Birmingham career, for an initial £500,000.
POST SCRIPT:Styles 1