General Reserves Talk

Balogun is curiously missing from training. If he's injured, what a horrible time to be injured. Coyle, Smith, Medley, Ballard are the next in line from the training videos. They've trained every session. Of course TJJ, ESR, and Olayinka are still technically on loan.

 

More likely it's because all the attackers are fit currently. Simply no room. It's why I feel like my hunch about him leaving is closer to the truth than we think.

 

I suspect he will leave too as he only has one year left in his contract. A number of Championship clubs are really interested in him.

 

Looks like Zak Swanson has joined the first-team squad as well (at least temporarily)

 

Mathew Dennis time at Arsenal might be up according to his instagram . Potentially Alfie Mathews too which leaves Ryan Alebiosu as the only second year without a professional contract left. The u23s next year will be a very young team it seems.

 

Bit surprised. He was beginning to show his worth IMO, as both a full-back and winger prospect. That said, does clear the way for some of the U16s who are about to become scholars. We'll see a lot more of Kido Taylor-Hart for both the U18s and the U23s next season it would appear.

 

https://arseblog.news/2020/06/smith...rteta/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Arteta really taking interest in all his players!

 

How comes none of the new academy boys featured in the featured in the Charlton game? Will they play against Brentford?

 

Full squad - all the main players are fit. Likely they're filling up the numbers in training.

 

So Trae Coyle made his debut yesterday even if it was for only 5 minutes in a friendly, it means something. It seems he's ahead of Smith in the pecking order unless Reiss got injured. He has a lot of talent and its easy to forget he was the stand-out talent in his age group in the club as a 16 year old but injuries derailed him. Bould has noted more than once that he just needs to believe more in himself and I hope he gets an opportunity during this run of games. Sometimes youngsters need such luck like Iwobi who got a run out with the first team at a time when he wasn't probably the stand-out talent but he took his chance and ran away with it.

 

https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/transfer-news/wonderkid-arsenal-transfer-news-latest-18413721

 

Agree. Difference may be whether Coyle still has that standout talent. He was quite something when he signed his scholarship. Injury really messed that up but there's still a player there. I'm excited to see what can be done with his development.

 

Marcelo Flores will be a scholar next season. I'm awaiting the rest of the names.

 

Trae Coyle, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba are all on the 100-strong long list for the 2020 Golden Boy award.

I wonder how highly Coyle is still rated and whether there is a pathway to the first team for him. Training with the first team and playing in our recent friendly suggests Arteta and co are aware of his talent.

 

What has happened to Zech Medley & James Olayinka? What are their potentials?

 

How did he get into the list without playing any first team football? I thought Balogun was our best player of the u23. I’m happy for Trae but I’m surprised.

 

The club loves Coyle, have done since his days as a scholar. They've stuck by him through his injuries and struggles to get momentum - even gave him a new contract last year. Versatile attacker, very technical and quick acceleration. They must believe there's a first team talent in there. Arteta will have known a lot about Coyle too, given that he was coaching the U15s as part of his badges while Nelson was there - Coyle would have been part of that team at some point because he played a year above. So Coyle is definitely known to Arteta and I imagine that is forming part of his willingness to include Coyle in the proceedings. Shades of Wenger & Iwobi (except Coyle can shoot).

This I cannot answer.

Not sure really. Olayinka is another that the club really like but he's still technically on loan. Similar to Coyle - part of the same intake and a pretty versatile player with decent technical ability. Could see him becoming a Kante-like player as he's very athletic and works hard but he's pretty handy in possession. Not sure on his level though.

Medley I'm even less sure about. He's very tall and good in the air, but defensively he leaves a lot to be desired. He has AMN-level concentration at times and it doesn't help him.

 

deleted. What did it say?

 

Balogun might leave in the summer, Brentford bid £5m for him in January.