ANR replies on young English players
From Niall Feeney : English players
Myles,
You're absolutely right that Wenger doesn't trust English players and with good reason.
Most of these young players believe the hacks who tell them they're the "next Dennis Bergkamp" or the "New Gazza". They are minor celebs before they've even broken into the first team and consequently many of them go off the rails. We've been here before: Jermaine Pennant, David Bentley - great football talents but no brain, no sense of personal responsibility for making the most of their immense talent. Which English player would you have kept Myles?
Wenger's comment last night after Sturm Graz was illuminating.
"Jack has done well. I am keen not to create too much hype around the young English players because they need to work hard. We do have outstanding English talent at this club, though."
In other words, Keep your head down, work hard and most importantly of all, Don't believe the Hype!
Jack has all the attributes to be a superstar, Arsene wants to make sure his head is not turned before he makes that a reality.
From Shane Russell : Young Englishmen
I should really get out the violin for all the young English at Arsenal players after that post.
The truth is that none of the players that "came through" over the last 15 years have been good enough to make a career at a club in the top 4. You could argue that Upson has done well in getting to play for England but he is an isolated example and a player that joined Arsenal at 18/19 for that matter.
Bentley certainly warranted more of a chance but he wanted out anyway and is he top class? The jury is still out and he's what, 23 or 24? The rest, including Sidwell, the much-maligned by Bolton fans Muamba, even back as far as Jerome Thomas and Julian Gray, have all trundled along at the lower reaches of the Prem/championship and not achieved much i.e they weren't up to it.
Let's not forget too the players that were brought in from other countries that didnt get a look in either, Seb Larsson, Merida, Lupoli - the list goes on. One concession I will grant is that it was shocking that Aliadiere was allowed to wear and Arsenal shirt for so long.
If Wilshere, JET or even Lansbury get the short shrift from Wenger and then go on to make it big at a top club and win 50 england caps then you will be on to something, but not until then.
As a final point, the one young player who Wenger has persevered with the most despite clearly showing that he is a headless chicken with questionable technique and nous is Walcott. An Englishman, with a status at Arsenal and in the game that far outweighs his ability.
(It is a scandal that Jermaine Pennant got to play in a champions league final, but then Djimi Traore and Jon Greening have medals so go figure!)
Keep up the good work on the blog, always enjoy reading a different view on things, whether I agree with you or not!
All the best,
Shane
Jul 23, 2010