The young midfielder will have much more chance of earning a place in
the Arsenal senior side, with their West - London rivals proving to be rather clueless at promoting from youth.
Not exact matches
Having sensed they would struggle for
senior matches at Barca, the pair opted instead to try their luck with
Arsenal, and it's fair to say the move benefited both
sides.
Iwobi has been a revelation for
Arsenal this season, and despite making just a handful of appearances for the
senior side, he has impressed hugely and become a real fan favourite.
Barcelona have now entered the race for Bakkali, joining Premier League quartet
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United, as well as Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, in holding an interest in the Belgian, who has already received a call - up to Marc Wilmots»
senior side.
Having come through the youth ranks at
Arsenal and established himself as a fan favourite in the
senior side, Jack Wilshere is undoubtedly a popular figure at the Emirates.
Chuba Akpom was a prolific goalscorer for
Arsenal when he played at the lower age levels including the U23
side, but when he came up to the
senior side his talents (or confidence) deserted him completely.
As usual we have loads of
Arsenal players out on international duty during the interlull, and there are ten of them with the
senior sides and many more off with the younger squads.
England may only be facing the minnows of San Marino, but for Chambers it could be the start of a long and successful England career alongside his
Arsenal team - mates in the
senior side.
All of the players involved are bound to be buzzing and with the
senior sides meeting on Sunday and
Arsenal needing at least a point to secure an automatic Champions League place and a win to have any chance of finishing above Tottenham again, I think that Wenger will consider using some of the winners of the final.
Our young French striker Yaya Sanogo may have been hoping for a run in the
side after bagging his first
senior Arsenal goal, but he was forced off with a hamstring issue which is unlikely to be resolved quickly.
His opposite number in the
Arsenal back line, Nacho Monreal, who will be 30 in February, believes that the his 20 year - old Spanish compatriot plays with as much maturity as a player of Nacho's age, and will one day be playing for the
senior international
side.
Arsene Wenger is ready to swing the axe as he looks to conduct a major
Arsenal clear - out that will see six
senior Gunners squad members offloaded either in January or next summer as the Emirates Stadium
side look to improve a squad after a lean period of recent history for the North London club.
When all
Arsenal fans were clamouring for Arsene Wenger to buy a backup for Francis Coquelin, we were semi-relieved when we heard that Krystian Bielik had arrived from Legia Warsaw, where he was played as defensive midfielder for the
senior side all last season, despite his tender years.
Meanwhile, Akpom has only played once for
Arsenal's
senior side this term, so it makes sense to send the duo out on loan in search of game time.
The
Arsenal left back Kieran Gibbs has been rewarded for his club form for
Arsenal today with a call - up to the England
senior side by the manager Roy Hodgson.
Wilshere has played 48 games for
Arsenal this season and has turned out for England's
senior side four times.
The 21 - year old is coming off the back of three international goals in two games for the France under 21
side and it would be a shame not to try to use that to our advantage, especially as he is desperate to get that first
senior goal for
Arsenal in the bag.
If the
Arsenal and England star Jack Wilshere had not played 90 minutes for the under 21s on Monday, scoring a great goal which was not enough to help the young Gunners get the win they needed to win automatic promotion to the top division, I reckon that he would be in line for a first start of the season for the
senior side on Thursday night.
Nelson has also mostly played at wing - back for
Arsenal's
senior side, even if he has looked more at home in attacking midfield at youth level.
Two of these three are in the centre back position — and Laurent Koscienly is not available for the first match at least — means
Arsenal have to find a way to operate with none of its
senior centre backs against a team of Liverpool stature that on their day will blow out any
side and they just showed that appetite with Barca very recently... scary.
At least the
Arsenal under 21
side have got a second chance to achieve the main goal of winning promotion to the top division of the Barclays Premier League, but you would have to worry about our chances after the young Gunners followed in the footsteps of the
senior side by blowing what seemed to be a golden opportunity to finish on top of the league.
Arsenal come across the youngster when impressing on trial with Sheffield Wednesday previously, before inviting him to come to North - London to train with the Gunners»
senior side on another trial basis in December.
Chelsea and
Arsenal have also been linked to the 23 - year - old, who has represented France at every youth level from the U16s to the
senior side, for whom he made his debut in 2013.
The 17 - year - old, a graduate of
Arsenal's Hale End academy, is already a key player for
Arsenal U21s, and like Nelson, has trained with the
senior side in the early weeks of pre-season.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has recently expressed that he is very impressed with Iwobi's determined attitude, something which has surely played a part in getting him into the
senior side of the club.
Two months after his
Arsenal debut, Hector was loaned to Championship
side Watford to help quench his thirst for
senior football.
With the arrival of Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski it was going to be even more difficult for Vela in the
Arsenal striking pecking order and having spent a year maturing at Real Sociedad a move back to the Basque club is a sensible one.In his 62 apprearances for us he has managed to score 11 goals where his appreance has mostly been off the bench or in carling cups.Vela has represented Mexico at every youth level, playing at the Under - 17 and Under - 20 World Cups, and was a part of the
senior side for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
When Fàbregas won the Golden Boy Award in 2006, he had already helped drag
Arsenal to a Champions League final, won an FA Cup and made over 100
senior appearances for one of Europe's elite
sides.