By Tony Attwood
Sometimes squads don’t tell us much but this time, we got several snippets of interest.
We’ve got news about who the most likely of the youngsters are to come through this season, we’ve got the news that there are still injuries lurking in the darkness, and we can see the overall shape of what is to come.
The two teenagers given the chance of stardom are Daniel Crowley and Chris Willock. Of course we’ve seen youngsters make an impression before, only to slip away. I remember Eisfeld in particular looking great and then just vanishing. And we’ve seen those who Untold tipped take their time, go below the radar and then come back – a certain Coquelin as I recall.
Both players are 17 and both have played for England at under 16 and under 17 level . Crowley is an attacking midfield player who has played for England at under 16 and under 17 level is a forward who we got a glimpse of last season at Boreham Wood.
Also included in the squad are Alex Iwobi (the winger who signed pro forms last year) and the recent transfer from Lens, Jeff Reine-Adelaide, an attacking midfielder.
As we knew in advance Alexis Sánchez and David Ospina are still on holiday following their frolics at the Copa América so that new chap we just signed (don’t know if you noticed it, it didn’t get much cover in the press) will play in goal. Oh here it is in the Guardian. “Petr Cech, the £10m signing from Chelsea.” Glad they reminded me.
But the injuries – even before we have started. Danny Welbeck has still not recovered from his bone bruising to the knee of last season. It is one of those that is supposed to lead to a very short time out but then just won’t heal. He is apparently doing some training, but not “full training”
Tomas Rosicky is also injured – the inevitable result of playing international matches in the summer. This one happened on 12 June. It is said to be very minor. But he’s an old man and these old-timers need their recovery time. (That is irony by the way).
So we move on to the other absentees – the ones that tell us the players are going out on loan imminently or the manager sees no further chance for them.
Carl Jenkinson, who had a very good under 21 competition (the people who had the bad u-21 competition for England were the journalists who faithfully reported that this was going to be ENGLAND’S YEAR. The u-21s lost all three matches two years ago but THIS YEAR WOULD BE DIFFERENT. It was. We only lost two.
The latest on Carl is that he is not going to Sunderland but back to the wild and woolly east end. Must be a relief that Very Fat Sam has gone.
Joel Campbell I suspect has had his chance, and is either being sold or moving onto a loan with a view to a sale. Serge Gnabry however seems to have recovered from his year long injury and clearly needs games, so I expect a loan either to a lower rank Premier League team or a Championship team. (Having said that he’ll probably go to Yeovil.)
And Yaya Sanogo. Bright spark at the Emirates Cup a year ago, but then… injury and no progress.
Calum Chambers is in the squad, as although he was in the under 21 England adventure he didn’t play. Here’s the list from Arsenal.com
- Chuba Akpom
Mikel Arteta
Hector Bellerin
Santi Cazorla
Petr Cech
Calum Chambers
Francis Coquelin
Dan Crowley
Mathieu Debuchy
Mathieu Flamini
Gabriel
Kieran Gibbs
Olivier Giroud
Alex Iwobi
Laurent Koscielny
Emiliano Martinez
Per Mertesacker
Nacho Monreal
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Mesut Ozil
Aaron Ramsey
Jeff Reine-Adelaide
Wojciech Szczesny
Theo Walcott
Chris Willock
Jack Wilshere
Gedion Zelalem
There’s no mention of Wellington, and indeed unless I have missed it (which is more than likely) there hasn’t been much on him of late. Emiliano Martinez is still in the squad I notice – but perhaps that doesn’t say much as we need three keepers on a trip like this. Despite the FA’s attempt to deport Jack to Micronesia for singing a naughty song he’s still there.
Arsenal play Singapore on Wednesday, while there is a football rugby confrontation between Everton and Stoke City. The winners of the ties will contest the trophy on Saturday week, while the losers play for third play.
Silly stuff and odd thoughts: www.facebook.com/TonyAttwoodofLondon
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A review of pre-seasons past – we are trying to add a new one each day.
I am disappointed that Serge Gnarbry is not in the squad but he was in the Under 21 championship so that could be a reason for not being included – couldn’t it? Otherwise its a shame he does not at least have a chance to impress before considering a loan.
Wenger quote on arsenal.com:
“Ospina is on holiday until July 27 and Alexis is on holiday until August 3. Serge Gnabry is on holiday after playing with the under-21s. He’s back on July 20.”
Toral, Hayden and Bielik are also absent from the touring squad.
I’m very disappointed that Hayden isn’t going.
He really needs to make the step up this season.
Great potential but he seems to have been injured every time the 1st team need him.
me is going down for the Saturday match!!! Wonder anyone else is going 😀
anyone else here*
Andy Mack
Is Hayden injured? There’s been no info on him so I suppose he’s fit, which would suggest he’s not being considered . Big shame as I thought this might be his break through season.
The lack of opportunities for Hayden Bielik or Pleguezelo maybe just reflects that we had a pretty much full strength defensive line-up (bar Kos and Gibbs) start pre season this week whereas our strongest attacking line up is still to start back in training. Not sure where Toral is.
I see Flamini is in the squad which is significant.
I’m going down Saturday! Rare to have them boys come down to these parts!
hopefully a big year for Akpom!
Sad Hayden isnt going!
Welbeck remaining injured is pathetic. Because he is one of the 3 of Giroud and Walcott I have been trying to convince the Boss on the OnlineMedia outlets like the Untold, Justarsenal.com and others to play the trio centrally as 3 in-rotation strikers at Arsenal next season. Even when Alexis is back, Arsenal will still need the option of deploying my torted 3 strikers rotatingly. But the Gunners will be short by one of those 3 senior strikers when Arsenal seasons open at Wembley against Chelsea on the 2nd of August. What’s the problem with Welbeck that he can’t get healed of what was said to be a minor knee injury 2 months on? Is he an injury prone player? He hardly can play 4 to 5 games consecutively without picking up injury. Which means he is an injury proner. I think Man Utd medicals have seen his hiding knee injury and shipped him to us as they got us cheap for paying £16m for him only to be rewarded by him with only 7 goals in a whole season actions. I think Arsenal medicals should upgrade their medical gadgets to meet up to the latest in service. So that they can discover hiding injury on any player they want to sign and not to be fooled after the signing. Have some Gunners taking getting injured for granted as they often pick up injuries and only to say, so what? I’ll get paid. I think the Boss has tolerated injury proners too long at Arsenal and he has to divorce himself from them. Otherwise, they will continue to stagnate Arsenal as we continue to miss out on the title and the Ucl trophies. There is a difference between injury proners and getting injured. For examples, Giroud was injured last time out then he returned and stayed strong on his feet till the end of the season. Walcott had a year long big injury from a Danny Rose tackle. Since his return, he has stayed largely on his feet save some fitness issue he had to cope with. Since Ozil came back from his knee injury, he’s been on his feet but once for Arsenal up to the end of the season. And Ramsey and Jack Wilshere have appeared of late to have overcome being proned to injuries as they have stayed on their feet last season after they came back. More especially Aaron Ramsey. This staying on their feet is impressive and encouraging. But in particular, Welbeck, Rosicky, Arteta and even Oxadale and Debuchy are too prone to picking up injuries. With Welbeck and Rosicky being the most quilty of the rest. We want to win the quadruple next season and become the first Premier League club to have achieve that feast. I believe Arsenal can win the quadruple but not with penerial injury prone players. If Welbeck will not be able to stay strong on his feet next season opening games till maybe after sometimes. I think the Boss should sign a top quality striker in addition to signing a top quality LB and a top quality RW making 3 totally signings that will make Arsenal season well oiled than in recent past times.
Welbeck remaining injured is pathetic. Because he is one of the 3 of Giroud and Walcott I have been trying to convince the Boss on the OnlineMedia outlets like the Untold, Justarsenal.com and others to play the trio centrally as 3 in-rotation strikers at Arsenal next season. Even when Alexis is back, Arsenal will still need the option of deploying my torted 3 strikers rotatingly. But the Gunners will be short by one of those 3 senior strikers when Arsenal seasons open at Wembley against Chelsea on the 2nd of August. What’s the problem with Welbeck that he can’t get healed of what was said to be a minor knee injury 2 months on? Is he an injury prone player? He hardly can play 4 to 5 games consecutively without picking up injury. Which means he is an injury proner. I think Man Utd medicals have seen his hidden knee injury and shipped him to us as they got us cheap for paying £16m for him only to be rewarded by him with only 7 goals in a whole season actions. I think Arsenal medicals should upgrade their medical gadgets to meet up to the latest in service. So that they can discover hidden injury on any player they want to sign and not to be fooled after the signing. Have some Gunners taking getting injured for granted as they often pick up injuries and only to say, so what? I’ll get paid. I think the Boss has tolerated injury proners too long at Arsenal and he has to divorce himself from them. Otherwise, they will continue to stagnate Arsenal as we continue to miss out on the title and the Ucl trophies. There is a difference between injury proners and getting injured. For examples, Giroud was injured last time out then he returned and stayed strong on his feet till the end of the season. Walcott had a year long big injury from a Danny Rose tackle. Since his return, he has stayed largely on his feet save some fitness issue he had to cope with. Since Ozil came back from his knee injury, he’s been on his feet but once for Arsenal up to the end of the season. And Ramsey and Jack Wilshere have appeared of late to have overcome being proned to injuries as they have stayed on their feet last season after they came back. More especially Aaron Ramsey. This staying on their feet is impressive and encouraging. But in particular, Welbeck, Rosicky, Arteta and even Oxadale and Debuchy are too prone to picking up injuries. With Welbeck and Rosicky being the most quilty of the rest. We want to win the quadruple next season and become the first Premier League club to have achieve that feast. I believe Arsenal can win the quadruple but not with penerial injury prone players. If Welbeck will not be able to stay strong on his feet next season opening games till maybe after sometimes. I think the Boss should sign a top quality striker in addition to signing a top quality LB and a top quality RW making 3 totally signings that will make Arsenal season well oiled than in recent past times.
Welbeck remaining injured is pathetic. Because he is one of the 3 of Giroud and Walcott I have been trying to convince the Boss on the OnlineMedia outlets like the Untold, Justarsenal.com and others to play the trio centrally as 3 in-rotation strikers at Arsenal next season. Even when Alexis is back, Arsenal will still need the option of deploying my torted 3 strikers rotatingly. But the Gunners will be short by one of those 3 senior strikers when Arsenal seasons open at Wembley against Chelsea on the 2nd of August. What’s the problem with Welbeck that he can’t get healed of what was said to be a minor knee injury 2 months on? Is he an injury prone player? He hardly can play 4 to 5 games consecutively without picking up injury. Which means he is an injury proner. I think Man Utd medicals have seen his hidden knee injury and shipped him to us as they got us cheap for paying £16m for him only to be rewarded by him with only 7 goals in a whole season actions. I think Arsenal medicals should upgrade their medical gadgets to meet up to the latest in service. So that they can discover hidden injury on any player they want to sign and not to be fooled after the signing. Have some Gunners taking getting injured for granted as they often pick up injuries and only to say, so what? I’ll get paid. I think the Boss has tolerated injury proners too long at Arsenal and he has to divorce himself from them. Otherwise, they will continue to stagnate Arsenal as we continue to miss out on the title and the Ucl trophies. There is a difference between injury proners and getting injured. For examples, Giroud was injured last time out then he returned and stayed strong on his feet till the end of the season. Walcott had a year long big injury from a Danny Rose tackle. Since his return, he has stayed largely on his feet save some fitness issue he had to cope with. Since Ozil came back from his knee injury, he’s been on his feet but once for Arsenal up to the end of the season. And Ramsey and Jack Wilshere have appeared of late to have overcome being proned to injuries as they have stayed on their feet last season after they came back. More especially Aaron Ramsey. This staying on their feet is impressive and encouraging. But in particular, Welbeck, Rosicky, Arteta and even Oxadale and Debuchy are too prone to picking up injuries. With Welbeck and Rosicky being the most quilty of the rest. We want to win the quadruple next season and become the first Premier League club to have achieved that feast. I believe Arsenal can win the quadruple but not with penerial injury prone players. If Welbeck will not be able to stay strong on his feet next season opening games till maybe after sometimes. I think the Boss should sign a top quality striker in addition to signing a top quality LB and a top quality RW making 3 totally signings that will make Arsenal season engines well oiled than in recent past times.
@My brother SamuelAnkisolaAdebosin i wonder if you have noticed you always double click and thus posting twice,you can always click once and all will be fine,thanks for the comment though,.
not twice Kampala…Thrice!!!
Samuel, please only once.
I’m more worried about Arsenal meeting the cloggers of Stoke City than the Welbeck injury.
We simply must avoid any pre-season injuries. 😉
What it does tell you is that with 27 players travelling and many left at home our squad is pretty deep. OK there is quite a few u21s on the trip but with ospina Macey iliev Jenkinson hayden kamara rosicky toral bielik gnabry Wellington campbell sanogo alexis Welbeck all left at home hopefully some will play with the u21s in their friendlies or get the loan moves they need.
TailGunner, I’m not aware of Hayden being Injured and I was also hoping he’d break through this season.
Blackfoox, I wish I was there!
Anyone one has anything on Stephy Mavididi?
Hayden and Mavididi have recent twits that don’t really say much beyond they are in preseason training.
Szczesny has gotten engaged to his girlfriend. Congratulations.
According to Wenger, Sanchez comes back Aug 3 (and Ospina the week before that on Jul 27). According to 3 or 4 newspapers in Chile, Sanchez comes back to Arsenal on Jul 27, same as Ospina. He doesn’t want rest. 🙂
The squad shakeout begins with these friendly games. I suppose after the Emirates Cup games later, we could then see what the playing team will be for the new season.
Good luck guys, in Singapore. Just don’t come back with a sling!
Hisham – lol!!
Hi Tony,
Good write up, but I wouldn’t read too much into Joel Campbell’s situation yet. He’s still on international duty with Costa Rica in the Gold Cup. Next match on July 11
I have a strong feeling that AW wants to make sure Wellington is fit and strong enough for the PL. Then give him a run at the Emirates Cup. If he steps up for those games then he could well have a sterling-like break through year.
Otherwise he’ll have a year with the reserves (maybe a loan later in the season) to properly integrate at the club, and then decisions will be made next summer.
But I could be wrong 🙂