Home > Football > Walcott, Diaby, Traore – who will graduate from Wenger's Arsenal class of 2008?
Walcott, Diaby, Traore – who will graduate from Wenger's Arsenal class of 2008?
All of the Gunners kids are good enough for regular Premier League football. The question is which ones are going to live up to Arsene's standards.
by Thierry Adams on 10 March 2008
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Arsene Wenger has a well documented history of finding young talent and helping it grow to its fullest potential, but who in the current crop will make the grade and who will become the next Matthew Upson?
Abou Diaby – A mammoth performance at the San Siro has shown how good he could be. Is surely heading for the big time and will prove his worth as a star for the future.
Denilson – Could go either way, but I am confident that the 20-year-old Brazilian has what It takes to make it at the club. Wenger’s assertion that the midfield dynamo is somewhere between a Gilberto Silva and a Tomas Rosicky is both a positive and a negative. He could fall between two stools but offers adaptability, and I like the way he always plays with a smile on his face. He just looks and plays like an Arsenal player, if that makes sense.
Alexander Song – Still not convinced about Song. Personally, I can't see him making the grade, which may be a little unfair, but it’s just a sense I get. Once again another player who can play in different positions, a quality that Wenger seems to breed into his youngsters. I expect him to end up at a lesser club, but still worthy of playing for a big team.
Johann Djourou – Man mountain and a player with the potential to match his size. The Swiss youngster really deserves a good run in the side having already served his stint on loan at Birmingham and proved he is up to the challenge of Premier League football. The question is how easy will he find it to displace those already in his position?
Nicklas Bendtner – Little by little he is beginning to show his ability but it does seem that his partnership with Emmanuel Adebayor isn’t really working. Can appear clumsy although he has a good touch. Unlikely ever to be a 20-goals-a-season man in the Premier League – a kind of a Niall Quinn with skill (joke!).
Armand Traore – I know he is only 18 and it’s too early to make sweeping comments but I really am not sure he has got what it takes. Maybe a stint on loan in the Championship would serve him and the club well because right now he simply isn’t good enough to warrant a place in the team or even on the bench.
Theo Walcott – Well on the way to shutting up his many critics. Needs to step up on the occasions he starts games, as he did at St Andrews. Still very young and a man who will surely be an Arsenal legend in years to come. Can be a joy to watch although does occasionally leave fans tearing their hair out.
Of course any criticism should be taken in the context of what Arsenal fans like myself have got used to from the youngsters who have been simply magical in a Gunners shirt. Clearly all of the kids in the squad are more than capable of holding down a regular first-team place in Premier League football – the question is, who is good enough for Wenger and the Emirates?
Comments (16)
by P F on March 10, 2008
Yep all the Arsenal kids are good enough for top flight football, that is until a few of them get stuffed 5-1 then 4-0 and all of a sudden they are used as scapegoats, make your minds up, you lot are constantly contradicting yourselves!
by mak one on March 10, 2008
all the players can be big stars under the master, Arsene Wenger!
by Thierry (author) on March 10, 2008
Who exactly do you mean when you say "you lot are constantly contradicting yourselves!" I am only one person as far as i am aware so not sure who 'you lot' are? Do you mean Arsenal fans?
by Ali S on March 10, 2008
I would say they will all make it... But Walcott and Traore have the most potential! The rest will all be strong squad players, They are all good enough, they are all playing in the team fairly regularly already, but I just can't see were they will fit into our starting XI especially as its soo young already. Don't forgot Vela! That boy is top top draw!
Yes Arsenal fans as a whole. One second they are blabbering on about these world class youngsters, then the next, the same players are responsible for the club getting smashed!
by M C on March 10, 2008
My word, that really was the win of the decade for the mighty Spurs... They'll probably be telling their grandchildren about it: "I remember the mighty Spurs beating Arsenal. 'Twas only 53 year ago. They'll 'ave you believe they played with their kids - BUT IT WAS A SHAM. Some of the players were in their twenties. And believe me, grandson, this, the centenary of the Billy Nicholson era, will be the year when the mighty Spurs win the League. No, stop laughing - and take that Arsenal shirt off, right now!!!"
by davio knobsville on March 10, 2008
Same players that knocked Spurs out the year before 1-1 then....... All sets of fans have different opinions where are all the Martin jol supporters now?
by MPJ59W on March 10, 2008
Song will replace Gilberto as our holding midfielder to cover for the Flamster when required and for steering teh youngsters in the Cup matches. Traore got caught up in the early season rave reviews he got so needs to rememebr that he may have potential BUT the way he got skinned in the Carling cup he still has a long way to go ! The others are all on their way to making our squad worldclass, watch and see......
by Azeez Soliu Olanrewaju on March 10, 2008
this year 2008 walcott is going 2 graduate 4 Wenger and the Emirate
by theking13 on March 10, 2008
theo, denilson, bendtner and djourou will make it. song and traore might, however i don't think diaby is up to it. can't seem to get it into his head that the arsenal game is a sharp passing game. not take 4 touches to control the ball, try to beat a few players, if you don't lose then try and pass it and hope it reaches it's target, his lack of peripheral vision is embarrassing for an arsenal player.
by jjjj on March 10, 2008
i think that denilson, djourou and traore will never break into out team, just think clichy will keep his place for the next 10 years and unless he wants to be a bench warmer for that time he'll probably leave. Djourou is too clumsy, good in the air but i think big phil has shown late;y that with a run of games he can be quite consistent although he still makes the odd error or two. Denilson is just light weight, cant really see what everyone see's in this bloke, he's the same age as fabregas but nowhere near him in terms of development, and we've got that merida coming back, so i think he's out. I think keiron gibb's and that kid nacer barazite are impressive, they should be given a shot on the left and right wings.
by gary on March 10, 2008
next season's team,.... Almunia Sagna Toure Senderos Clichy Hleb Fabregas Flamini Rossicky Van Persie Adebayor..... second Team..... Fabienski Gilbert Gallas Song Traore Diaby Randall Walcott Merida Vela Bendtner.... He will get rid of lehman, gilberto, hoyte, denilson, djourou, maybe rossicky too
by Andres on March 10, 2008
Jeez, all of those guys are good players. Here is my guess Walcott will succeed at Arsenal, probably as a secondary central striker. I think his days on the wing maybe numbered Diaby is tremendous when given a chance. And he is playing a position that isnt even his natural spot. Has shown he can be an offensive weapon. Denilson, for sure will make it. There is a ton of skill there, and he is adaptable to many spots. My only problem with him is that his game is similar to Cesc, so he is going to have to make it on the wing. Djourou, not so sure about. My dream central midfield tandem in a few years is him and Song, but I am just not sure. Though I think he is better than Senderos right now, who is vastly overrated. Song will make it. At the beginning I thought he was a joke. But when he is in central defense, he is massive. And his run in the ANC only proved it. He has been injured but he easily could have been Toures replacement had he been available, and not Senderos Bendtner, I dont think so. He doesnt seem to fit into the club. He can be Imbramovic and I hope Arsenal can sell him for a Zlatan like fee one day, but he doesnt mesh with Ade, and Ade is our lead striker for the foreseeable future. Vela- easily yes. He will be one of our wingers next year. Pjanic (sp). It is being reported we have signed the Metz whiz kid today. He apparently plays the Cesc spot, meaning no Modric, but could be awesome
by nick butler on March 10, 2008
in order from best to worst: Bendtner, Walcott, Djourou, Denilson, Diaby, Traore, Song--- Bendtner is more composed and has better goalscoring instincts than walcott
by cletus Tavaris on March 18, 2008
The fact that they are Arsenal kids under the master Wenger, makes all of them Stars both of now & of the future..
by Newton Chirimi on April 14, 2008
I don't know what the debate is about. Under Wengers tutorship even johny wilkinson and oprah can become a star strikers.
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