The past few frantic weeks has seen a key change in Arsene Wenger’s thinking on our current crop of youth and reserve team stars. Many of those previously tipped for greatness or a first-team career at Arsenal have been sold or shipped out on loan without new contracts. Notable examples would be Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Randall, Traore, Lansbury and Vela.
However, there seems to be a growing feeling around the camp that some of the next generation will be able to step up and the extending of contracts for many would suggest that Wenger has acknowledged this. We have seen more genuine breakthroughs in the past year or so, with Wilshere, Ramsey, Frimpong and Miquel leading the charge.
One such player that excites me with his potential is Chuks Aneke, and there are several reasons why I feel this young gun could be the next along with Afobe to make an impact at a higher level.
Both Bould and Banfield at U18’s and Reserves have deployed the same formation as the first-team, as you would expect, and Aneke has been playing in the advanced midfield playmaker role just behind the main striker. Currently it would seem likely that this role in the first-team will be fulfilled by Arteta.
Aneke is well over 6 foot and has a strong physical build in the Vieira mould, but possesses incredible technical ability with amazing close control an exemplary passing range.
He has a fierce shot and generally an eye for goal. He scored in 3 of our 5 Reserve team pre-season friendlies and in both of our opening fixtures this season against Man United and Wigan away. At the start of last season he made the step up from U18’s to Reserves with ease, scoring 6 in the first 7 games before injury sidelined him.
Had it not been for this spell out, Aneke might have secured a loan deal at the same time as his close friend Benik Afobe did with whom he has shared an almost telepathic understanding from an early age.
i do agree with you that aneke and afobe,are players that look like great preospects at arsenal.
but can i please ask you and all media reporters, not to put pressure on these youngsters, with saying like aneke is the next vieria ,just like bentley was the new bergkemp, jay thomas was going be the next henry, along with bendtner who was the next ian wright i once read in the sun years ago.
it not right to say young players are the next pele or next messi, i feel it puts more unneccerey (sorry for mis spelling)pressure on the youngsters, why can’t we just say this player is one to watch out for, a player with his own style and skills.
but these players do look good,and i pertically like that aneke is a tall strong player like frimpong(who i think is going to be awesome for arsenal, shame he chose chana over england),and miguel i think could be a brilliant player in time but!! i can’t help thinking he be back in spain before we see the best of him.
good luck tomorrow arsenal come on lets have it!!
chucks aneke has the physic of patrick vieira and the skill of dennis bergkamp. hopefully we will see him in the carling cup.
another great kid is kyle ebicilio. unfortunately the old traford tragedy destroyed the plan wenger had for this season. we really won’t see them in the first team this season.
aneke has a strong engine like viera,where is freeman?..
yep… out of all the players to come through arsenals youth system he excites me the most, and dare i say it that includes Jack. His potential is MASSIVE.