The midfield quartet, all on long-term contracts were Jack Wilshere, already a full England international and perceived by most as the player to build our future national team around. Francis Coqulein, who played in defence in 2009, Emmanuel Frimpong and Henri Lansbury. Coquelin feels he is ready to be playing regular first-team football, many might agree, so we might struggle to keep him at the club, particularly when I am certain there will be interest from his home land in the next transfer window. Frimpong, has now declared himself for Ghana, but is still a London lad like Wilshere, who has been at the club since a young age and few would bet against him adding to his first-team starts this year. Lansbury starred for England in the Under-21 Championship over the summer after helping Norwich win promotion whilst on loan last season. When he went on loan again this season to West Ham, many felt, as he was in the last year of his contract, perhaps he would not return, but then Wenger offered him a new long-term deal. Lastly, we have the free scoring Sanchez Watt, with 7 goals in 9 starts for the reserves this term, off on loan to Sheffield Wednesday with the ink still drying on a new contract.
Now if even 3 of the 8 players make the grade, one would have to argue that the current youth set up under Arsenal legends Liam Brady and Steve Bould is now doing its job. Particularly as those who do not have the patience or are not quite Arsenal level, will now bring in welcome revenue as they are predominantly on long-term contracts and would command decent transfer fees. It is rumoured that Ipswich paid £1 million for Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, with more based on appearances to come.
Now contrast this incredible recent success story at Arsenal since 2009, with that of the team we defeated, Liverpool, traditionally held up as a club that produces a regular stream of home grown talent. Surely the boot room academy that produced Carragher, Gerrard, Fowler, Owen etc. must have a similar pool of home grown talent pushing for first-team action from the 2009 Cup final squad?
Well after extensive research, I have discovered that Jack Robinson, who played left-back in the second leg in 2009 is still at Liverpool and played 3 times last season. This year he is still in the first-team squad and a regular for the reserves after the arrival of Enrique pushed him down the pecking order. In addition, midfielder Andre Wisdom is in the first-team squad, but has yet to play in the Premier League and a further midfielder David Ammo is on loan at Bury. Lastly, Spanish centre-back Daniel Ayala is on loan at Norwich, for whom he has made one appearance. Every other player who appeared for Liverpool in the final in 2009 has been released or sold.
So guys we should be proud of our current crop, many of whom are regulars in the first-team squad and rightly proud of the efforts of Brady as his staff. Even more so when we consider the next phase as we have seen glimpses of, Chuks Aneke, Benik Afobe, Oguzhan Ozyakup, Nico Yennaris etc. However, unlike in the past, whilst we do continue to scour the world for talent, now under the guidance of the Far East and USA of Steve Morrow (yes that Steve Morrow), many of the current and forthcoming batch of first-team hopefuls are home grown. I am convinced this means the end of the line for Nicklas Bendtner, Carlos Vela and Denilson.
The future Arsenal team, in 2 or 3 years, could be back to the 1998 Double winning side with 7 Englishmen, blended with top draw players from across the globe. Who knows what the future holds, but I for one consider it a bright one!
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