Coquelin was on-loan at Charlton and Bellerin only got a chance because Debuchy was injured. 

 

My gut feeling is that the myth of Wenger giving youth players a chance is just that.

 

Regardless of the reason they still got game time. 

 

In the past we've done things like play Essien at right back or centre back rather than give a youth player a chance in their natural position. 

 

Wenger's bought through far too many players for it to be a "myth". Fabregas, Ramsay, Wilshere, Bellerin, Gibbs, Cole, Jenkinson, Coquelin and in that time we've bought through no one. 

 

He's also bought the likes of Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain in they teens and established their playing careers. 

But even now they are spending they allowed Sagna to go and it's allowed for the emergence of Bellerin who has played very well this season on top of the emergence of Coquelin too. 

 

Yep, and they are definitely a better team for it. 

I don't think we should have bough Luis, surely Bertrand or another youth player could have taken up that role. Don't think Wenger would have ever spent that kind of money on someone who plays so little. Judging by the succes of our youth team there is some serious talent in there.

 

I think don't think  Wenger had a choice but to bring back Coquelin but nontheless he seems to be massively important for Arsenal. 

So that automatically reflects well on Wenger. And of course he's brought through a handful of others.

 

I'm not sure if Wenger was just stubborn/scared to spend in previous years or if he really wasn't aloud to spend because of the new stadium (I've read contradicting reports), but this season he seemingly (almost) got it right.

 

I will trust Mourinho though, and believe him when he says youth is going to play a part in the future. When the pressure is slightly off next season I hope he will put his words to action.

Regardless of the reason they still got game time. 

 

 

Sorry I thought we were talking about Wenger actively looking to give youngsters the chance. 

 

 

In the past we've done things like play Essien at right back or centre back rather than give a youth player a chance in their natural position. 

 

 

Which young right-back could we have played there instead? Struggling to think of any top quality ones we've developed who had knee cartilage. 

 

 

 

Wenger's bought through far too many players for it to be a "myth". Fabregas, Ramsay, Wilshere, Bellerin, Gibbs, Cole, Jenkinson, Coquelin and in that time we've bought through no one. 

 

He's also bought the likes of Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain in they teens and established their playing careers. 

 

See I think 'bringing through' players is specifically about academy players which is why I don't include Zouma, so I certainly wouldn't include youngsters that Wenger has bought in like Chambers, Walcott etc. There's a financial commitment to those players that overrides any stated ambitions to promote from within. 

 

I simply think that the days of Wenger bringing through youngsters, like when he'd bring play 8 or 9 in the League Cup, are long gone and he's actually moved on to a more pragmatic approach. 

Sorry I thought we were talking about Wenger actively looking to give youngsters the chance. 

 

 

Which young right-back could we have played there instead? Struggling to think of any top quality ones we've developed who had knee cartilage. 

 

 

See I think 'bringing through' players is specifically about academy players which is why I don't include Zouma, so I certainly wouldn't include youngsters that Wenger has bought in like Chambers, Walcott etc. There's a financial commitment to those players that overrides any stated ambitions to promote from within. 

 

I simply think that the days of Wenger bringing through youngsters, like when he'd bring play 8 or 9 in the League Cup, are long gone and he's actually moved on to a more pragmatic approach. 

 

But he does actively look to his youth as a solution rather than shoehorning senior players into foreign positions. 

 

I'm not going to pretend that I remember every youth player we have had in the last 10 years but as you've alluded to Sam Hutchinson was a very promising player for us at one point, we had the likes of Jeffery Bruma, Michael Mancienne. If given the chance to play in the first team instead of playing others out of position who's to say how that could of effected their development as a player? 

 

My point about the likes of Walcott is that in addition to promoting from within Arsenal's youth set up Wenger has often bought young talent and nurtured their development as seen with Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chambers etc. 

But he does actively look to his youth as a solution rather than shoehorning senior players into foreign positions. 

 

 

Wasn't Monreal playing at centre-back this season?

 

 

I'm not going to pretend that I remember every youth player we have had in the last 10 years but as you've alluded to Sam Hutchinson was a very promising player for us at one point, we had the likes of Jeffery Bruma, Michael Mancienne. If given the chance to play in the first team instead of playing others out of position who's to say how that could of effected their development as a player? 

 

 

Was Essien ever played at centre-back (because both of those are primarily centre-backs) when Mancienne or Bruma were at the club?

 

 

My point about the likes of Walcott is that in addition to promoting from within Arsenal's youth set up Wenger has often bought young talent and nurtured their development as seen with Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chambers etc. 

 

Walcott was signed almost a decade ago. Like I was saying, I think Wenger has changed a lot over that time to the point where he was signing the likes of Arteta, Mertesacker, Flamini, Park, that Brazilian left-backm Debuchy, Cazorla, Giroud etc. rather than bringing through youngsters from the academy. 

 

Put it like this. At the weekend they had 3 academy players in their squad, we had 2. United actually had 5.

If Arsenal had spent the money we had over the last 10 seasons, i think they would be challenging almost every signing depending on signings. They have made a brilliant signing in Sanchez and Ozil (although he's gotten berated a lot) seems to be getting better. The problem with wenger is he hasn't spent the money when he should have, but credit to him that he's always had Arsenal up there in top 3/4 and playing really good football. I think if they had a more dominant midfield and defence, they would be running us, city and utd close, but they always choose to buy the less physical, but very creative players over the much more physical ones. 

Regarding Chalobah, though, i think it's often forgotten that he's still so young. It seems like he's been on the fringes at Chelsea for forever. He is still only 20 

Edited April 20, 201511 yr by enigma

Wasn't Monreal playing at centre-back this season?

 

 

Was Essien ever played at centre-back (because both of those are primarily centre-backs) when Mancienne or Bruma were at the club?

 

 

Walcott was signed almost a decade ago. Like I was saying, I think Wenger has changed a lot over that time to the point where he was signing the likes of Arteta, Mertesacker, Flamini, Park, that Brazilian left-backm Debuchy, Cazorla, Giroud etc. rather than bringing through youngsters from the academy. 

 

Put it like this. At the weekend they had 3 academy players in their squad, we had 2. United actually had 5.

 

Essien was played at RB numerous times instead of giving a young RB a chance. Ferreria was played at CB instead of giving Bruma a chance. Azpilicueta in more recent times played at LB instead of trusting a Bertrand who was in the CL winning team.

Essien was played at RB numerous times instead of giving a young RB a chance. Ferreria was played at CB instead of giving Bruma a chance. Azpilicueta in more recent times played at LB instead of trusting a Bertrand who was in the CL winning team.

 

Which young right-back wasn't given a chance? Hutchinson? Kane was probably a bit young. 

 

Are you talking about the Liverpool game in 2007 when Ferreira was used at centre-back? Think Bruma would've been 16. Is it a different game?

 

Azpi was used at left-back because he was better than Bertrand could ever hope to be. He's the best left-back in the league, probably two seasons in a row.

Ferreira played centre back at home to Sunderland when we lost 3 nil, while bruma was a member of the squad.

I think it was ancelotti's second season.

Ferreira played centre back at home to Sunderland when we lost 3 nil, while bruma was a member of the squad.

I think it was ancelotti's second season.

 

And here's the report for that match. Well found.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9180668.stm

And here's the report for that match. Well found.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9180668.stm

Really disappointing game that one. In the middle of the notorious bad spell. Bruma had looked a little shaky in the few appearances he had made that season, notably against villa. But ferreira playing was a real kick in the teeth for the likes of bruma, kakuta, and borini.

Essien was played at RB numerous times instead of giving a young RB a chance. Ferreria was played at CB instead of giving Bruma a chance. Azpilicueta in more recent times played at LB instead of trusting a Bertrand who was in the CL winning team.

 

i really dont understand why mourinho didnt rate bertrand. i dont think hes any worse than luis. has a different skillset, sure, but hes a perfectly able back up

Reading season over, 3 games to go for us...worth bringing back for a cheeky look (especially with Ramires/Oscar potentially out for a bit). Or are RLC and Ake definitely in front of Chalobah now?

He can still make it, he just need a chance.

Reading season over, 3 games to go for us...worth bringing back for a cheeky look (especially with Ramires/Oscar potentially out for a bit). Or are RLC and Ake definitely in front of Chalobah now?

 

Hard to say, but I do think he has slipped down the pecking order and and even Baker now might be ahead of him.

He was very good in the semi final against arsenal, one of the best players on the pitch.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3137434/Chelsea-emulate-Manchester-United-s-Class-92-says-Nathaniel-Chalobah.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

He's very serious about his making his career here, I like his attitude. All he need is a chance, I believe in him.

He's very serious about his making his career here, I like his attitude. All he need is a chance, I believe in him.

 

 

If the Mikel rumors are true then this will be the telling factor. If we dip in to the market for another center mid then the writing is on the wall, if we reckoning that we should have it covered with Nathan and Zouma if need be the their is hope (also MVG is still a chelsea player i think) 

Been terrible tonight for England, loads of misplaced passes.

He's been terrible in all 3 of the England games to be honest.

He's been terrible in all 3 of the England games to be honest.

 

More fool Southgate for persevering with him when he had plenty of other options available to him. 

Yep I'm afraid to say I doubt this boy will ever play for CFC

Agreed he seems to have stalled as a player a bit over the last couple of years, doesn't have much of a footballing brain.