How Arsenal mould the latest batch from Arsene Wenger's talent factory

19 December 2009 12:48
Arsenal have a worldwide reputation for producing skilful young players. In the second part of Sportsmail's fascinating insight into their Academy, manager Arsene Wenger reveals his passion for developing the players that are the future of the club.[LNB] Steve Bould shouts it on the training pitch, he shouts it from the touchline during games and he probably shouts it in his sleep: 'Quicker, quicker, move the ball.' It has become the Arsenal mantra under Arsene Wenger and central to everything done in the academy, to prepare technical players for life in the first team, where quick feet and quick thinking are the keys to survival.[LNB]When Bould's youngsters stepped out at Barnet's Underhill stadium for the first defence of their FA Youth Cup title this week, they lined up in a formation like the first team, tried to play the same slick-passing style and ran into some of the same frustrations.[LNB]Crewe almost stunned them proving their own tradition for unearthing young talent is alive and well despite their slide down theFootball League but Arsenal fought back from behind three times,scoring three goals from corners and won on penalties to reach the fourth round.[LNB] Top corner: Oguzhan Ozyakup takes a corner at Underhill[LNB]Defeat against a League Two club would have humbled these prizedscholars, who want for nothing at one of the country's top Academies,but the guts they showed to get out of trouble will impress thecoaching staff far more than any of the tricks they conjure at will ontheir pristine pitches.[LNB]The cosmetic aspects of modern football are lost on Bould. He complains that the new puffa jackets are too shiny for his liking as hepulls one on, grabs a red woolly hat and strides out for his team'sfinal training session before Wednesday's game in boots that arereassuringly black.[LNB]David Seaman pops in occasionally to coach and he is there, offeringhis expertise to the keepers alongside academy coach Tony Roberts. Thescholars trot past Seaman, singing his name. 'Louder,' demands 'SafeHands' and then lets rip with his booming laugh.[LNB]Seaman and Roberts work the club's three young keepers through quickhandling drills, shot-stopping practice and then move on to crosses.[LNB]Bould and Steve Gatting, another ex-Arsenal player, oversee the main session. They warm up the players with a ball between two and hand them over toCraig Gant, the youth team's fitness coach. Gant whips them through a20-minute blitz of mobility exercises, hopping and stepping over hurdles, skipping between cones and twisting around lifesize mannequins.[LNB] Young Guns go for it! Arsenal celebrate an FA Youth Cup comeback win[LNB]Bould sets up half a pitch with the mannequins and runs his team through their pattern of play against the artificial opposition. 'Quicker, quicker, move the ball,' he snaps. Into central midfield, out wide, a cross and finish. 'Head it!' yells the coach. 'Take that hat off and head it properly!'[LNB]His players grumble about standing around in the cold as they focus onset-pieces, but enthusiasm recovers for a penalty contest, which proveswell-planned. The following day, the same teenagers are steppingforward for their Youth Cup shoot-out.[LNB]Goalkeeper JamesDunn was the hero on the night, saving two spot-kicks, the first ofwhich would have won the tie for Crewe. He celebrated the save with anelaborate knee-slide, but Liam Brady, Arsenal's Head of YouthDevelopment, shouted at him to calm down because there was still workto do.[LNB]Having recently undergone a hip replacement, Brady stood with the aidof crutches behind the goal to watch the game. He is responsible forthe club's youth development operation from the ages of nine to 21.[LNB]About 20 nine-year-olds are recruited, although this pool changesnaturally over time as some boys leave and others join. When they areabout 14, Brady's focus sharpens as he seeks to identify those who arescholarship material.[LNB]Arsenal's global scouts come into the equation here too, because all top clubs will try to supplement local talent from abroad when scholarships are handed out at the age of 16.[LNB]A yearly intake of first-year scholars is usually about a dozen, but itdepends on quality. 'You have to be fair to the boys,' Brady explains.'We won't take them in just to make up the numbers.'[LNB] Steadying hand: Liam Brady keeps a watchful eye on Arsenal's youngsters[LNB][LNB]There are 18 scholars in the Academy this year, and four of them are from overseas. Jack Wilshere would be another second year scholar had he not been fast-tracked to the first team.[LNB]When Arsenal won the Youth Cup last season, only two of the 15 used in a two-legged final were foreign. This is the crop Wenger speaks so highly of and includes promising English players like Jay-Emmanuel Thomas, Kyle Bartley, Henri Lansbury and Sanchez Watt.[LNB]All but one of the scholars who graduated last summer were offered a professional contract with Arsenal. The other has joined Spurs. Six of the 18 current scholars have already signed professional contracts.[LNB]'When they turn pro, they earn that little bit more,' says Brady. 'We try to make sure they're looking after their money but you see little lifestyle changes. They might buy a car rather than rely on London Transport.'[LNB]For the young pros, the next step is to target the first team and a loan spell sometimes helps bridge the gap. Few can expect to make the grade at the Emirates, but there is a healthy list of players in the Premier League and Football League who were schooled here.[LNB]'We want to give the boys a career in football, even if that's in League Two,' says Brady. 'There are hundreds of thousands of people who would love to be doing that for a living. It is an honour in many ways and they have to learn to treat their profession with respect and care for it.'[LNB] Learning their trade: Captain Cedric Evina leads out Arsenal[LNB]Even those who leave maintain a strong bond with the club. Andrew Douglas was a first-year scholar when Wenger arrived in 1996 and saw the changes start to happen. [LNB]'The Coke went from the training ground... it was only water,' says Douglas, who played in the youth team with Ashley Cole. 'We all knew we should be eating carbs before the game but when he arrived, there were nutrition plans and vitamin supplements.'[LNB]Douglas was not offered a professional contract and left in 1998, but a decade later, after spells with Sheffield Wednesday, Luton, Stevenage and Grays, he returned to Arsenal and works in the commercial department.[LNB]'We used to joke that once you were in, you were in,' he says. 'It's a strange club in that sense. There are about eight of us who used to be there and went to do other things, but we've all remained close. When we were playing non-League, we could always call the physio and come in for treatment or talk to the backroom staff for advice.[LNB]'There was some bitterness when I wasn't offered a contract, but when I came back it was great to see all the old faces. It's a great place to be.'[LNB]ARSENE'S CURRENT CROP First years: Benik Afobe, Chuks Aneke, Daniel Boateng, George Brislen-Hall, James Dunn, Sead Hajrovic, Sean McDermott, Jemade Meade, Ignasi Miquel (pro), Oguzhan Ozyakup (pro), Nico Yennaris. Second years: Sam Byles, Roarie Deacon, Rhema Obed, Conor Henderson (pro), Emmanuel Frimpong (pro), Luke Freeman (pro), Cedric Evina (pro).[LNB] Arsene Wenger: Can the new breed of Arsenal youngsters fight, suffer, make sacrifices to become real winners?Inside Arsenal's talent factory: Emmanuel Frimpong's case studyEXCLUSIVE: Arsenal's talent factory is laid bare for the first time everSteve Bould: From 'famous four' to the production of world class playersInside Arsenal's amazing talent factory: Cedric Evina case studyGALLERY: Arsenal's talent factory - Graham Chadwick's exclusive shots Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1237044/Arsene-Wenger-Can-new-breed-Arsenal-youngsters-fight-suffer-make-sacrifices-real-winners.html#ixzz0a4nTJ8dmARSENAL FC

Source: Daily_Mail