Arsenal youngsters

[Seagull over NZ]

So how come Arsenal youth policy is all driven at targetting top kids from overseas. As mentioned above, a distinct lack of English youngsters there.

Is it because there are no penalties from overseas countries that stop Arsenal poaching these players like we had in place for Gareth Barry? Is it cheaper to do that rather than have an academy of English kids? If thats the case, then its a worry. Having said that, they m,ust have some sort of English academy with the likes of Cole coming through

It does seem to be the teams with the foreign managers that have this approach - it was the same with Houllier at Liverpool when all of a sudden all these half rate French kids turned up. Liverpool along with Man United was previously a great example of bringing through great English players, all in the same generation as well.

 

[CHAPPERS]

So how come Arsenal youth policy is all driven at targetting top kids from overseas. As mentioned above, a distinct lack of English youngsters there.

Is it because there are no penalties from overseas countries that stop Arsenal poaching these players like we had in place for Gareth Barry? Is it cheaper to do that rather than have an academy of English kids? If thats the case, then its a worry. Having said that, they m,ust have some sort of English academy with the likes of Cole coming through

It does seem to be the teams with the foreign managers that have this approach - it was the same with Houllier at Liverpool when all of a sudden all these half rate French kids turned up. Liverpool along with Man United was previously a great example of bringing through great English players, all in the same generation as well.

I'd be surprised if you could have put a team of English kids under 21 out that would have beaten that Arsenal side.