Arsenal’s ability to find and nuture young talent is well known, although the success of their youth program may prove detrimental by the loss some of their stars in the January transfer window.
The problem for Arsenal at the moment is that youngsters like Fran Merida and Jack Wilshere cannot expect much of a chance in first grade games this is mainly due to the fact that Arsenal’s midfielders are some of the best in the world which has seen their progress into the first team limited to the occasional appearance in a Carling Cup or FA Cup game or to play in a meaningless Champions League encounter.
Now Arsene Wenger has made himself a problem because some youngsters are clearly ready for a more prominent first grade role. With players like Walcott, Fabregas, Diarra, Diaby, Nasri, Rosicky and Ramsey akll vying for a place in the team in central midfield, not to mention the likes of Arshavin who can also play a midfield role, the chances for the talented youngsters coming through seems to be very limited, especially in midfield.
The unfortunate thing at the moment, had Wilshere or Merida been strikers of equivalent ability then they would no doubt have been given a chance in the first team, given the injuries at the moment to leading strikers Robin Van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner.
Wilshere has been linked with a loan move away from Highbury for a few weeks now. Turf Moor have shown interest in moving the youngster, but given that manager Owen Coyle is on the verge of quitting the club to move to Bolton Wanderers, it seems unlikely that much interest will be shown until they resolve their managerial situation. A loan to another Premier League team is what Wilshere seems likely to do. West ham how shown interest recently to have him moved for the remainder of the season and with Arsene Wenger admitting the youngster needs first team soccer, a move could be on the cards.
A more complicated situation has arisen concerning Fran Merida. The young star was signed by Arsenal from Barcelona as a youngster, much in the same way that Cesc Fabregas joined the club, and Fran Merida has shown a lot of comparisons with his Spanish counterpart. However unlike Fabregas, Merida has been unable to break into the Arsenal side despite his undoubted talent with his contract due to expire in June this year, and his unwillingness to resign with the club Fran Merida has decided that he will transfer to the club he followed as a boy; Atletico Madrid, this move is a permanent one so gunners fans will say goodbye to him in the current Arsenal jersey forever.
While Arsenal are well off for midfield talent, one must wonder how Gunners fans feel to see players that have been so carefully nurtured through the youth system, leave Arsenal in search of more accommodating teams, albeit temporarily in Wilshere’s case, simply because competition for places in the squad, in their position, is particularly strong.
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