The loss of some of Arsenal’s young stars seems immentant in the January transfer window despite all the effort made from their youth program.
The truth of the matter is that for youngsters like Fran Merida and Jack Wilshere, the limited first team opportunities afforded to them, this is mainly due to the fact that Arsenal’s midfielders are some of the best in the world which has only allowed them to appear in some unimportant Champions League games of the Carling Cup.
Now Arsene Wenger has made himself a problem because some youngsters are clearly ready for a more prominent first grade role. With a lot of talented midfielders to choose from including Diaby, Diarra, Rosicky, Narsi and Fabregas, and players who can also play in the midfield if needed to like Arshavin, the midfield seems like a very unlikely place for young players to step up into the team.
The irony at the moment however, Arsenal don’t have and youngster to trial as strikers which they desperately need at the moment, due to injuries to Robin Van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner who are Arsenals lead strikers.
For a few weeks Wilshere has been linked to a loan move away from Arsenal. Turf Moor have shown interest in moving the youngster, but seeing as manager Owen Coyle is about to move to the Bolton Wanderers, it seems unlikely that the Clarets will take their interest any further while their managerial situation remains unresolved. Wilshere himself has stated that he would prefer a loan move to another Premier League side. 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. Transferred from Barcelona to Arsenal as a youngster in a similar fashion to Cesc Fabregas, Fran Merida has shown a lot of comparisons with his Spanish counterpart. Fran Merida however has not been able to step up into Arsenals first side, with a lack of interest to resign with Arsenal and his contract due to expire in June Merida has opted to move back home to Spain and, like Wilshere, will be making the move to a club he has followed since he was young; Atletico Madrid, this move is a permanent one so gunners fans will say goodbye to him in the authentic Arsenal jersey forever.
Arsenal may have a strong midfield, however one must wonder how Gunners fans feel to see players that have been so carefully nurtured through the youth system, leave the club to further their careers elsewhere, albeit temporarily in Wilshere’s case, only because there is no room for them in the first grade squad.
