Interview: The Young Guns Blog founder Jamie Sanderson

I have a confession to make – I seldom read other Arsenal blogs. It’s not that I don’t want to read them, I am just keenly aware of not trying to re-craft a topic someone else has done. There are a lot of fantastic writers out there and they write great stuff it would be hard not to be influenced by their writings.

One of the blogs I do make it a habit to read is the Young Guns Blog. A work of love by Jamie Sanderson, this is in my opinion the online destination for any information about Arsenal’s reserves and youth system. Jamie’s insights into the Arsenal players of the future are insightful and valuable. With so many blogs about the senior team, Young Guns Blog is a unique perspective of the club that many of us, especially in the states seldom get to see.

As someone who respects the work Jamie does, I asked Jamie to answer a few questions I had about his blog and the future of the club.

This is only a sampling of his insight for more of the his news and coverage, please visit http://younggunsblog.co.uk

You Are My Arsenal (YAMA): I just have to know – why Young Guns and the reserves? Yours is probably the most unique of the Arsenal blogs because it doesn’t focus so much on the activity of the first team but the prospects being developed.

Young Guns Blog (YGB): One of the biggest compliments you can pay a writer in a congested sector like Arsenal websites is to be unique. I can’t take the credit for wanting to be unique; I would have continued with Young Guns even if there would have been twenty other Arsenal Reserves sites.

I can’t even claim credit for wanting to be a journalist or a writer. Most writers start out by wanting to write then building contacts and going from there. I only started to write because I had the contacts. I got to know some of the youth players really well and wanted to promote and share the work the club does at youth level. The reason for creating it is easy to explain, but the reason why it’s been so popular isn’t.

YAMA: Do you attend/watch all the reserve matches?

YGB: It’s not something I can do on a regular basis for a whole host reasons, but I do go when I can. This season Arsenal have made it almost impossible for people to openly watch the games. If I can’t go or get the tape of a game, I make sure I get at least three or four accounts of what has gone on, and of course study the highlights throughout the week. I’m always happy to answer questions as best as I can, but I would never claim to be an expert on Arsenal youth simply because its difficult to get access all the time.

YAMA:  I’d like to discuss probably the biggest question on a lot of Gooners minds – is Wojciech Szczesny the real deal? Is this kid the future of Arsenal’s goal keepers? And if so, do you think he will be the stalwart that is needed?

YGB: Wojciech has always been a curious figure at Arsenal. Ever since he arrived he wanted to play in the first-team and always believed he was good enough to do that. After his first year here he wanted to go on loan and the Brentford experience was massive for him. It’s easy to misjudge him as arrogant, but he knows what he is very good at and knows what he needs to work on. It’s rare to find somebody realistic about their talent in modern football.

He has the talent and the hunger to be the number one. I’ve always been supporting his cause and believed he should have been the number one straight from pre-season. Not just based on the Brentford loan, but because he has the intelligence and mentality our current options lack. Add that to his unbelievable talent and you’ve got the recipe for a world beater.

YAMA: I read your story today on Szczesny – given what you’ve said about his perceived “arrogance” what do you make of his breaking off negotiations with the club? Personally, I think this may have caught Arsene a little offguard but as I have been talking about all day on twitter – I think you have to give him his shot.

YGB: Wojciech is a guy who doesn’t make rash decisions. He won’t have done this lightly. I personally think this will have a happy conclusion where he signs, but a statement like this is just his way of saying to Wenger that he won’t just be another prospect who signs away and then gets forgotten about. The same happen with Barazite, Traore and it must be frustrating when the manager values you but doesn’t keep his promises.

YAMA: I think many of my readers are familiar with the likes of Lansbury, Nortveidt and Emmanuel-Thomas but who do you think they don’t know about and really should know about?

YGB: It’s always a subjective question because there is players at youth level who are fantastic but you can never tell if they’ll be given the chances to make it. Benik Afobe and Chuks Aneke are two of the best players we’ve ever produced for their age, but it’s all about whether they will take their game to the next level and become first-team stars. Some can, some can’t.

There is also the foreign boys who we have signed but are on loan or away from the club for visa problems. Pedro Botelho, Samuel Galindo and Wellington Silva are all names to watch out for in the coming years. Silva in particular looks to have a very exciting future ahead of him.

YAMA: You mention Wellington Silva – what’s his status with his current club and the outlook for him getting a Visa? Also, is he someone with potential for a quick break into the first team? Is there a first teamer who should be concerned if he breaks into the squad?

YGB: Wellington will be joining us in January. He’s been granted a FIFA Special Talent work permit so he’s free to move here after his 18th birthday. He’s highly thought of because he has quick feet, tricks and an amazing goal scoring record at youth level, but the attitude he’s shown to Arsenal has been notable. He clearly loves the club and trusts Wenger with his development.

I’ve always thought Wenger has wanted a player like him. We’ve tried to buy Ronaldinho, Cristiano Ronaldo etc, players who have tricks and flair and can make things happen. Silva is just that. It’s all about how quickly he settles in, but he’s one I’m really excited about.

 YAMA: Here is something that I’ve been thinking about. Frankly, it was during more of down time (post Chelsea and West Brom losses) but I am wondering the first team is good and it is widely regarded that this youth policy Wenger has in place is why we haven’t had trophies inthe last 5 years. But is this the real revolution of youth? Based onthe performances of some of the players at Arsenal now in the underage international tournaments, I wonder if the real revolution will be when the likes of Ramsey, Gibbs, Wilshere, and Szczesny are running the club with some of the new additions that are in the reserves. Is that where we may truly see Arsenal take off to glory again?

YGB: It’s very rational and understandable to look at everything when things are not going to plan. It’s important to remember that the youth system at Arsenal is not a driving force behind what we do. Youth development is an addition to our usual player development methods. If there is a kid who is good enough in the ranks, he will come through, but it’s not exclusive. The youth system at Arsenal is just an add on. An extra, if you like.

If you have a rough idea about our team for the next five years, how many of those players are our own Academy products? you’ll find it’s only few. The rest are prospects who have been brought in from elsewhere and had a mixed education between the Reserves and first-team. Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey, Wojciech Szczesny, Havard Nordtveit are all examples of this. The signing of young players is something we do, but again, its not exclusive. If there is a good kid, he’ll get a chance. But that’s the same anywhere.

YAMA: Are you familiar with any other club’s youth systems? How do they compare to Arsenal? A lot of praise is placed on Arsenal for its system, are they best at doing this or is there a system that is better or on par.

YGB: I’m aware of the foundations of what other club’s are doing for sure, but to make an accurate comparison is difficult. When Arsene Wenger arrived at Arsenal, he set about re-forming and changing the academy. It takes ten years to see the benefits, because that’s how long it takes for a generation of kids to come through and for the program to be refined. Wilshere, Emmanuel-Thomas and Lansbury are the first kids to really experience the changes Wenger made and you can see how good they are.

Elsewhere, club’s are only just starting realise how right Arsenal have done things. Sure, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Manchester United have great Academies, but there isn’t batches of what I would call modern players coming through. These are players where their core instincts and foundations are suited to the modern game. Good pace, technical level etc, things like this. You’ll see in ten years time most club’s have very good set ups and you’ll find most of them have copied Arsenal’s mantra.

YAMA: I don’t know what is – I think it’s just his name but what can you tell me about Chuks Aneke? I mean that just seems like a name made for football. I know I probably demean myself with this question.

YGB: I remember overhearing a conversation at an England youth game recently where a 50 something guy was telling his 20 something son how far times and football have moved that Chuks Aneke was an English name. You’re right, it’s got something about it. His full first name, Chukwuemeka, means ‘God has done something great’ in Nigerian. Maybe it’s a sign?

He has all the qualities you need to succeed at Arsenal. He has a high technical level, he’s mobile, quick, great radar, can shoot with either foot. Top class. Then you add in his 6 foot plus frame, power, strength and a fantastic work rate and engine; he has got it all. He’s somebody the club have been excited about for a long time. We managed to shrug off Barcelona’s interest last year. He wanted to stay because he loves Arsenal.

I remember hearing a story about the night before his Reserve team debut, he went to bed at 7pm to be ready for the game the next day. He’s committed and has great talent. If he can stay injury free, keep developing and he’s given the chances, the sky is the limit.

YAMA: How good do you think Jack Wilshere is going to be?

YGB: I first saw Jack when he was 15 at the Nike Cup. You could see then he almost had an aurora about him. He was special. He always wanted the ball, and always made things happen with it. Back then, he never had a position. He was just told to go and play where he wanted to. It worked.

He’s shown already that he’s more than comfortable in playing in the Champions League and Premier League. The big test for him will come in a few years. When he hits 21-22 and he’s not a kid anymore, can he still run games when people kick him and know all about his style?

In terms of attitude and talent, the key foundations are there. Whatever the media want to make of him; he’s a good kid from a good family who loves Arsenal. Always remember that.

YAMA: I read your recent piece on Aaron Ramsey – what his prognosis and when should we expect his return?

YGB: The prognosis is that he’ll be ready to play for the Reserves sometime in November. They plan to give him a game with the second string, but a behind closed door friendly is another option if the fixtures don’t add up.

The encouraging thing for Ramsey is that his injury didn’t involve any awkward or severe muscle tears like Eduardo did. It was a clean break. There shouldn’t be any problems, but at the same time, the club is extra careful to not rush him back.

YAMA: What is going on with Carlos Vela? Some think it is the system and that Vela will only flourish in 4-4-2 since he is a straight up striker. What are your thoughts on why Vela hasn’t been able to have any lasting impact on the first team

YGB: Vela played wide on the left of a midfield five during his loan at Osasuna and that’s where I thought he’d play for us. Wide on the left. We’ve seen that he has massive talent and potential, but he’s struggled to settle in London. He doesn’t speak English well, he’s had problems with his weight and fitness, it’s just not really happened for him yet.

The ultimate reason to why he hasn’t settled so quickly and made an impact is because he hasn’t made a difference in games where it matters. If he can start scoring or making chances in big games or when the scores are tight, then he’ll be a star here. It goes back to what I was talking about before with young players. It’s all about taking their chances as to whether they’ll be a success or failure. Vela has made the step from potential to prospect, but not taken it on into being the finished article. That’s the difference.