More kids to Arsenal

[Zimgooner]

20/05/2008 20:14
Arsenal To Trial Ghanaian Starlet
Arsenal have taken Ghanain midfield starlet Tawrik Jebril on a two-week trial with a view to adding the player to their youth ranks. Jebril's trial is set to begin in June and the young midfield general has admitted his pride at receiving the opportunity.

Champions League qualifiers Atletico Madrid had also been credited with an interest in the player last week through the Spanish press, but Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been quick to secure his man for a summer spell under the spotlight.

The youth set-up at the Emirates Stadium is currently receiving an overhaul, with up two twenty youth and reserve players who are unlikely to make the grade set to be released in the summer, prompting the search for alternatives.

Despite being tipped heavily for future stardom in his native country, and being compared with a young Michael Essien, Ghanain coach Claude Le Roy has insisted that he doesn’t want Jebril’s development to be rushed.

"We have to be patient with the player but we have to know when it’s possible at a very early stage. When you are a skilful player, there’s no matter about the age.What we need to be very careful about is his cardiovascular level and that’s part of our job, to follow the formation of the player and we are aware of that," he said to the Arsenal Youth website.

"The age is not the problem; the problem is the maturity of the player. And we need to follow that.The issue is about following his potential and making sure he is brought in steadily."

Arsenal have taken four players on trial this summer: goalkeeper Sean McDermott and Greek forward Samir Karelis both featured in the Atalanta Cup this year, while a fellow trialist, Francis Coquellin, had his trial cut short due to an injury.

Jebril currently plays for Ghanian domestic side Accra Hearts of Oak, who have endorsed the player's trip to London.

[mrgnu1958]

noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[Rob]

This is all very well but Wenger had better be on the case of some serious first teamers as we speak - or else

[Red Gunner]

Tawrik Jebril, cool name

[SteveO 35]

Why is everyone getting sick of us signing youngsters all of a sudden......

I don't remember people moaning when we got Anelka for £0.5m when he was 18 then flogging him for £23m a couple of years later....

Keep the faith - I don't want us having to service interest payments of £81m a year on crippling debts like the Mancs. Their business model will see them having to sell every major player in the next 3 years

Keep the faith - short term pain, long term gain.......

[djhdjh]

Or more to the point, why do we assume this has to be at the expense of 1st team signings?

The bloke is clearly not going to play for the 1st team for several years yet and I doubt this deal is costing us much money, if any.

This approach will in the long term bear superb fruit, let's just hope we see some 1st team signings as well.

[goonarmy]

Tawrik Jebril, cool name

can just imagine the songs though if he becomes a success