Arsenal Football Club Academyis theyouth systemofArsenal Football Clubbased inHale End,London,England. It is often referred to asHale Endeponymouslyby the club, sports media, and fans.[1][2][3]The academy teams play in theProfessional Development League,the highest level of youthfootballin England. The club also competes in theFA Youth CupandUEFA Youth Leaguecompetitions. Former playerPer Mertesackeris the current academy manager.[4]
| Full name | Arsenal Football Club (Under-21s and Academy) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Hale End | |||
| Founded | 1887 | |||
| Ground | Meadow Park | |||
| Capacity | 4,502 | |||
| Academy Manager | Per Mertesacker | |||
| League | Professional Development League(Division 1) | |||
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Arsenal Under-21s,previously referred to as theReserves,is the highest level squad within the setup. They train at theArsenal Training Centreand play the majority of their home games atMeadow Park,[5]which is the home ofBoreham Wood FC.On occasion they also play at Arsenal'sEmirates Stadium.Senior players occasionally play in the reserve side, as in the case when they are recovering from injury.
Arsenal's Academy is one of England's most successful, winning sevenFA Youth Cupstogether with sixPremier Academy Leaguetitles altogether.[6][7][8]Numerous international players have graduated from the academy and reserve teams.
History
editUnder-21 team (previously reserve team)
editEarly years (1887–1919)
editSince Arsenal were based inPlumsteadas Royal Arsenal F.C., they had a reserve side which was at first set up in 1887. The club initially played friendlies and cup competitions, winning the1889–90Kent Junior Cup.In1895–96,the club which was renamed Woolwich Arsenal in 1891, had their reserves join theKent League,winning the title the next season but leaving circa 1900.[9]They later joined theLondon Leaguewhere they won three titles during the 1900s.
From1900–01to1902–03,the reserves played in theWest Kent League,winning the league title in every season they featured within such.[10]As they were at a level higher than their local opponents, in 1903 the team moved to South Eastern League, playing there until1914–15when football was suspended due to the First World War. Concurrent to this period, the reserves also entered in theLondon League First Divisionin the1906–07,1907–08,1908–09,1913–14and1914–15seasons. The club went on to omit the "Woolwich" from their title in 1913, so as to be known only as "Arsenal".
The Football Combination (1919–1939)
editFollowing the end of World War I in 1918, Arsenal Reserves took the first team's place in theLondon Combinationleague which was renamed the Football Combination in the summer of 1939.[11]For the1926–27season, the competition was expanded to include teams as far afield as Portsmouth, Swansea, Southend and Leicester. During the inter-war period Arsenal's reserves matched the first team's success, winning the League South A title of 1940 and 1943 as well as being the London league champions of 1942.[11]Additionally, from 1931 onwards the club's reserves were entered into theLondon Challenge Cup,winning it twice in1933–34and as well in1935–36.[12]
To give opportunities to younger players, Arsenal created an 'A' team in 1929. Initially the 'A' team entered the London Professional Mid-Week League and were champions in1931–32.[10]They then competed in the league until the1933–34footballing season. Wherein, during the summer of 1934, Arsenal had taken on Kent sideMargateas their nursery team. Arsenal had agreed to send promising youngsters to Margate to give them experience in theSouthern Football Leagueand were given first choice on any Margate players. The two clubs thus enjoyed being within this relationship which had lasted for four years before Arsenal broke it off in 1938.[13][14]Afterwards, Arsenal entered the reserve team in the Southern League in its own right with home games being played atEnfield F.C.'s stadium atSouthbury Road.[15]The club eventually finished in 6th place in theleague season of 1938–39.[citation needed]
At the start of the 1939–40 season the reserves played two Football Combination games and one Southern League game before football was partly suspended due to the outbreak of the Second World War.[11]
The Football Combination (1945–1999)
editFor the1946–47season, the Football Combination resumed but the league was split into two divisions with the winners of each division playing in a final to decide the champions. A new competition was introduced – theFootball Combination Cup.This was the same teams that played in the Football Combination but divided into 4 groups with the winners of each group playing in semi-finals and a final. This format continued until the end of the1954–55season. From1955–56the Football Combination continued generally as a normal league format, occasionally consisting of two divisions with promotion and relegation. The Football Combination Cup was discontinued but re-instated for seasons1965–66to1969–70inclusive and1996–97.The reserves continued to be entered in the London FA Challenge Cup until the1973–74season, with the exception of1961–62when the first team were entered.
The 'A' team was resurrected at the start of the1948–49season when a team was entered in theEastern Counties League,Eastern Counties League Cup and East Anglian Cup, winning the Eastern Counties League in 1954–55, after which they left the league (stating that it was so strong that they needed to enter a more competitive team, which would be more expensive),[16]but continued to play in the East Anglian Cup for the next two seasons. In addition, the 'A' team was also entered in the London Professional Mid-Week League from1949–50to1957–58,winning a second time in1952–53.During the summer of 1958, the 'A' team was entered into theMetropolitan League,Metropolitan League Cup and Metropolitan League Professional Cup. This proved a very successful venture until the mid-1960s. Towards the end of the 1960s, the 'A' team struggled against strong amateur teams and the club declined to enter a team after the close of the1968–69season.
1999–present
editIn 1999 they left the Combination to become founding members of thePremier Reserve League.[17]They never won the competition, although they did finish as runners-up in the2001–02and 2010–11 seasons. At the end of the2011–12season they finished 3rd in Reserve League South, in what would be the competition's final season. Players from the reserve team have also been used extensively in theLeague Cupsince the1997–98season. At the beginning of the2012–13season Arsenal's reserve and academy structure received a major overhaul. The reserve team left thePremier Reserve Leagueand joined theProfessional Development Leaguefor the competition's inaugural season. Fundamentally, replacing the reserves with an Under-21 team that has the allowance of three over-age outfield players and one goalkeeper per match day.
At the beginning of the2014–15season Arsenal's academy coaching structure received a major change withAndries Jonkerbeing appointed as head of academy on 1 July 2014,[18]along with several key changes with in key coaching roles throughout the academy.[19]In his time in charge of the academy, he instigated many changes, such as changes to the way the players were educated within the club, therefore helping them spend more time on site with their fellow players. He was also a key part in the new Hale End facility being built,[20]with three pitches for the academy teams to make use of. In 2016 with the rebranding of thePremier Leaguethe reserve team continued to play in theProfessional Development League,but it would now be named the Premier League 2. On 27 February 2017, it was announced the Andries Jonker would leave his role as head of academy to joinVfL Wolfsburgas head coach, alongside former Arsenal playerFreddie Ljungbergas assistant coach.[21]
Academy (previously Youth)
editArsenal Youth (1954–1998)
editArsenal have occasionally operated a youth team as far back as1893–94,and there had been an established third team known as Arsenal 'A' for young players from 1929 to 1969.
The club have played in theFA Youth Cupsince the1954–55season and then entered into theSouth East Counties Youth Football Leaguesimultaneously. The following season the league competition was renamed as the South East Counties League.[22]Arsenal also featured from1955into another tournament known as the South East Counties League Cup wherein they stayed within while excluding the1968and1969seasons to the1997–98 English footballing season.Arsenal's Academy altogether was victorious in the Counties League in 1956, 1965, 1972 and 1991. Arsenal's youths also played in the London Minor FA Challenge Cup from1955to1956.In1960they rejoined the competition where they stayed until1967and was also successful in the Southern Junior Floodlit Cup which they won in1956,1972,1975and1999.[6][23]
Arsenal thus became, of youth teams in the country, the winners of seven South East Counties League titles and six South East Counties League Cups of which included three "doubles".[23]
Arsenal Academy (1998–present)
editThe youth team became founder members of theFA Premier Youth Leaguein1997–98.The league was initially a single division and Arsenal won the inaugural title. The following season this was renamed the Premier Academy League and split into Under-19 and Under-17 sections, with the new FA Academy system formally changing Arsenal's youth team to Academy status. Arsenal entered teams in both sections, winning the U17 title in1999–00and the U19 title in2001–02as well as two more FA Youth Cups in2000and2001.[6]
Since2004–05,the FA Premier Academy League has consisted of only a single section for Under-18s, although an Under-16 section is played with no league table being recorded. Arsenal U18s have won their division group (Group A) three times, in2007–08,2008–09and2009–10.They went on to win the academy play-off semi-final and final in 2008–09 and 2009–10 to becomePremier Academy Leaguechampions. In 2009 they completed their first double by also winning the2008–09FA Youth Cup, having beaten Liverpool 6–2 on aggregate in the final.[6]
Arsenal got to fourth place of theNextGen Seriesin2013[24]and got to the quarterfinals of the newly createdUEFA Youth Leaguein2014.[25][26]In 2016, Arsenal's U21s won the semifinal of theProfessional Development League's Division 2 playoffs 2–1 againstBlackburn Rovers.[27]In the final Arsenal beatAston Villaby 3 goals to 1 at theEmirates Stadiumso as to become playoff champions.[28]
In April 2017, Arsenal's Under 13 team defeatedSunderlandto lift the inaugural Premier League National Cup as champions.[29]As well, in June 2017, Arsenal's Under-14s won the 2016-17Premier LeagueAlbert Phelan Cup.[30]On 7 July 2017, it was announced thatPer Mertesacker,who retired from football at the end of the 2017–18 season, would take up the role of Arsenal Academy's manager thereafter.[31]
Current squad
editUnder-21s
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Under-18s
editThese players can also play with the Under-21s and thesenior squad.
Second-year scholars
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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First-year scholars
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Schoolboys (U15/16s)
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Current staff
editHead Coaches:
 Per Mertesacker |
Academy Manager |
 Luke Hobbs |
Head of Coaching |
 Mehmet Ali |
U21 Head Coach |
 Adam Birchall |
U18 Head Coach |
| Vacant | U17 Head Coach |
| Michael Donaldson |
U16 Head Coach |
| Josh Smith |
U15 Head Coach |
| Simon Copley |
U14 Head Coach |
 Josh Hinckson |
U13 Head Coach |
| Kieron Lewis |
U12 Head Coach |
| Lewis Goater |
U11 Head Coach |
| Jhovan Bruce de Rouche |
U10 Head Coach |
| Derry Hart |
U9 Head Coach |
Staff:
| Will Oldham |
Operations Manager |
| John Boca |
Senior Operations Officer |
| Paul Wilson |
Kit Manager |
| Matt Henly |
Head of Education |
| Perry Stewart |
Head of Performance |
| Kate Green |
Head of Personal Development and Psychology |
 Matt Joseph |
Coach Developer |
 Ken Gillard |
U21/Loan Coach |
| Max Porter |
U21 Assistant Coach |
| Adam Pilling |
U18 Assistant Coach |
| Dominic May |
Lead U21 Strength & Conditioning Coach |
| Terry Mason |
Head of Goalkeeping |
 Chris Terpcou |
Goalkeeping Coach (U18) |
| Matt Doyle |
Goalkeeping Lead Coach (U9-U18) |
| Reece Ottley |
Goalkeeping Lead Coach (U12-U16) |
| Lee Herron |
Head of Talent ID |
| Steve Brown |
Lead Talent ID Coordinator (U8-U16) |
| Chris Perkins |
Head of Emerging Talent (U17-21) |
| Conan Watson |
Lead Talent ID Coordinator (U15-U16) |
| Phil Antwi |
Lead Talent ID Coordinator (U12-U14) |
| Ayo Durojaiye |
Lead Talent ID Coordinator (U9-U11) |
 Niall O'Connor |
Lead Analyst |
| Josh Brimacombe-Wiard |
Academy Analyst & Coach |
| Sam Moore |
Analyst |
 Athikhun Pinthong |
U9-16 Analyst |
| Zenon Backhouse |
U18 Analyst |
Honours
edit- Reserves[32]
- 1922–23, 1926–27, 1927–28, 1928–29, 1929–30, 1930–31, 1933–34, 1934–35, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1946–47, 1950–51, 1962–63, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1983–84, 1989–90
- Football Combination Cup: 3
- 1952–53, 1967–68, 1969–70
- London FA Challenge Cup: 7
- 1933–34, 1935–36, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1957–58, 1962–63, 1969–70
- 1896–97
- West Kent League: 3
- 1900–01, 1901–02, 1902–03
- London League First Division: 3
- 1901–02, 1903–04, 1906–07
- Kent Junior Cup: 1
- 1889–90
- London Professional Mid-Week League: 2
- 1931–32, 1952–53
- 1954–55
- 1958–59, 1960–61, 1962–63
- 1960–61, 1965–66
- 1960–61, 1961–62
- Academy
- 1997–98 (U18), 1999–00 (U17), 2001–02 (U19),2008–09(U18),2009–10(U18),2015–16 (Play-Off Winners)(U21)
- Premier League National Cup: 1[29]
- 2016–17
- 1955–56, 1964–65, 1971–72, 1990–91
- South East Counties League Cup: 6
- 1959–60, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1963–64, 1970–71, 1979–80
- Southern Junior Floodlit Cup: 5
- 1962–63, 1965–66, 1984–85, 1990–91, 1997–98
- London Minor FA Cup: 1
- 1966–67
- NextGen Series:2012–13Fourth place[24]
Academy graduates
editThis is a list of former Arsenal F.C. academy or Arsenal 'A' graduates who have gone on to represent their country at full international level since theSecond World War.Players who are still at Arsenal, or play at another club on loan from Arsenal, are highlighted in bold.
- Left Academy before 1980
- Left Academy between 1980 and 1989
- Left Academy between 1990 and 1999
- Left Academy between 2000 and 2009
- Anthony Stokes
Anton Blackwood
Armand Traoré
Carlos Vela
Cesc Fàbregas- Colin Kazim-Richards
- David Bentley
- Dean Shiels
Frank Simek
Gavin Hoyte
Georgios Efrem
Gilles Sunu- Hal Robson-Kanu
- Harry Kane
Håvard Nordtveit
Ingi Højsted- Jack Wilshere
- Jay Bothroyd
Johan Djourou- Justin Hoyte
Keanu Marsh-Brown- Keith Fahey
- Kieran Gibbs
- Neil Kilkenny
Nicklas Bendtner
Peggy Lokando
Quincy Owusu-Abeyie
Sebastian Larsson
Wojciech Szczęsny
- Left Academy between 2010 and 2019
- Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Alban Bunjaku
Alfred Mugabo- Anthony Jeffrey
- Bayli Spencer-Adams
- Benik Afobe
- Bukayo Saka
- Daniel Ballard
Dejan Iliev
Donyell Malen- Eberechi Eze
- Eddie Nketiah
- Emile Smith Rowe
Emiliano Martínez- Emmanuel Frimpong
Glen Kamara- Héctor Bellerín
Ismaël Bennacer
Jernade Meade- Kostas Pileas
- Kristoffer Olsson
- Kristopher Da Graca
- Krystian Bielik
Nathan Tella
Nico Yennaris- Oğuzhan Özyakup
- Reice Charles-Cook
- Semi Ajayi
- Serge Gnabry
- Yunus Musah
- Left Academy between 2020 and 2029
References
editGeneral
- Soar, Phil & Tyler, Martin (2005).The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal.Hamlyn.ISBN978-0-600-61344-2.
Specific
- ^"The Breakdown special: Inside Hale End".arsenal.Retrieved11 July2021.
- ^"Arsenal's £50m bargain: The Hale End academy revolution underpinning Arteta's rebuild | Goal".goal.Retrieved11 July2021.
- ^Stillman, Tim (17 December 2020)."A means to a Hale End".Arseblog... an Arsenal blog.Retrieved11 July2021.
- ^"Mertesacker".Arsenal website.19 May 2024.
- ^"Youth sides to play at Meadow Park".30 July 2013.
- ^abcdef"Arsenal Academy's Awards".Arsenal.19 May 2024.
- ^ab"Academy Final- Arsenal 5-3 Nottm Forest - Report".Arsenal Broadband Limited.Retrieved11 May2010.
- ^ab"Academy Final- Tottenham 0-1 Arsenal - Report".Arsenal Broadband Limited.Retrieved17 May2009.
- ^"Woolwich Arsenal Reserves".Football Club History Database.
- ^abKelly, Andy."Complete Honours List".Arsenal Pics.Archived fromthe originalon 8 April 2003.Retrieved3 December2006.
- ^abc"Arsenal at war".Arsenal.19 May 2024.
- ^Haynes, Graham (1998).A-Z of Bees: Brentford Encyclopaedia.Yore Publications. p. 82.ISBN1-874427-57-7.
- ^"Margate & Lorient: Arsenal's breeding grounds".Sports Keeda.
- ^"Margate FC A History".Margate-FC.co.uk.
- ^"Arsenal 0-0 Colchester United".coludata.co.uk.
- ^Blakeman, M (2010)The Official History of the Eastern Counties Football League 1935-2010, Volume IIISBN978-1-908037-02-2
- ^"Arsenal reserves get a breakthrough of sorts".Sport Keeda.
- ^"Andries Jonker appointed Academy manager".arsenal.Retrieved1 August2018.
- ^"Youth academy coaches re-organisation".arsenal.Retrieved1 August2018.
- ^"New Academy facility formally unveiled".arsenal.Retrieved1 August2018.
- ^"Jonker named head coach at Wolfsburg".arsenal.Retrieved1 August2018.
- ^"The History of the Middlesex County FA".
- ^ab"South East Counties League: Archives".SCEFL.
- ^ab"Arsenal lose in NextGen third-place play-off".Eurosport.31 March 2013.Retrieved29 May2020.
- ^"Arsenal 1-0 CSKA Moscow: Gnabry grabs plaudits but dogged defenders are the quiet stars".Four Four Two.26 March 2013.
- ^"Clinical Arsenal overcome Shakhtar".UEFA.25 February 2014.
- ^"Arsenal u21s 2-1 Blackburn Rovers".Rovers.co.uk.
- ^ab"Arsenal 3 Aston Villa 1- Villa youngsters suffer play-off final defeat".Birmingham Mail.
- ^ab"Arsenal's U-13s win national cup final".Arsenal.19 May 2024.
- ^"Congrats to our Under-14s".Arsenal.
- ^"Per Mertesacker to lead Arsenal academy".Arsenal.19 May 2024.
- ^"Arsenal Reserves: Honours".NTL World.Archived fromthe originalon 8 April 2003.
External links
edit- Official website
- Information about the reservesArchived25 July 2008 at theWayback Machinefrom Arseweb
- Arsenal FC Academy homepageon Arsenal (dated 2009)