Arsenal Belong In The Championship

By: chris | November 12th, 2008

Having watched Arsenal’s Youth & Reserve Team All-Stars embarrass a proper Premier League side in the Carling Cup last evening, I can only think one thing: I want more.

Yeah, Jack Wilshere could make his way onto the senior bench and Carlos Vela may soon ascend from cup legend to budding top flight superstar, but they need minutes more than a standing ovation for a 6 minute cameo at this point. This team – this band of superbly technical teenagers – needs to be seen as that – a team. Even more, Arsenal’s youth system, a rolling machine which graduates and subsequently replenishes, as a whole needs to be seen. So like Barcelona’s B & C team and Real Madrid’s famed Castilla, it’s time to give the people what they want and the Arsenal youth system what it needs: a second team in the Championship.

Of course it’ll never happen; FA rules prevent as much, though we can’t be prevented from dreaming. Or maybe Arsenal could just pick up and move to Spain – it’d certainly make Cesc happy, and that’s half the battle these days, is it not? Plus the starting XI – or senior squad, for that matter – is twice as Spanish as it is English (that’s Cesc & Manuel to one Theo). Although that extra year players are eligible for professional contracts (17 elsewhere to 16 in England) will certainly have Arsene poo-pooing any suggestions in his most snarling French accent. And, you know, everything else which would rule out such a move.

But joking aside, that was a joy to watch. Not merely the movement of that little sphere, but the way the boys – quite literally, in this case – went about their work. Or not work. But play. Yeah, they went about their “play”. Unlike the big boys – there are some virtuous athletes out there, but they’re seemingly getting few and far between – they weren’t playing for a fat new contract or the adoration of swooning fans, they were playing because it was fun. Featuring a youthful exuberance that only comes with, well, youth. How often do players roam around the field and flash a smile regardless of what’s happening? Hardly ever. Though winning certainly helps.

Of course, that is the point, isn’t it? They are winning. Winning big. And it’s not like they’re beating FC I’m Too Drunk To Walk Sunday Pub Team or Craptastic FC. Wigan and Sheffield United may not be top drawer teams, but beating two established professional sides – one in the top flight, the other mounting a strong challenge to return – by a resounding combined score of 9-0 says a thing or two about the quality of these lads. They may be young in years, but their technique and pure skills are light years ahead of their peers and most in their prime. And what better way to give these players the requisite experience they need while still under the tutelage of the Arsenal system, still in the same city, still playing together, but against an opponent worthy of their challenge.

It’s worked for Real and Barca – the Real Castilla and Barca B aid in boasting two of the most productive and abundant youth systems in the world, much less Spain – and I’ve been told fairy tales of a team which once grew up together, played together, developed together and ultimately won together. A lot. That team also gave us a little thing called Total Football, one of the true gems afforded to us over the long history of the game. So if not for Arsenal, they should do it for football. Here lies an opportunity for something incredibly special.