I’m not sure if people are interested in this one, but over the years, I like to follow the progress of the former-Arsenal players since their departure. For the bigger names, it’s relatively easy. The flinge players though, it’s not an easy task. Their lower reputation do not generate as much public interest, so information about them are hard to come by, be it on the net, or the football magazines.
Anyway, here are the progress of a few former-Arsenal youth team products. I cannot guarantee they are the most up-to-date info. I did what I could.
Stephen Hughes - After being hailed as a player who could “walk into most Premiership first XI”, the left-footed former Arsenal midfielder had an unsuccessful spells with Everton, Watford, Charlton respectively. Eventually Hughes seems to finally find a place he can call home - Coventry City. Become one of the key players in the Championship side.
Rohan Ricketts - Along with Steven Sidwell, two of the most highly rated Arsenal youngsters at their age group. After moving to Spurs, Ricketts shot back at Arsenal that he had never got his share of fair chances. In the end? Couldn’t even cut it with Spurs despite finally getting his “share of fair chances” to impress (or rather failed to impress). Now plying his trade at Wolverhamption Wanderers.
Ben Chorley - The former Arsenal central half is not playing at the League One side Wimbledon.. Ok, MK Dons (just doesn’t sound right, does it?). According to fans - his presence and driving influence are so vital to the team. Young Chorley has become one of the fan favourites at Wimbledon.. Ok, MK Dons…
Steven Sidwell - the determined, combative Sidwell was a box-to-box former Arsenal midfielder, a “natural leader” according to some coaching staffs. Last season, he was voted as the “best player outside of the Premiership” by fellow professionals. Unlike Ricketts and manys, the now Reading midfielder is a level headed professional who never blamed Arsenal for his failure to hold down a first team place with the North London club. According to Sidwell, he talked to Wenger before his departure. Arsene wanted to keep him, but he knew it was difficult for him to break ahead Vieira, Gilberto, Edu. All he wanted is to play football and gain experience. So both parties agreed it would be a good move, and the best interest for Sidwell to join Reading. Sidwell added Arsenal had always been looking after their young players, even those who couldn’t make it. He still loved Arsenal and hoped one day he would be coming back.
That’s the attitude I love from a young player. NO EXCUSE. NO Arsenal cut me because I ain’t foreigner crap. Just keeping his head down and work hard and try to improve on his game. With an attitude like this, I’m very confident Sidwell will be going place.
Jerome Thomas - a winger in a Peannat-mould. He had a few loan spells during his time at Arsenal. And almost everywhere he went, he had won the heart of the fans and the managers. He got almost as good as a dribbling skills as Pennant, without his hype and attitude. Now with Chalrton, wearing the number 14 shirt, have been pretty impressive so far. If he could manage to get himself stronger physically, perhaps we will be able to see a new Boa Morte in the making.
Jermaine Pennant - I haven’t got the chance to seen him played for his new club Birmingham yet, but surely have heard from him again and again. Trying to convince the world it’s really not his fault that he couldn’t make it with Arsenal. We heard you Jermaine, now it’s time to walk the walk.
Jo Kuffour - former Arsenal striker. Now have formed a lethal partnership with Leon Constantine with the League Two side Torquay United.
John Lukic - Lukic is not really an Arsenal youth team product, in fact, he joined Nottingham Forest as a kid. I mention him here is because… if you ever wonder… yes, he’s the son of our former goalkeeper John Lukic, with the same name! Lukic junior joined the League Two side Grimsby Town in the summer.
14 Responses to “Where are they now - young guns”
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September 22nd, 2005 at 8:28 pm
I like to hear how ex-players are doing, the double winners and the like. They survived on much less money and when their careers ended often went into everyday jobs like running a pub or becoming a postman!….Except Peter Story who became a pimp!!!
September 22nd, 2005 at 9:34 pm
The saddest story I heard is a guy named Paul Vaessen.
Emerged around the same time as Paul Davis, scored a game winner two minutes from time in Arsenal’s 1980 European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final win over Juventus at the age of 18.
Seemed to have the world on his feet, yet not long after suffered a knee injury which eventually forced him to retire at the age of 21.
Not knowing how to cope with the sudden change of fortune, he was addicted to cocaine.
A few years ago, I read an interview from him that he seemed to finally overcome the drug problem. Yet merely a year or two after the interview, he was found dead in an apartment suspecting cocaine overdosed.
A turely sad story for a talent never fulfilled. And displayed another side of football life when getting too much too soon yet fail to bring himself down to face the harsh rough reality of life after a “fantasy” professional footballer life.
September 22nd, 2005 at 10:02 pm
Not to make light of your story as it truly is sad. It’s one of those see how far the mighty have fallen.
I’m an artist and I can tell you there are more artists killing themselves with drugs. Sadly it usually happens when they reach the top as suddenly they have the money to do so, like my friend from years ago J.M. Basquait.
Funny twist I thought - but death is death and I appreciate your tale.
September 22nd, 2005 at 10:24 pm
Some people just can’t hack it mentally when they’re given overnight fame and fortune. Unfortunate, but there are bigger things to weep over.
September 22nd, 2005 at 10:26 pm
so you knew basqiat? i saw that movie a few years back, and the bloke that played him was rather good. was it an accurate portrayal?
September 22nd, 2005 at 10:28 pm
Eh sorry Andez, I just realized you might take that to be a piss at your post. It wasn’t. As that lad was once Arsenal I do have a certain empathy for him, even though I don’t know him. Other types of “celebrities”, however - artists, actors, authors, musicians, etc - I couldn’t give a toss for usually.
September 22nd, 2005 at 10:46 pm
No clarkey, i didn’t take it the wrong way! i never seen the guy played neither. but i can understand his situation. i mean, he’s only 21 when he was forced to end his career. and merely a few years ago he was living his dream and was told by everyone he was abt to be the next big thing. all a sudden everything became a broken bubble… it’s difficult to take the dramatic change of fortune even for an older guy, let alone a 21 yr old.
September 22nd, 2005 at 10:58 pm
Ah good then, don’t ever think the tone of my posts to you are in a bad spirit Andez. I really respect your attitude and devotion to the Arsenal.
Poor lad he was, yeah. Sometimes I think to myself things like “what a plonker,” when I read stories of Adrian Mutu doing charlie, or Pennant wrapping his car around a pole. Then though you have to keep in mind that, first of all, these are really young guys, some younger than even me (I’m 23), who have grown up often times quite poor. And I also try to keep in mind that every one of us has some kind of talent that we’re squandering in some way. Me, I was not nearly as motivated to do my research as I should have been. Coasting my way to a ton of B’s and some A’s seemed a good idea at the time, but now I have to work quite hard to try to force my way into a good grad school, like the football institute in Leicester. My goal is to become a club historian for the Arsenal. If they won’t take me though, I’ll take a post at one of the other few major north London clubs (like Barnet, Orient, even Watford).
September 23rd, 2005 at 1:21 am
Sad to hear really. You wish these guys don’t take this route but for every success story, there are other dark tales we don’t hear of.
I saw a feature a few years ago on the French football academy at ClaireFontaine. They were showing how the kids were trying to follow in the steps of Henry, Trezequet. The kids were given education in case they don’t make it big. But will all those kids be able to take rejection in a pleasant manner?
And as the money stakes get higher, then the rejection might be harder for some to take.
September 23rd, 2005 at 3:46 am
ive seen Thomas play at charlton in the numbe r14 shirt….sad tht he left great potential good driblling excellent crossing and a good left foot….definitely pennant minus the crap. pires FL8 DB10 and henry out for west ham….surely quincy gets a start now????…though i have a sneaking feeling we might c 1 or both of freddie and dennis fit
September 23rd, 2005 at 4:27 am
What a topic, Does anyone remember FA CUP against the Kops. And the music goes like this —
there is only one , One
Wenger told the world after the game he is the next best time - Guess what end up on loan and never to be seen again. Like others.
Andez, You know how I feel about this topic and I wrote an article about it too. I have said it and will say it again. Under Wenger and counting we “Arsenal” have the largest number of kids turnove. That is a very huge joke but anything you bring up this topic some people start all the emotion sh?t and called you all sort of names.
Anyone who played football and knows football will tell you kid needs some playing time, coaching and alot of help to come through but that does not seems to happen under Wenger. If you are lucky you will make it but it all comes down to lucky. Since 2000 you always read the future Arsenal kids after a carling cup game but never to see them playing for Arsenal again. Ok 1 Cesc out of 27.
We have 27 players through the door under Wenger and guess what? Each one of them was branded the next Pele, Adams or Wright. Watch the lower divisions or even the PL and you will hear the amount of ex-players.
Andez,
Back to you last post below - about 4-5-1. I like that comment of yours.
?While there are players who want to leave Arsenal (when things turn bad), I believe there are plenty of others who would love to join Arsenal.
The season when we finished 12th in the Premiership, our England international Adams, Seaman, Wright did not leave.?
But remember during those days players loved playing for their clubs not just Arsenal alone. Those players wear the Arsenal kit with pride. You tell that to a modern player. As much as Henry says he loves Arsenal if they were to finish 12th and 10th don?t lie to yourself and tell me he will stay.
Let not kid yourselves here. The game is changing fast and those are some of the reasons the number of fans are falling. I know folks who did not renew their season tickets in 2002 cuz the cost was becoming too much. There are so many factors or reason why the league is going out of fashion but blaming Chelsea or 4-5-1 has become the easy excuse. Football in England is losing to other sports for lots of reason as well.
Your comment below Hmmmmm!!!!. This was mentioned by so many commentators about 5/6 yrs ago and to date but guessed what political correctness you will be branded anti foreigners or racist. Amother reason why fans numbers are falling.
The foreign managers don’t help neither. AW is a rare exception from the general foreign managers’ mentality. The majority of them play calculative, defensive football. Ericksson, Houlllier, Rafe, Special One… all play a similiar type of football.
I do worry should thing keep going like this, are we heading towards the direction of Series A?
Jimmy Hill said this and was branded a racist. The league was changed as soon as we stop helping the young kids in England coming through and start depending on cheap imports be it a player or manager.
As I said sometime ago, the slow death of football began since the PL was formed. It was all about money and now the money is ruining the game. We can all sit down and blame Arsenal but they have benefit from the greed the PL has created.
September 23rd, 2005 at 4:34 am
Pennant is playing better than Pires now..Am not saying Pennant is or was better than Pires but why did we let the guy on top of his game go if we building a team around kids.
For the facts read Arsenal own official programme against Everton page 82.
Thomas is very wicked at Charlton and the job that he is doing I don’t think Flamini can do that in a team like Charlton.
So many players at Arsenal are being carry alone by the team.
September 23rd, 2005 at 2:44 pm
Paulo Nagamura:
Being a Los Angeles Galaxy Club Seat holder I had to chime in:
Paulo has been a steadfast, gutsy, hardworking, defensive midfielder for us. Great addition for the Galaxy this year, started 23 of our 24 games and gives attacking playmakers fits.
MLS Experience
Signed by the Galaxy in March 2005.
Other Pro Experience
2003-04: A member of Arsenal’s reserve side for the second consecutive season - played in 15 games for the Gunners and scored two goals.
2002-03: In his first campaign with the Arsenal reserve team, he participated in 10 matches, despite missing nearly three months with a severely sprained right ankle.
September 24th, 2005 at 3:32 am
Nice post Andez. A refreshing change to the usual, we’re crap ain’t gonna win a thing, posts that seen to dominate recently.
If you have time maybe you could do some research on players like Jason Crowe. He came on in a coca-cola cup tie against Birmingham and got sent off after 33 seconds without ever touching the ball. I think I’m right in saying he never played for us again and we sold him to Portsmouth.
I’ve got a book listing every player signed by Arsenal from 1886 up to about 1995. It lists all their appearances and it’s sad to see the number of players that made the subs bench just once but never came on.
Can you imagine how frustrating it must be to be so close to your dream, but not quite getting there?
Nice post