Steve Bould... Delighted by Academy's progress

Bould: 'Academy level not just about winning'

By Josh James

Two more members of the youth system – Vito  Mannone and Jack Wilshere – were promoted to the first team squad in the summer, proving that Arsène Wenger's philosophy is very much: if you are good enough, you are old enough.

In addition, several more products of the Academy tasted first team action regularly during a successful pre-season. The positive vibes paid off in the form of an opening day win for the Under-18s last weekend, who saw off Everton 3-1 in the Academy League.

"We played really well," Steve Bould told the Arsenal Matchday Programme. "It was quite comfortable in the end. We kept the ball well and I was delighted. Everton were missing a couple of their players who were playing for the first team, but saying that we could have had Jack Wilshere and Henri Lansbury in the side, which evens it out."

Steve is well aware that he will probably have to do without those two players in particular for much of the season, and he couldn't be happier about it. A host of players who are still eligible for the youth side will probably instead be regularly playing for the reserves this season, or even in the first-team, which remains the principal aim of the Arsenal Academy.

"I say it a million times, and I'm not sure that people believe me sometimes," continues Steve, "but at Academy level it's not just about winning. Our 'trophy' is getting someone like Jack Wilshere through to the first team squad. Him and lads like Mark Randall, Henri Lansbury and Kieran Gibbs – that's success for us. OK we haven't won the Youth Cup for a couple of years, but that's not the true measure of an academy I don’t think.

"Obviously it's great to win the Youth Cup, and that will be our aim again this season, but the biggest plus is getting players in the first team squad, and on that side we look like we're winning at the moment."

Wilshere, Randall and Gibbs were all in the senior squad for the first game of the season – the Champions League Qualifier win in Holland. Wilshere, not 17 until next year, was the youngest of the group, but Steve has no concerns at all that the Stevenage-born teenager will be able to keep his feet on the ground now he is in the first team dressing room:

"To be fair he's a really level-headed kid. I think he'll certainly be one who we won’t have problems with in that regard. He does take it all in his stride and that's one of his plusses."

Jack’s mature-attitude, combined with his undoubted talent, certainly sets him out as one to keep an eye on in future. Last season he grabbed 13 goals in 18 Under-18 appearances, as well as two more from two reserve team starts – all while still a schoolboy. In pre-season he showed signs that he might be able to transfer this record to first team football, scoring in two of the pre-season friendlies.

"Last year he progressed massively," Steve enthuses. "We always knew he was going to be a good player, but whether any of us thought it would happen this early for him I'm not sure.

"As for what his best position is, I really don’t know – I have to say that I'm not sure. If he plays on the right and makes a fist of it there, all well and good. It doesn't matter to me whether he gets in just off the front man, on the left or even central. A good player can play anywhere and he's one of those kids who's happy to do that and give his best in any position."

After being given the number 19 shirt this season, and being involved in both Premier League games so far, Steve adds that Wilshere is already serving to inspire other lads of his age at the Club to follow his lead.

"Absolutely. I think perhaps in years gone by some of the lads thought that it was more difficult to come through because they were local, but I do believe we have good enough players coming through now and that's always been the crux of it: If you are good enough, the manager will look at you, no matter where you are from. That's a major boost for everyone in the Academy.

"But again, it's not just Jack. He's just one of about six, seven or eight players who I believe has a big chance over the next three or four years. So it's looking really healthy at the minute.

"I've said this for quite a while now, and I truly do believe it, but we have got some good, in fact very good, potential first team players in the system, Now whether that happens this year, next year or whenever, I truly believe that we have a glut of players who might well come through, which would be fantastic for the fans and the Club."

There's also strength in depth in the Club at the moment. As well as the 12 scholars in the Academy, the Club began the season with a further 25 young professionals on the books, all trying to knock on the first team door.

Steve says: "We have a lot of players to choose from this year, because we have quite a lot of young pros at the Club now, and that means that I will have a stronger team, certainly until the reserve season starts. hat's great in many respects, but also sometimes you like to be able to push the youngsters on to be playing reserve team football as early as possible, and then have an even younger side playing for the Under-18s.

"I think that will happen as some of the older lads go out on loan, and we will be tested a lot more again."

So the early signs are good that Steve Bould's young team are in a strong position to achieve both of their principal objectives this season – supplying players for first team football while also fighting for honours themselves. The Under-18s finished top of their regional group in each of the past two seasons, losing in the semifinal of the play-offs on both occasions. The youngsters are determined to earn their first silverware since winning the FA Under-19 Academy League title in 2002, but they might have to do it without some of their star names, who could well have bigger fish to fry this season...

**This interview first appear in the matchday prodramme. you can subscribe to the Matchday Programme by calling 08700 20 20 20

[Friday, September 05, 2008]

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