Reserve team players celebrate a goal against Stoke City
A Reserve selection
By Kevin Mooney
After winning the double last season, Arsenal's youth team has been showered with a great deal of attention and praise. But since the Premier Academy League is for Under-18 players, there is a big difference between them and Arsenal's first-team. Bridging that gap is the Arsenal Reserve team, the next rung up the ladder of professional development.
To draw a comparison with baseball, Arsenal Reserves are similar to a Triple-A team in that most of the squad is made up by younger players who are not quite ready for the rigors of the Premier League. They are sometimes joined by senior players who either need a bit of playing time or are recovering from an injury. At any point, they can be called up to play with the first team, especially during the Carling Cup.
The Arsenal Reserves play in the Barclays Premier Reserve League, which is built up strictly by reserve teams from the other Premier League clubs. The league is broken down into two divisions, North and the South, and the winners of each division compete in a playoff to determine the overall champion. Since the league's inception in 1999, Arsenal has never won a title.
Unlike the Premier League, teams in the Reserve league are not beholden to the normal process of promotion and relegation. Since only reserve teams from Premier League clubs compete in the league, it is entirely possible for the winner of the Reserve League title to be relegated if the team’s main squad is sent down to the Championship at the end of the season.
Currently, Arsenal Reserves are sitting at the top of the southern league table. Led by manager Neil Banfield and 18-year-old captain Kyle Bartley, the team plays their home matches at Barnet FC's Underhill Stadium. Some of the players, such as midfielder Sanchez Watt, have already experienced time with the first team. Expect to see more of them in the very near future.
If you cannot make it Underhill, Arsenal TV Online provides the next best thing. You can get a glimpse of the future of Arsenal and watch Reserve team matches live on ATVO, as well as see highlights and interviews from previous games. Also, be sure to check out the news page for the latest updates and information on the Arsenal Reserves, and the players' page for profiles of the players and the staff.
