Arsenal F.C. Reserves

Arsenal Reserves
Full name Arsenal Football Club Reserves
Nickname(s) The Gunners
Founded 1886
Ground Meadow Park
Ground Capacity 4,502
Chairman Sir Chips Keswick
League Professional Development League,
(Division 1)

Arsenal Reserves are the youth team of Arsenal Football Club.

They play the majority of their home games at Meadow Park,[1] the home of Boreham Wood FC, but on occasion are known to play games at the senior teams' Emirates Stadium. The team mainly consists of Under-23 players at the club, with the under 21 players featuring for the Arsenal Academy side. Senior players occasionally play in the reserve side, for instance when they are recovering from injury. The job of monitoring academy development is split between Luke Hobbs and Jan Van Loon who oversee the development of the squad in general. Many of the players in the reserve side have played for the senior side in a small capacity including Ryan Huddart, Krystian Bielik, Gedion Zelalem and Ismael Bennacer. Several key members of the team have made their way into the Arsenal squad over the recent times including, Jack Wilshere, Wojciech Szczesny, Kieran Gibbs, Hector Bellerin, Chuba Akpom and most recently Alex Iwobi.

History

Early Years (1887–1919)

Arsenal have had a reserve team since their early days based in Plumstead as Royal Arsenal F.C., with the reserve side initially set up in 1887. Initially playing friendlies and cup competitions, winning the 1889–90 Kent Junior Cup. In 1895–96 Woolwich Arsenal (as they had been renamed in 1891) reserves joined the Kent League, winning the title the next season but leaving in 1900 or some time soon after.[2] They later joined the London League and won three titles during the 1900s.

From 1900–01 to 1902–03 the reserves played in the West Kent League, winning the title for every season that they played. [3] Too strong for the local opposition, in 1903 the team moved to South Eastern League, playing there until 1914–15 when football was suspended due to the First World War. Concurrent to this period, the reserves were also entered in the London League First Division in seasons 1906–07, 1907–08, 1908–09, 1913–14 and 1914–15. The club dropped the "Woolwich" from their name in 1913, becoming plain "Arsenal".

The Football Combination [Pre War] (1919–1939)

Following the end of World War I in 1914, Arsenal Reserves took the first team's place in the London Combination league which was renamed the Football Combination in the summer of 1939.[4] For the 1926–27 season, 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.[4] Additionally, from 1931 onwards the club's reserves were entered into the London Challenge Cup, winning it twice in 1933–34 and as well in 1935–36.[5]

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 in 1931–32.[3] They then competed in the league until the 1933–34 footballing season. Wherein, during the summer of 1934, Arsenal had taken on Kent side Margate as their nursery team. Arsenal had agreed to send promising youngsters to Margate to give them experience in the Southern Football League and 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.[6][7] Afterwards, Arsenal entered the reserve team in the Southern League in its own right with home games being played at Enfield F.C.'s stadium at Southbury Road.[8] The club eventually finished in 6th place in the league season of 1938–39.

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.[4]

The Football Combination [Post War] (1945–1999)

For the 1946–47 season, 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 β€“ the Football 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 the 1954–55 season. From 1955–56 the 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 seasons 1965–66 to 1969–70 inclusive and 1996–97. The reserves continued to be entered in the London FA Challenge Cup until the 1973–74 season, with the exception of 1961–62 when the first team were entered.

The 'A' team was resurrected at the start of the 1948–49 season when a team was entered in the Eastern 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),[9] 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 from 1949–50 to 1957–58, winning a second time in 1952–53. During the summer of 1958, the 'A' team was entered into the Metropolitan 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 the 1968–69 season.

1999–2014

In 1999 they left the Combination to become founding members of the Premier Reserve League.[10] They never won the competition, although they did finish as runners-up in the 2001–02 and 2010-11 seasons. At the end of the 2011–12 season 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 the League Cup since the 1997–98 season. At the beginning of the 2012–13 season Arsenal's reserve and academy structure received a major overhaul. The reserve team left the Premier Reserve League and joined the Professional Development League for the competition's inaugural season. Fundamentally, replacing the reserves with a Under-21 team that has the allowance of three over-age outfield players and one goalkeeper per match day squad. Arsenal also signed up for the expanded NextGen Series, later to be replaced by the UEFA Youth Cup in 2013.

2014–present

At the beginning of the 2014–15 season Arsenal's academy coaching structure received a major change with Andries Jonker being appointed as head of academy on 1st July 2014[11], along with several key changes with in key coaching roles throughout the academy[12]. 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[13], with three pitches for the academy teams to make use of. In 2016 with the rebranding of the Premier League the reserve team continued to play in the Professional Development League, but it would now be named the Premier League 2. On 27th February 2017, it was announced the Andries Jonker would leave his role as head of academy, to join VfL Wolfsburg as head coach, alongside former arsenal player Freddie Ljungberg as assistant coach [14].

Current Squad

As of 4 August 2017

Under 23s

These players can also play with the senior squad and are all Young Professionals.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
36 Algeria MF IsmaΓ«l Bennacer
37 Poland DF Krystian Bielik
39 England DF Tolaji Bola
40 England DF Cohen Bramall
43 England MF Josh Dasilva
44 Romania MF Vlad Dragomir
45 England MF Aaron Eyoma
46 France FW Yassin Fortune
47 Scotland MF Charlie Gilmour
49 England GK Ryan Huddart
50 Republic of Macedonia GK Deyan Iliev
51 England DF Chiori Johnson
53 Finland GK Hugo Keto
No. Position Player
54 England GK Matt Macey
56 Netherlands FW Donyell Malen
58 England MF Marcus McGuane
59 England DF Tafari Moore
60 Greece MF Savvas Mourgos
62 England FW Edward Nketiah
63 England DF Jordi Osei-Tutu
64 Spain DF Julio Pleguezuelo
65 England MF Ben Sheaf
66 Spain MF Jon Toral
70 United States MF Gedion Zelalem
98 Nigeria MF Kelechi Nwakali

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
38 England DF Marc Bola (on loan at Bristol Rovers until the end of the 2017–18 season)
57 England FW Stephy Mavididi (on loan at Preston North End until the end of the 2017-18 season)

Under 18s

These players can also play with the Under 23s and the senior squad.

Young Pros

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
41 Scotland GK Alex Crean
61 England MF Reiss Nelson
67 Portugal GK Joao Virginia
69 England MF Joe Willock
No. Position Player
85 England DF Zech Medley
90 England MF Emile Smith-Rowe
94 England MF Nathan Tormey

Second Years

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
73 England DF Daniel Ballard
76 England FW Jay Beckford
77 England MF Josh Benson
78 Wales MF Robbie Burton
No. Position Player
87 England DF Joseph Olowu
88 England DF Tobi Omole
93 England DF Dominic Thompson

First Years

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
72 England MF Xavier Amaechi
74 England FW Folarin Balogun
75 England GK Daniel Barden
79 England MF Harrison Clarke
80 England MF Trae Coyle
81 England DF Vontae Daley-Campbell
82 England FW Tyreece John-Jules
No. Position Player
83 Republic of Ireland FW Jordan McEneff
84 England DF Mark McGuinness
86 England FW James Olayinka
89 England MF Matthew Smith
91 England DF Bayli Spencer-Adams
92 England MF Zak Swanson

Schoolboys

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
β€” England GK Arthur Okonkwo

Current staff

As of 6 July 2017[15]

Head Coaches:

Steve Gatting U23's Head Coach
Carl Laraman U23's Assistant Coach
Kwame Ampadu U18's Head Coach
Trevor Bumstead U16's Head Coach
Greg Lincoln U14's Head Coach
Simon Copley U13's Head Coach
Jason Brown U17's-U23's Goalkeeping Coach
Serge van den Ban U9's-U16's Goalkeeping Coach

Technical Staff:

Luke Hobbs Football Operations Manager
Jan van Loon Head of Individual Development
Ryan Garry Head Foundation Phase Coach
Adam Birchall Assistant Foundation Phase Coach
Joe Sutton Pre-Academy Coordinator
Des Ryan Head of Sports Medicine and Athletic Development
Jordan Reece Lead Academy Physiotherapist
Bob Arber Senior Academy Scout
Steve Morrow Head of Scouting
Niall O'Connor Academy Analyst
Jack Patchett Academy Football Analyst (U17/U18)
James Krause Academy Football Analyst (U16)
Sam Moore Academy Football Analyst (U14/U15)
Josh Smith Academy Football Analyst (U12/U13)
Sam Wilson Strength and Conditioning
Padraig Roche Strength and Conditioning
Noel Carrol Strength and Conditioning

Honours

[16]

Reserve team Football Combination (formerly the London Combination):

Winners (18): 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


The Football Combination Cup:

Winners (3): 1952–53, 1967–68, 1969–70


London FA Challenge Cup:

Winners (7): 1933–34, 1935–36, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1957–58, 1962–63, 1969–70


Kent League:

Winners (1): 1896–97


West Kent League:

Winners (3): 1900–01, 1901–02, 1902–03


London League First Division:

Winners (3): 1901–02, 1903–04, 1906–07


Kent Junior Cup:

Winners (1): 1889–90


'A' team


London Professional Mid-Week League:

Winners (2): 1931–32, 1952–53


Eastern Counties League:

Winners (1): 1954–55


Metropolitan League:

Winners (3): 1958–59, 1960–61, 1962–63


Metropolitan League Cup:

Winners (2): 1960–61, 1965–66


Metropolitan League Professional Cup:

Winners (2): 1960–61, 1961–62

Footnotes

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