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)
Home colours Away colours Third colours

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 – 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 MF Ismaël Bennacer 37 DF Krystian Bielik 39 DF Tolaji Bola 40 DF Cohen Bramall 43 MF Josh Dasilva 44 MF Vlad Dragomir 45 MF Aaron Eyoma 46 FW Yassin Fortune 47 MF Charlie Gilmour 49 GK Ryan Huddart 50 GK Deyan Iliev 51 DF Chiori Johnson 53 GK Hugo Keto

No. Position Player 54 GK Matt Macey 56 FW Donyell Malen 58 MF Marcus McGuane 59 DF Tafari Moore 60 MF Savvas Mourgos 62 FW Edward Nketiah 63 DF Jordi Osei-Tutu 64 DF Julio Pleguezuelo 65 MF Ben Sheaf 66 MF Jon Toral 70 MF Gedion Zelalem 98 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 DF Marc Bola (on loan at Bristol Rovers until the end of the 2017–18 season) 57 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 GK Alex Crean 61 MF Reiss Nelson 67 GK Joao Virginia 69 MF Joe Willock

No. Position Player 85 DF Zech Medley 90 MF Emile Smith-Rowe 94 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 DF Daniel Ballard 76 FW Jay Beckford 77 MF Josh Benson 78 MF Robbie Burton

No. Position Player 87 DF Joseph Olowu 88 DF Tobi Omole 93 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 MF Xavier Amaechi 74 FW Folarin Balogun 75 GK Daniel Barden 79 MF Harrison Clarke 80 MF Trae Coyle 81 DF Vontae Daley-Campbell 82 FW Tyreece John-Jules

No. Position Player 83 FW Jordan McEneff 84 DF Mark McGuinness 86 FW James Olayinka 89 MF Matthew Smith 91 DF Bayli Spencer-Adams 92 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 — 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

External links

• https://www.arsenal.com/academy/players
• Information about the reserves from Arseweb