In the next part of my analysis of what we can hope to do next season, excluding any players coming in to the club or leaving, I will look at the state of a couple of our star reserve players, and try to guess at what their roles next season will be. Will they stay in the reserves, go on loan or actually make a difference to the squad. Below is a selection of the players most likely to make a difference.
Lukasz Fabianski - Not entirely sure that you would classify Fabianski as a reserve, but his first team chanceshave also been limited and so this is where I shall write about him, rather than in part 3. Fabianski is obviously by far the oldest “reserve” player, a fact that is unsurprising given his position as a goalkeeper, and I think that the promising Polish shot-stopper can hope to see a good increase in his first team chances next season. He has looked pretty good in the majority of the Carling Cup performances that he was given this year, while making a couple of world class saves for the reserves in the latter part of the season as well. I think that given Almunia has never looked like being anything other than a solid gap-filler in the goalkeeping slot, I think within a couple of years if we do not decide to invest in a new goalkeeper, Fabianski will be number one. What this means for next season is that I can see him being given responsibility for the FA Cup and Carling Cup as he steps up to the number 2 spot after Lehamnn’s inevitable departure.
Nacer Barazite - This young Dutchman is Arsenal’s best young hope in the reserves, having scored a total of 20 goals this season for the youth and reserve teams from his wide midfield or striker positions. He has shown why Wenger bought him to the Emirates at the age of 16, and looks to be a huge prospect for the future, and I think that next season will see him get chances at first team level in the Carling Cup, and perhaps even in proper first team games come later on in the season if he continues his progression. However, it may also be just as good an option to send him out on loan rather than limit him to about 5 appearances next season, and if so I can certainly see the likes of Wigan being interested, with Steve Bruce’s relationship with Arsenal, as well as some of the top Championship teams. I think that despite his evident promise, the reserve league plainly isn’t very competitive, and so a loan spell, at least after the Carling Cup run, will be what awaits for Barazite next season. Unless, that is, he really impresses in the pre-season games this summer.
Havard Nordtveit - Nordtveit has had a very assured first season in the reserves, and being made captain has certainly indicated that his Arsenal future looks birght. However, he is still very much learning the game, and I doubt that he will make any difference to the first team squad next season. Defending is very much something that you need experience for, and I think it will be another couple of seasons before we see his true potential. I wouldn’t rule out a loan move for him, however, and if he impresses there he could see himself in the first team set-up quicker than expected.
Vito Mannone - Mannone, at the age of 21, is still very young indeed for a goalkeeper, and will look perhaps for another loan spell next season as he seeks first team experience to propel his career onwards. He may take the step of moving to third choice goalkeeper following Lehmann’s departure, but rather than that I would expect instead for an experienced goalkeeper to come here on the cheap much like Mart Poom did.
As for the likes of Gavin Hoyte, Paul Rodgers, Rui Fonte, James Dunne and Rene Steer, I do not think that they will be any closer to the first team squad than they have been this year, although loan spells for them will undoubtedly give them a better chance. In particular Rodgers and Steer have impressed me, but I think unfortunately at a big club like Arsenal you have to have exceptional talent to succeed rather than good determination and good performances, and so it is very possible none of these will make it at Arsenal and after loan spells will leave the club as Jay Simpson will surely do this year.
