Arsenal really are taking this bring-through-youth program seriously indeed, with the alleged ‘done deal’ with the extremely promising PSG youngster Yacine Adli, and now today it is being reported by Talksport that we have secured the signing of Barcelona starlet Joel Lopez…
They said:
Arsenal have secured the signing of Barcelona starlet Joel Lopez, who has rejected a contract extension with the Camp Nou club to instead move to north London.
Joel, a 16-year-old left-back, has been with Barca since the age of seven, but he has decided to leave Catalonia to further his playing prospects, as reported by Sport.
It is stated that Joel has already told Barcelona chiefs he will be leaving.
Raul Sanllehi, Arsenal’s head of recruitment, is believed to have played a key role in the deal. Sanllehi left Barcelona for the Gunners at the start of the year, and Joel emerged as a target for Arsenal soon after his appointment in north London.
As the teenager rejected Barcelona’s contract offer, Arsenal will only have to pay a compensation fee to secure Joel’s signature.
It looks like this is going to be a very important part of our transfer strategy going forward, but obviously for every Bellerin that comes through, there are numerous fallers by the wayside. But if we get the nugget that we’re looking for it would save us fortunes in the future!
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Great, Arsenal snatch another Barcelona hot prospect
I hope he would turn into a good left fullback like Nacho Monreal or an explosive winger like Gareth Bale
If the lad turns out to be even half as good as Cesc Fabregas then we will have a very decent young player on our hands.If he is on a level with Hector Bellerin over the last two seasons then they can keep him
Bellerin was very good originally and yes lost his way last season but I’m hopeful a good arse kicking AND proper coaching will get him back to his best.
Yup, Bellerin still has the tremendous speed, good passing and ball control skills. He just lacks the courage to make critical decisions, like Iwobi
A Spanish manager like Emery could help him back on track
?
Yeah but what’s his DNA?………..
The Barca DNA is gone with the collapse of la masia
If he’s good enough for Barca… that suits me fine! One for the future ?
About 10 – 20 percent big talents actually make it, but Mislintat’s record at Dortmund was more like 30 – 40 percent, so things might improve on the cheap…
Had to laugh at the “for every Bellerin who comes through, there are fallers by the wayside ” remark. If Bellerin is your idea of a successful full back, I dread to think what “a faller by the wayside” would play like. Perhaps it is I who am out of step for expecting defenders to be able to defend! I have seen little evidence of this boy man with silly hair, an addiction to social media and his total inability to stay in defence when we are under attack, deserving the title “a defender”. God help us all if HE is the standard you think good enough for Arsenals future.” As we are short of available funds and he is still very young, surely his early sale to any sucker club who will pay for his “services” as he is regular starter, however ludicrous that is, and give good money to us for his “services”, should have their foolish hand bitten off by Arsenal. There are hundreds of better fullbacks out there for the money he would fetch. Virtually any PREM RIGHT BACK, for a start. I fail to understand why more Gooners are not calling for his immediate sale, esp as he would fetch decent money, being still young.
Bellerin is not successful yet, but he has the abilities to be the next Lauren, Dani Alves, Antonio Valencia or Cafu. When he runs, only a few players in Premier Lague can catch him
Arsenal should give him a chance under the new manager, because he is a homegrown that has the abilities to compete with the other regular first team players and he used to be a very good player
He has been successful but just lost his way last season. Talentless he isn’t and I’m hoping Emery gets him to shine again.
I just totally disgree with you. Yes, he is fast, so does that mean we could play USAIN BOLT IN HIS PLACE? Homegrown is irrelevant if you cannot defend. And he cannot. He is always up field when he should be in defence. He cannot mark at corners, never wins a duel in the air, cannot tackle effectively, is often beaten by opponents when trying to mark and at the other end his crossing is rank poor. I just think he is about the poorest regular full back we have had in years. Moreover, his concentration is poor and he is immature and weedy physically. There are loads of better available right backs and for far less money than we would get if we sold him too.
The problem signing Barca’ youngsters is they nearly always want to return there, if they make the grade.
We spend 4-5 years developing a young player, giving him experience and nurturing his talent, only to lose out if Barca’ come calling. We do all the groundwork, and Barca’ reap the benefits in future years. Even Bellerin said in the past he wants to return there.
As he was too young to sign a professional contract, Joel Lopez has only cost Arsenal a development fee to Barcelona. There should be no “buy back” clause, so if he wants to go back to Barcelona or anyone else, Arsenal would make money.That’s provided Arsenal don’t let him run down his contract!
Love getting in the young talent; along with Adli sets up our future nicely. I don’t mind a sprinkling of veteran presence to help guide them along.
Ideally these players come through and things work out. When they don’t club needs to sack up and spend the pounds to solve the problem.
For example, hopefully Holding (£4 million) and Mavroporas (£2 million) help us avoid a VVD £70 million CB purchase. Unfortunately Chambers didn’t get the coaching or game time at Arsenal to see if he could step up.
Result was £35 million (possibly) wasted on Mustafi. I’m not ready to write him off yet, let’s see if Emery and the fellas can coach him up.
Favoritism I feel severly hurt the club and development of younsters. ElNeny around £5 million when many would rather see AMN step up to fill that void.
Walcott kept Cambell out, Welbeck harming Nelson it seems to me, or maybe Eddie from ST.
Hopefully Emery and Sven ship out the underperforming players for hungrier “professionals.”
Go FIFA 18 mode and clean house.
Almost forgot, anyone still sore or regret selling Giroud for Aubamayang upgrade?
Yeah, didn’t think so. And it had to be Giroud, Welbeck didn’t draw the money or interest.
Ramsey next?
Please?
Pretty please?
Good to bring up the Giroud v Aubameyang topic.I never really thought Giroud was that good a striker.He was streaky at best but not a natural finisher.Whereas Aubameyang has shown in less than half a season just how good a striker he is.With a full pre season and more awareness of and from his teammates he will be prolific for us this season.Giroud will do at Chelski what he does best.Which is warm the bench
Ouch Phil, warm the bench. Can’t disagree much though, truth is truth.
Aubamayang shows what a top striker is supposed to do. Shame it took 5 years getting here.
Now we just need an upgrade on Ramsey to show what a true box-to-box can add to the team.
To ever be a true great striker you need blinding pace and regular goalls Lack of pace is all that stops Harry Kane from being a true world beater, despite all his obvious qualities.Giroud is a good but far from great player and is slower even than Kane. Auba is the real deal and will show this next season as he did in the last part of last season. Miles better than Giroud!
Dennis Bergkammp wasn’t blessed with pace but I’d certainly put him down as a truely great striker. Pace is an advantage of course, but a footballing brain can get you pretty far too.
?There’s only one Dennis Bergkamp, just like the late great Alex James, arthritic legs and all.
If Bellerin can cross the ball, would be better suited playing as a winger ?
He would be better at a lower level.
Note to any so-called AFC supporter, which continues to bitch and moan, eff U! You obviously just like to complain like an old lady! For years people have asked for change – well, here it is, and personally, I am loving the ongoing news coming out! I love it! Sure, we are not spending $hit loads of $$, but there definitely is a lot of positive movement and decisions being made. Maybe some of you bitches can hold off your moaning until we actually see the product on the pitch this coming season?! Instead, you could turn your old lady complaining towards your neighbor’s garden or barking dog! PISS OFF!