Does anyone remember the Arsenal-Newcastle Carling Cup game last season? The one where Bendtner scored that thumping header? Or the Arsenal-Everton game – the last home game of the season? The one where Bendtner scored that thumping header?
In the 2007 season Arsenal supporters were introduced to another incredibly exciting youth prospect. Signed from Monaco a year earlier, aged 15, to virtually no fanfare whatsoever, Armand Traore managed to put together a string of electric performances in the Carling Cup that had some of us thinking that somehow Messrs Brady and Wenger had cracked the genetic code for the position of left-back. First, Ashley Cole, then Gael Clichy, now this?? Three incredibly fast, agile and skilful left full backs, educated the Arsenal way. Attacking full backs in the most literal sense, with an intuitive reading of Arsenal’s forward play, dangerously effective on the overlap, and as a result, occasionally caught napping when the other team was in possession.
But as we saw with Cole and Clichy, the defensive element seems to be the one that comes with experience in the repertoire of an Arsenal full-back. In my opinion Traore was the player of that particular cup run and many had already decided we had ample cover at left back after the departure of Cashley Cole.
Not so. We had ample talent at left back, but Armand was 16 days into his 17th year on his Arsenal debut, and had not played enough professional football to know exactly how to play the position week in, week out.
The trouble with Arsenal fans is that we are spoiled in some ways. Having watched Ashley Cole’s performances for years, thinking things would never be the same again after losing Ashley, and then slowly coming to the realisation that Gael Clichy was actually going to be much much better, the glimpse we got of Traore that year had us salivating in expectation for the following season.
As it did with Denilson, incidentally… to the point that I’ve actually read on some sites that people think Denilson had regressed this year, that he didn’t look like he could cut it, etc. etc.
For crying out loud... a 20-year-old old centre-midfielder who’s not getting into the Arsenal squad ahead of Cesc Fabregas, Matthieu Flamini and Gilberto Silva is NOT below standard. He’s 20. Fabregas is a one-off guys, you’re not meant to even be playing that position at this standard at that age, let alone bossing it! But that’s another article (it is now…).
6 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Alex Dimond 11 months ago
Great article, interesting and thorough analysis on a player who is hanging under the media radar.
Personally, I still feel it may be a little earlier for Traore this season - but I agree completely with your conclusions. It is just with Vela, Nasri, Merida and Ramsey looking for a wide midfield spot in the first XI Wenger might be forced to go with the more established names just now. Maybe he will be the Gunner's impact player this season?
All in all, loved the article - look forward to reading more!
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Amartey Armar 11 months ago
Thanks Alex, and you may well be right about him - this season may be too early. I guess it all depends on the system we play and how well Nasri, Vela and Ramsey integrate into the side. Merida is expected to go out on loan this year I think, but the trouble with Fran is that he lacks pace, making him an unlikely option for a wide position but we'll see. Wenger thinks Vela's a striker apparently, and I guess with Ramsey time will tell - I haven't seen enough of him, he may well be better than Traore out wide. I was going with the fact he that he's younger than Armand and he's going to have to learn how we play. I thought he'd be challenging for the centre spot though?
The one thing I'm probably looking forward to the most is where all these guys are going to play and what system we'll likely use - my next article topic. Thanks for reading
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Shyam Parthasarathi 11 months ago
Great analysis Amartey, and welcome to B/R! Funnily enough, I hadn't even thought about Armand Traore much in the past month or so, but now that you've mentioned him, he's a very viable option on that left flank for us. You're spot on about Eboue too.. That's what I kept telling everyone who criticized him - he adds that defensive stability to Arsenal on the right-side. Granted, he was awful going forward, but he'll only improve.
All in all, great start, hope to see more of you on B/R!
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Amartey Armar 11 months ago
Thanks Shyam. Eboue's a very hard character to defend, but I really think he's got it. Even in a dodgy season like he had, he came up with some moments of almost unbelievable magic going forward. Plus if we remember, he was a damn good right back the previous season. It's just a shame about his attitude sometimes.
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Sam Adavba 11 months ago
Wonderful, informed article. You just read my mind. I was actually just telling a friend that the emergence of Traore may be the main reason Wenger decided against recruiting Ben Arfa, a player he rates very highly.
Traore may actually be very special considering that most of Arsenal's past leftwingers/left midfeilders didn't have the defensive tutelage he's had. Added to that, he is big and imposing despite his pace and plays the true wing play that helps to decongest our habitual, at times labourious through-the-centre attacking play; the goals he created for Bendtner are typical examples.
His combination with Clichy should make the left side of Arsenal's play unbearable for opponents.
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Amartey Armar 11 months ago
Thanks bud! He's my tip for revelation of the season.
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