The Vieira-Like Youngsters Waiting in the Arsenal Ranks

Since losing Patrick Vieria in 2005, Arsenal have not won a trophy and now they desperately need a Patrick Vieira-like figure to fill their midfield woes.

Well, there are plenty of Arsenal youngsters just waiting for their chance.

Francis Coquelin is 18-years-old and has already appeared in a handful of games for  French Second Division side Laval. Coquelin is very much in the Makelele and Vieira mould, with a low centre of gravity and superb reading of the game. Add to this his rugged and aggressive manner—plus a fine passing range.

Coquelin looks like a fine player and has already made his debut in Arsenal's 6-0 Carling Cup thrashing of Sheffield United, looking solid and imposing. It would not hurt to see what Coquelin can do and he could provide the breakthrough, hopefully he is given a chance.

Amaury Bischoff was a tidy buy from Werder Bremen in this year's transfer window. He is blessed with great perspective, solid passing, and a great footballing brain with superb stamina. He has impressed greatly at youth level for Werder Bremen and made one senior appearance for the Bundesliga club came against Celta Vigo in the UEFA Cup back in 2007.

Though he is very injury prone and has a niggling thigh injury at the moment, as soon as he has returned to full fitness he is sure to make an impact in the Arsenal side.

Sanchez Watt is only 17 but streaming with talent. He is a very attacking midfielder but he can be very good at the holding midfielder role plus with his aggressive play, superb passing, and tackling, alongside his handy shot, he is a useful midfielder who could become the next big thing.

Jonas Rasmussen, though not as much like Vieira as the others, is a very talented midfielder, having already represented Denmark at youth level. Jonas has great vision, quick feet, a strong solid pass, and great speed and could be really useful in the Arsenal midfield.

Henri Lansbury is tenacious midfielder who is widely regarded as one of the brightest prospects in his age group plus he signed professional terms last summer. Having already come off the bench twice in the Carling Cup, Lansbury is very close to more action. He is very talented and has a bag of tricks and great acceleration plus is very strong. Mostly preferred out wide.

Kieran Gibbs is a hugely talented defensive midfielder who can be a great utility man. He has pin-point passing and one of the best young footballing brains. He has already played three Carling Cup matches and been picked on the bench twice in the Premier League but sadly was not used. Theo Walcott is his role model.