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Our Man in the North BankWhat a difference 10 years makes. In 1990-1, Arsenal won the championship for the second time in three seasons. They used just l9 players in the whole campaign. They use that number in a month now. And, of the 16 regulars, eight came up through the Gunners’youth ranks - David O’Leary Paul Davis, Tony Adams, Mickey Thomas, David Rocastle, Paul Merson, David Hillier and Kevin Campbell. How unlike the present side, in which Adams, Martin Keown (who returned in 1993 after spells with Aston Villa and Everton) and Ray Parlour are the only home-grown players. In fact Parlour is the only ex-youth star to establish himself in the first team throughout the 90s. That may soon change. Since Highbury icon Liam Brady returned as head of youth development in the summer of 1996, Arsenal have run probably the most successful programme in the Premiership. Bringing back Don Howe, as head youth coach, was a shrewd move. He and Neil Banfield led the team to FA Youth Cup triumph last season, when the Gunners’ under-17s also won their national title. The under-19s, who in their inaugural Championship in 1998, reached the final, losing to West Ham in a penalty shootout. Now some of those young stars have reached the first team fringe. Islington-born midfielder Paolo Vernazza and Ireland youth forward Grahame Barrett have already made the side, and not just in League Cup games. Ashley Cole has been this season’s Highbury discovery - and it may not just be a straight fight between him and his friend Silvinho for the left back slot. Arsene Wenger prefers the Brazilian in defence. He has never been fully convinced that Silvinho can play in midfield. But Cole, another naturally left-footed player, could be given a run wide on the left ahead of the Brazil star especially if summer signing Robert Pires continues to suffer hamstring trouble. There are others, as yet unknown outside Highbury, bubbling under. As Lee Dixon and Oleh Luzhnyi head towards the end of their careers, another Brazilian is standing by: right back Israel, who scored a magical goal against Tottenham in his trial game. He can defend too, as he proved with three goal line clearances when Arsenal won 3-1 at Coventry in last season’s FA Youth Cup final first leg. Centre back John Halls has won a string of admirers with some dominant performances. Cultured midfielder David Noble - a dead ball specialist too - has big potential. So do skilful, pacy wingers Jermaine Pennant and Jerome Thomas, who are already attracting ‘doubling up’ attention from opponents. Then come the pair that Arsenal prised from their homelands, amidst much commotion - French forward Jeremie Aladiere, educated at the same Clairefontaine academy that produced Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka, and the versatile German Moritz Voltz, who seems at home at full back or in midfield. The key question is: when will they have a chance to play? The game - and its business side - have moved on since George Graham’s team lifted that 1990-1 title. Now the big clubs are financial institutions, many quoted on the Stock Exchange. The top teams must win trophies and play in the Champions League each year, to generate the revenue to attract the big names who’ll keep them at the top. Howe himself says it’s harder for youngsters to break through now, because of those imperatives. But if Wenger wants to break the mould, then Arsenal boast a depth of young talent that few British clubs can match.
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