According to a report by Young Guns Arsenal are set to join a host of clubs in pulling out the Premier Reserve League ahead of the new season.
This move would come as a shock to many after several comments by the club earlier in the season suggested that they felt that the reserve league system could still work as a bridge to senior football despite fierce criticism of how it was run.
But with Fulham, Birmingham City and Stoke City following in the footsteps of Spurs after they quit 12 months ago, it seems Arsenal have changed their stance with the proposed revamp of the set up failing to convince the Gunners to submit a team for 2010/11.
Instead Young Guns speculate that the club will send far more players out on loan, with those that remain with the club training with the first team and playing in friendlies over the season along with first team members returning from injury.
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We’re yet to have confirmation of this news but with Young Guns normally very reliable it seems a pretty certain move from the club.
For me it points at there being a disagreement over the proposed re-development of the system and the move coming as a result of too many teams dropping out from the league. The positive factor that comes from this is that it should see far more players gain experience out on loan, but loan moves can be a make or break step for some players which is why the reserve league exists. With that option no longer there it seems to leave the likes of Banfield with far more difficult judgements over how prepared each player is for a move. The reserve league gave the U18 players a chance to dip their toes in and see what level they were at before any loan move was considered, as well as a more easily available shopping window for managers to come down and take a look at a potential loanee and there will no longer be that stepping stone from youth football to professional leagues which is sad to see. We’re yet to see how it works out of course, but it also appears to take away the opportunity for many fans to see the potential stars of the future in the red and white until they reach first team level.
It’s certainly an interesting time for youth football in this country.
