For serious Arsenal nerds only

This site, Young Guns!, is an amazing repository of extremely in-depth info on the Arsenal youth system. Now, I pay attention to Arsenal pretty darn closely, and yet I don’t know any of these players they talk about. Here is one example of news they report on.

Arsenal Eyeing Havant & Waterlooville Striker Ryan Gates

Arsenal have joined a three club race for 12 year-old Havant & Waterlooville striker Ryan Gates.

The free-scoring striker has 95 goals in just 40 games this season, for Havant’s Academy side, and Arsenal have already offered Gates a trial.

“I am totally gobsmacked,” Ryan’s dad Derran told The News.

“They want to come and see him and take him up there to play against either Chelsea Youth or Norwich Youth. They want to see him in action.

“We’ll see what club is best for Ryan. For this to happen to a 12-year-old, it’s brilliant.”

It’s like high school football recruiting taken to the n’th degree. You half expect them to be waiting outside fertility clinics in North London waiting for expectant mother to report that her future son “kicks with a very cultured left foot.” At least they think that’s his left foot. Putting aside the ethics (and frankly morals) of reporting on 12-year old non-professionals, this site is an amazing example of what the internet can do, especially within a soccer context.

Well done to those guys… I think.