Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill admits that the Black Cats will have their hands full when they entertain Arsenal at the Stadium of Light today, particularly given the dexterity of Gunners youngster Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The teenage sensation has quickly become a fan favorite at Arsenal, setting up Robin van Persie's equalizer in the 2-1 defeat against Manchester United and then displaying his scoring abilities by netting twice in last weekend's 7-1 destruction of Blackburn.

We heard about a week ago that Mike Ashley was willing to put another £15M into the development of the youngsters on Tyneside. Mehdi Abeid - top youngster at Newcastle Of course the first thing is to have a good scouting network that can spot top youngsters that can be developed on Tyneside.

We heard about a week ago that Mike Ashley was willing to put another £15M into the development of the youngsters on Tyneside. Mehdi Abeid - top youngster at Newcastle Of course the first thing is to have a good scouting network that can spot top youngsters that can be developed on Tyneside.

Francis Coquelin has been somewhat of a muted revelation at Arsenal this season. Due to all our injuries and mishaps we haven't really taken notice of some of our up and coming youngsters including Coquelin. The youngster was scouted by us during 2008 and joined thereafter. He successfully integrated into our club from going into [.

Brad Friedel, amongst his peers, still going strong at 41 years old

A recent post by Jamie Trecker poses the question will the USA ever win the World Cup? And when will the USA ever produce its own Pele, if ever?

Trecker goes on to say that the USA has always produced top quality goalkeepers, the country's most visible export to overseas leagues in this sport.

Last time we see all 3 on the pitch at the same time?

Haven't written in a while, therefore this will be more of a short summation on things that have happened in the past week. No place better to start than with the players.

Emmanuel Frimpong will be out for the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament injury.

The big win over Blackburn was immensely enjoyable and has lifted the mood in the Gooner camp to a great extent after an eminently forgettable January. A lot has already been said about the match and I don't want to revisit it in detail but there were two goals in that game that caught my eye.

Both the goals started from the back but were scored in a markedly different manner, each a delight in its own way.

The newest Arsenal starlet Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has burst onto the scene since the New Year and is already being tipped as a certainty to go to the Euro 2012 tournament with England this summer. But the youngster himself is keeping his feet on the ground and is more than happy to just listen and learn [.

Here's a depressing statistics for Chelsea fans: based on his strike rate with the Blues, it would take Fernando Torres around 20 years to score 100 goals. Potential transfer target Neymar, on the other hand, yesterday completed a career century on his 20th birthday, five games into his fourth top-flight season.

Arsenal's massive 7-1 victory was highlighted with another special performance from Robin Van Persie, who bagged a hat-trick on the night, but it was youngster, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The youngsters scored two goals on the match and once again provides an important contribution for his club, leaving his manager, Arsene Wenger in awe with Oxlade-Chamberlain speedy development.

By Alan Duffy

Young midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong is one of the Premier League's more charismatic chaps, with his all-action and passionate performances on the pitch endearing him to Wolves' fans ever since he made his loan move from Arsenal.

Seven home games without a goal... Here's hoping the end of the transfer window and a few loans might change things. James Bolton reports from the City Ground. The big news as kick off approached was that youngster Jamaal Lascelles would start in the centre of defence in the absence of Luke Chambers through suspension [.

The departure of Mohamed Zidan from Borussia Dortmund has opened the door of opportunity for U.S. Under-23 national team forward Terrence Boyd.

With Zidan having moved to Mainz during the transfer window, Boyd and fellow youngster Marvin Duksch have been summoned from their respective reserve teams by head coach Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool's Raheem Sterling is building up a very positive reputation in the club's youth set-up, with Ian Rush recently describing him as 'very similar to Michael Owen'. Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp is also a big fan of youngster, and hopes that he'll get a chance in the first team sooner rather than later.

BY ADAM SERRANO

The Los Angeles Galaxy enjoyed a banner day on Wednesday, but it was by no means a perfect one.

After signing forward Edson Buddle and acquiring midfielder Kyle Nakazawa in a deal from the Philadelphia Union, the Galaxy learned that homegrown signing Jose Villarreal will be out for six weeks.

It was, as things turned out, a mercifully quiet transfer deadline day, but the most curious acquisition of the day ended up involving a young player with just a handful of first team substitute appearances under his belt but also, it would seem, the capacity for potential brilliance and and self-destruction in roughly equal measures.

Arsenal starlet Francis Coquelin has hailed the locker room impact of legendary on-loan striker Thierry Henry, insisting that the veteran does not need to be on the pitch all the time to offer his leadership.

Henry's two-month spell at the Emirates began with a bang as his decisive goal knocked Leeds United out of the FA Cup but the Frenchman has since been sidelined with injury concerns.

Because of limited chance of getting into the first team, Martin Hansen has left Liverpool to join Viborg.

Hansen was signed by Liverpool in 2006, and the following year he was part of the youngster team that won the 2007 FA Youth Cup.

Curt it out Swansea City captured former Manchester City youngster Curtis Obeng from non-league Wrexham yesterday. Brendan Rodgers' first task is to put all the local branches of McDonalds on red alert to make sure his new signing doesn't ruin his nutritional programme with a two-at-a-time burger fix.

Arsenal's newest midfielder Thomas Eisfeld has made it known that he is proud to be chosen as a Gunner, particularly as he aims to strike a partnership with Tomas Rosicky a man he grew up watching at Borussia Dortmund.

The 19-year old Eisfeld arrived from Dortmund yesterday to complete his move to North London ahead of the transfer deadline and after being unveiled, the youngster pledged to make both his current and former club proud.

According to the Manchester Evening News, Manchester United have signed Freddie Veseli from Manchester City.

The 19-year-old central defender joined the club in 2008 but has become frustrated by the lack of first team opportunities. He made his debut for the club in a pre-season friendly in the summer but when the dreadful Stefan Savic got the nod ahead of him during Vincent Kompany's absence, the Veseli clearly realised it was time to leave.

It's here. Transfer deadline day. We'll be updating this post throughout the day with all the latest transfer deals, rumours and humorous observations on Sky Sports News' coverage. Leave your own rumours and reactions in the comments section below. 2.29pm: Spurs have an £18m bid for Loic Remy rejected, according to Marseille's chairman.

Nic Batum is one of the most exciting small forwards in the NBA to watch. He's huge but he can shoot, run, dunk and play defense. Unfortunately, the Portland Trail Blazers may be without him for a while due to a knee injury.

Watch the Nic Batum video below to see his knee buckle in the game between the Blazers and the Utah Jazz.

When Wenger first came to England, the other title contenders had more or less sewn up the scouting network on the British Isles, the next George Best or Denis Law was going to be snapped up by United or Liverpool.

He had his connections in France and other parts of the continent... he stole a massive march on Fergie and Co by signing the likes of Anelka and Fabregras whilst the rest were scouting on a cold evening at Turf Moor.

Some quick news notes:

• Oh Boy, Oh Boyd!

holla'Portland...

Kris Boyd he of the recent excursion to Dynamo country is not earmarked for Stumptown USA, the Portland Timbers. Boyd will join as a designated player.

The flip from Boyd to Cooper will be contrasting for P-Town fans as Boyd's game more closely dovetails with Diego Chara's a little bit of nastiness and a whole lot of go-go-go.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has hinted that Japanese starlet Ryo Miyaichi could be set for a domestic loan spell as the youngster seeks more playing time to further his development.

The emergence of 18-year old Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has provided Wenger with more-than-enough options on the wings, which means that the 19-year old Miyaichi will need to look elsewhere to increase his football activity.

January was another interesting month at the Lamex Stadium. After an unbeaten December and with Stevenage now in the shake up for the League 1 play-offs, Graham Westley was a wanted man. GW and his team were snapped up by Preston North End after weeks of uncertainty over his future. A new era has begun at Stevenage with Gary Smith appointed as the new manager.

I'm pretty sure the first time I saw Wes Morgan play for Forest was in a pre-season friendly at the City Ground whilst he was still a youngster. He put in a thunderous tackle on a similar-unfamiliar Rafael Van Der Vaart which left the Dutch midfielder without his boot on one foot. I think this was back in 2003, unfortunately the Forest website doesn't seem to show friendlies on its' retrospective fixture lists, so I can't check [.

With Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard being subbed off during this afternoon's FA Cup fourth round tie and briefly wondering who would be his stand-in as captain, Manchester United youngster Danny Welbeck kindly offered to take-up the armband. Gerrard didn't take-up his offer.

Bolton Wanderers have entered the market for Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha. Wilfried Zaha Newcastle back in for youngster Newcastle had held talks with the Crystal Palace Chairmen Martin Long and Steve Parish earlier in the week, after Palace were eliminated from the Carling Cup by Cardiff City.

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas insists that he is not the right man to discuss a potential deal for Genk youngster Kevin De Bruyne and also feels that "certain issues" will prevent the club from signing Brazil international Willian from Shakhtar Donetsk.

Speaking ahead of Chelsea's FA Cup visit to cross-town rivals QPR a fixture that Villas-Boas desperately wants to win in order to get one step closer to silverware the Blues gaffer told reporters that neither De Bruyne nor Willian were in his immediate plans.

Woolwich Arsenal, the club that changed football. Have your name in the book as an official sponsor. Updated information here

By Walter Broeckx

With Nico Yennaris making his debut against Leeds in the FA cup this month and making another appearance as a substitute against Manchester United we have seen another youngster making [.

The Arsenal youngster Nicolas Yennaris was thrown in at the deep end on his League debut for the Gunners when he replaced Johann Djourou against Man United last weekend. He was tasked with keeping Nani at bay, and he certainly did a better job that Djourou. Although Arsenal lost, Yennaris was more than happy with [.

Westley worked his way up from a youngster in the organisation, his reputation for a great work ethic showed from an early age. Rarely unable to work through illness or injury, he established himself as a key member of the staff over many years. Always modest, and never one of the shining stars he was the kind of solid and dependable team members that any organisation depends upon [.

Newcastle will not be signing Ravel Morrison from Manchester United in January. Ravel Morrison Newcastle have cooled their interest Newcastle did make an offer for Morrison a few weeks back, and it was said to be around £1M but it was rejected by the Manchester club. And the Newcastle Journal is reporting that the Red Devils rate the 18 year-old youngster at £4M, even though he [.

Newcastle will not be signing Ravel Morrison from Manchester United in January. Ravel Morrison Newcastle have cooled their interest Newcastle did make an offer for Morrison a few weeks back, and it was said to be around £1M but it was rejected by the Manchester club. And the Newcastle Journal is reporting that the Red Devils rate the 18 year-old youngster at £4M, even though he [.

Once again there will be certain names talked about at this year's European Championships, with the likes of Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and the other usual suspects likely to be grabbing the headlines.
However there are some lesser known players who be looking to impress on the big stage and really announce their presence on the international stage.

Summer 2012 needs to see a change in direction in Arsenal's transfer policy. Out must go this incessant desire to collect 15-16 year olds from around the world and expect and hope that they will develop.

Arsenal have many youngsters in the reserves or on loan for whom the time is ripe for them to be given their chance.

Cardiff City beat Crystal Palace tonight in the Carling Cup semi-final when they won 3-1 on penalties. Wilfried Zaha top young youngster That was after the score was 1-0 to Cardiff after 90 minutes and after extra time, and on display for Palace were at least players Newcastle have been interested in right back Nathaniel Clyne and winger/striker Wilfried [.

Initially it appeared that Robin Van Persie had been so averse to Alex Oxlade Chamberlain's substitution against Manchester United because he had set a goal up for him moments earlier. But it has now emerged that the Arsenal skipper's angry reaction at the youngster being hauled off was due to the fact that he is [.