Whereas Serge Gnabry, as documented last week, has made a scintillating start to his Arsenal career, another youngster who joined the club from abroad, Elton Monteiro, has found the adaptation process considerably more difficult.
Monteiro is now in his second full season at the club, having joined from FC Sion in his native Switzerland. After moving to London, he initially turned out for the under-16s before the commencement of his scholarship last campaign. It’s fair to say that he didn’t enjoy the most fruitful of debut seasons. Despite being a regular for Steve Bould’s under-18 side, the centre-back’s displays were characterised by a lack of awareness, poor positioning and, perhaps somewhat understandably, communication difficulties.
All of that came to the surface in rather cataclysmic fashion last January when, owing to a swathe of injuries, first-team call-ups and loans, Monteiro was handed his Reserve team debut away to Aston Villa. It safe to say that it wasn’t an occasion on which he will be keen to look back on in a hurry. Arsenal lost 10-1, with Monteiro the culprit-in-chief for the majority of the goals conceded.
This season has been met with tentative signs of improvement. Monteiro emerged from the Summer break rather stockier in terms of frame, and has continued to enhance his strengths of good ball control and dribbling skills. He was one of the most impressive performers in the under-18s victory over Chelsea at Emirates Stadium earlier this season, and recently ended a run of starting consecutive matches at that level for almost an entire calendar year.
Although costly mistakes still threaten to plague his game, Monteiro was far more assured when he took on Villa Reserves again recently and, with a professional contract under his belt, he will now seek to get more game time at that level.
Even given the improvements he has made in recent months however, it is difficult to envision him carving out a long-term career at the club, especially with his compatriot, and fellow centre-back, Martin Angha, being a more highly-rated prospect.
Great news we now dont need to spend money in order to find the next Squillaci or Sylvester
A gooner fan should know better GreenGunner,, After all we do remember the game of a certain ‘Alex Song’ when he was 17?
Oh silly me how could I possibly forget it became impossible to crack a light hearted joke on the internet about the time that Spurs last won a title.
On another note Squillaci is still up there with Sylvester as being horribly, horribly shite. Yes I know I am slagging a current squad member but if we are going to gamble on a key position like CB I would rather see us give Kyle Bartley or Miquel a throw of the dice long before someone we all KNOW is a liability.
Squillaci still scored a winning goal against stoke last season. Until he leaves the club we should support all the red and white army.
Squillaci is still with us, he could give them pointers.
Although I’m sure that even when he’s sold, he’ll be happy to text advice xD
One thing in common with those three, they all have GREAT movie star names.
He looks about 40!
I really hope your not serious.
I’m saying that tongue-in-cheek of course. In that pic he does look a lot older than I’m sure he does in every other pic of him. He looks like a coach not a teenager.
Oh god he is not joking!
*shakes head @ Tio*
Woah.
Tough crowd.
http://images.google.com/imgres?q=steve+bould&hl=en&biw=1920&bih=916&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=Z2t3NtiOj2xGvM:&imgrefurl=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1236755/Steve-Bould-From-Arsenals-famous-production-world-class-players.html&docid=TFuv8yq8mNhQzM&imgurl=http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/12/17/article-1236755-079F8002000005DC-94_634x382.jpg&w=634&h=382&ei=dmrmToi-J4P20gHB7ZSOBg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=233&sig=108759797363346331587&page=1&tbnh=125&tbnw=208&start=0&ndsp=39&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0&tx=145&ty=3
does that guy look familiar? thats cause its steve bould
You seem to be relatively new to the Arsenal. But you have to start somewhere, I’m sure Gooners here will not begrudge you a introduction to Steve Bould, the man in the picture, currently the youth coach and once a part of the famous back four from the George Graham days. He is an Arsenal legend.
It seems to me he’s lived his Arsenal career like a candle in the wind never knowing that he is a dead ringer for Steve Bould.
He’s also clearly making the classic rookie error or playing in a hat and big raincoat. Bound to affect his agility and heading.
I’d suggest he plays in an Arsenal kit like those around him, bound to see an instant improvement.
these guys are just kids! i mean, the guy is good, else he wouldnt be a gooner. It takes time for these guys to adjust and learn etc.
some faster than others.
Look at Woj for example, two broken arms not long ago and now one of the best keepers in the league.
defenders mature much later than attackers as well…give them time and trust in their development. it wouldnt surprise me if he suddenly became really good in two years time.
Look at Miquel, we are just seing the tip of the iceberg of his talent, and he has got 2 years more reserve team training than Moneteiro
Completely agree with you here. You can’t judge a guy who is 16, 17 or 18 as a finished article. Some players don’t fully develop until they’re 24 so patience is required with these players. Naturally some aren’t going to be good enough but they have to be given a fair crack at it first.
While I think it’s nice of Jeorge to write these pieces on Arsenal’s youngsters, I would prefer it if the negativity was toned down a bit. We are talking about mere 15, 16, 17 year old kids who whether or not posses adequate talents, are, after all only kids. I know that I’d be crushed if I was one of those young kids who google’s his own name only to find a player profile that suggested I’ll most likely be a flop.
As someone pointed out. SZCZ and Song didn’t always enjoy the best debuts either and now they’re both world class. It’s tricky judging older players when you buy them (people thought of Bergkamp as a complete flop in Italy) and it’s even trickier judging young kids and trying to figure out their trajectory.
Because we’re Arsenal fans (therefore more intelligent than most other fans
) I kindly recommend to Jorge that we can read between the lines if he were to simply say “player X is young and his inexperience was exposed in such and such a game, but if it’s one thing that he has on his side is enough time to improve, should he work hard enough).
perhaps one day he’ll meet Jorge and say:
Hello. My name is Elton Monteiro. You killed my father. Prepare to die
Take a bow Cromulus, intelligently put.
Thank you!
Can anyone lend me a tenner?
How about tree fiddy?
Monteiro is a dead ringer for Steve Bould!
Yes I am agree with you.