View Full Version : Anthony Stokes (F free agent b.1988)
Karlos
28/12/2005, 6:57 PM
By Lambros Lambrou from tonights Arsenal Vs Portsmouth Match Programme
At just 17 years of age Anthony Stokes is already a comparative veteran of the Arsenal Youth and Reserves squads and that is showing in the maturity of his play.
"I think I have developed a lot very quickly," says the Dublin-born forward. "I think I am much more of a team player now and my thoughts are guided by what I can do for the team. I now play more of a passing game where I look to pass and spring forward rather than take on as many defenders as possible to open up a shooting chance.
"I have tended to play in wider areas for Arsenal this year," he explains, "which has meant that I have not been able to get into as many scoring positions, but I hope to get more games as one of the front two. I am happy to be playing, but I have to be honest and say that I feel that I play best when I’m playing in striker’s positions."
The young Gunner is favourite to scoop the Republic of Ireland Under-19s Player of the Year Award. The gong is made all the more prestigious given the success achieved this year by the Irish side, most notably when they beat Italy 4-1 to get to the European Championships. "I hope to win it," Anthony says. "Everyone likes to have what they do recognised, even the top professionals. If I win it I’ll be pleased and I’m sure it will give me a further confidence boost, but if I don’t win, I’ll be disappointed but it won’t affect me," he insists.
"We have a really good Under-19s team and I really enjoy playing for my country, especially as I play in attack. I expect we’ll do well in the European Championships because a lot of people have worked really hard."
The youngster joined Arsenal from Shelbourne when he was just 15 and even trained with the first team with Arsène Wenger when he was only 14. He was recently re-united with the first team squad and in fact made his debut in the Carling Cup victory over Sunderland. "I know I only played a few minutes and I would have liked to have played longer, but it was a fantastic experience travelling with the first team and experiencing all that goes on," he explains.
"I was a bit disappointed not to have been selected for the midweek game against Doncaster, but I hope to get further opportunities. I want to gain as much experience as possible but at the moment I want to concentrate on doing well in the Reserves and training."
Anthony was amongst a strong Arsenal youth team that were dumped out of the FA Youth Cup by Brentford recently and the youngster is hard pressed to offer an explanation for the defeat. "We had a really good side out, with so many of the players having already had first team experience. We just couldn’t really get going as a team.
"Brentford played well and worked hard for each other and we may have been guilty of underestimating them," suggests the youngster. "It’s quite frustrating because we haven’t really played to our potential in the FA Youth Cup for a while. It’s the one youth competition where there is an emphasis on getting the results and maybe that has added pressure and maybe caused us not to play as we can. We’re definitely amongst the strongest teams in the country but unfortunately now that we are out of the FA Youth Cup it is difficult for us to show it."
Anthony will be getting six days off over the holidays and is travelling back to Dublin with his family. "My mum and dad live with me here in England but we are all going back to Ireland to enjoy Christmas. I’m really looking forward to it," he beams. "I’m going to try to relax and forget about football for a few days so I can come back refreshed and ready to start the new year with a few more goals."
My hero...Thierry Henry
"It’s Thierry Henry. We are completely different players, but as a striker we all have to be able to finish and he is one of the best finishers around. I feel fortunate to be able to learn from him in games and training close up."
eirebhoy
28/12/2005, 8:31 PM
Cheers for that. Hopefully he just keeps on improving.
Karlos
28/12/2005, 8:34 PM
Just noticed a mistake in the article, it was Home Farm he signed from not Shelbourne. :)
soccerc
28/12/2005, 8:53 PM
Just noticed a mistake in the article, it was Home Farm he signed from not Shelbourne. :)
no, Shelbourne is correct
Karlos
28/12/2005, 9:43 PM
Yep your right, moment of madness in my brain :o !
NeilMcD
30/12/2005, 1:52 PM
Nice New Avator Karlos ha ha. Maybe you will be accepted now.
Karlos
30/12/2005, 3:51 PM
a change is as good as a rest ;)
However, don't read too much into it - was feeling a bit homesick for Dublin over Xmas here in Canada :D
p.s. It's not the first time I've donned a DC Crest - bit of a closet fan :eek: !!
Karlos
30/01/2006, 9:48 PM
Tony Stokes got two goals for Arsenal Reserves tonight in a 5-0 win away at norwich.
http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?article=358405&lid=NewsHeadline&sub=Reserves:+Norwich+City+0+Arsenal+5+-++Match+details&navlid=&sublid=&Title=Reserves:+Norwich+City+0+Arsenal+5+-++Match+details
eirebhoy
30/01/2006, 10:10 PM
Tony Stokes got two goals for Arsenal Reserves tonight in a 5-0 win away at norwich.
http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?article=358405&lid=NewsHeadline&sub=Reserves:+Norwich+City+0+Arsenal+5+-++Match+details&navlid=&sublid=&Title=Reserves:+Norwich+City+0+Arsenal+5+-++Match+details
Playing on the wing too. There's always 3 or 4 Irish in the Arsenal reserve team but Stokes is the only regular atm. SSN usually show Arsenal reserves goals throughout the night so I'll keep that on.
Bungle
30/01/2006, 10:30 PM
Was at the game tonight and Anthony was superb!Him and Lupoli were streaks ahead of any other players on the pitch though nearly every one of the Arsenal lads looked capable of playing at the top level.They have some second string it must be said and played excellent football.
Norwich rested Spillane and i've heard that he should make the bench for the Ipswich match.
eirebhoy
30/01/2006, 11:07 PM
Was at the game tonight and Anthony was superb!Him and Lupoli were streaks ahead of any other players on the pitch though nearly every one of the Arsenal lads looked capable of playing at the top level.They have some second string it must be said and played excellent football.
Norwich rested Spillane and i've heard that he should make the bench for the Ipswich match.
Cheers for that. How did Murphy and Tracy do?
tetsujin1979
31/01/2006, 9:34 AM
Norwich review of the same game:
http://www.canaries.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/FirstNewsDetail/0,,10355~776130,00.html?ptvParm=
According to Arsenal's site, there will be a full review on the site later
Karlos
31/01/2006, 1:28 PM
Arsenal Reserve Team Coach Neil Banfield
On Norwich and the performance...
"To be fair to Norwich they’ve got a hell of a young side. They competed and you always a get a good game when you come here. But I think we were very professional. We went on and did very well tonight. I think we controlled the game. That’s no disrespect to Norwich but I think we did. I was pleased with some of the lads’ overall performances and the way they’ve done a professional job."
On Anthony Stokes’ midfield role…
"Stokes is coming along well. Obviously it’s a new position for him in midfield, whereas he was a striker. He’s working really hard for the team and I think he’s coming to grips with it so we’ll see how he develops over the next few months."
Banfield also said on a video interview this aout Stokes - "He’s with the first-team a hell of a lot and you can see it rubbing off on him".
I'll let you know what else he says when I get the chance to watch the full video and match highlights on Arsenal TV later.:)
del fuego
31/01/2006, 6:32 PM
Looks like one of the talented youngsters (http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=359090&CPID=8&clid=&lid=2&title=Spartak+land+Owusu+Abeyie)ahead of Stokes has left Arsenal. Maybe he'l get the odd game that Quincy used to get.
Karlos
31/01/2006, 7:18 PM
Looks like one of the talented youngsters (http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=359090&CPID=8&clid=&lid=2&title=Spartak+land+Owusu+Abeyie)ahead of Stokes has left Arsenal. Maybe he'l get the odd game that Quincy used to get.
I think Theo Walcott will probably get the lion's share of games that Quincy used to get. The info i got was that Quincy moved on becuase he thinks Walcott will jump ahead of everyone in the starting stakes and that looks very likely. Quincy has featured on the bench a lot for the first team this season and made something like 25 first team appearances over the last 2 years. The move came as a shock but undoubtedly things have changed recently with the signing of Walcott.
If Stokes gets a game I reckon it will be wide right as a result of injuries as he's not much hope of getting in up front just at the minute with Adebayor, Van Persie, Reyes aswell as the likes of Lupoli and Bendtner in front of him. Arsenal seem to think they could make a decent winger out of him.
From what I believe, Theo Walcott will play wide right in a 4-3-3 style formation in time, playing the position that was ear marked for SWP (before the lure of filthy russian money). I'd be surprised to see Walcott and Henry play together up top on many occassions and at the minute he will battle with Ljungberg & Hleb for a position on the right I'd imagine. I've a sneaky feeling that Ljungberg may move on in the summer so maybe a chance for Stokes if that happens or if Pires moves on i.e. Theo may move to the left to challenge Reyes opening up opportunities on the right hand side for Stokes to challenge Hleb & ljungberg.
As i've said many times before, he's still very young and has bags of potential so there's not a major hurry for him to be getting games in the first team. If Fabregas and Walcott are good enough to play at their age then perhaps Stokes just isn't quite at that level just yet. It should be noted that Cesc & Senderos did play the best part of 2 years with the reserves before breaking through so there's still plently of time for Tony. I've no doubts that if he's good enough then he'll eventually get to play. :)
eirebhoy
31/01/2006, 9:29 PM
Aye, lets see if he can break into the Carling cup team at least. :)
Bungle
03/08/2006, 9:23 AM
Having seen him play for Arsenal reserves I can honestly say he's a great chance of making the breakthrough in the next season or two.With Ljungberg out for the start of the season,I think he's a very good chance of coming off the bench in the next few games(especially as Wenger has earmarked him as a long term replacement for Freddie)....Arsenal seemed to have loaned out alot of their very talented kids but not Anthony so heres hoping.
Unlike Willo,hes a big lad,which is all important at the top level.
Reality Bites
03/08/2006, 10:01 AM
Wenger has a talent at spotting real footballers and an uncanny ability to get the best out of them, by real footballers i mean players with natural ability and technique.. Stokes must have potential!
Stuttgart88
03/08/2006, 10:18 AM
There was a story from one of the lads on this site who knows Stokes' dad, that they were unhappy with his midfield role. However I think Lupoli and Brendtner have gone out on loan, which at least frees up Stokes to play reserve football in his preferred position.
RTE's website did a live Q&A session with Liam Brady recently. Asked about Stokes he said that "he's got a real chance".
Fingers crossed for him. As said above, the fact that he's got size on his side is important in the game these days. However, at underage level sometimes it's the big guys who stand out because of their physical advantage, but this disappears at senior level. I look forward to seeing how the U21s do with what looks like an exciting new breed. I'm sure Givens will do his best to turn them into a bunch of losers though.
Leeza
03/08/2006, 10:05 PM
I really hope the lad turns out good. I bought him in my championship manager game and he scored a hat-trick on his debut :)
Dr. Ogba
04/08/2006, 10:39 AM
Off to Sunderland for the season supposedly:
http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=407720&CPID=10&clid=56&lid=2&title=Stokes+set+for+Black+Cats+switch
Could be a brilliant move for him...
Tenderloins
04/08/2006, 11:03 AM
There were some links to videos of him in action posted here earlier in the year.
Had a quick search and couldn't find them.
Anyone still have them?
Stuttgart88
04/08/2006, 12:03 PM
Off to Sunderland for the season supposedly:
http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=407720&CPID=10&clid=56&lid=2&title=Stokes+set+for+Black+Cats+switch
Could be a brilliant move for him...Agree totally. Hopefully Quinner will remember on which side his bread his buttered and pick Elliott, Stokes & Murphy upfront ever week!
youngirish
04/08/2006, 12:16 PM
Agree totally. Hopefully Quinner will remember on which side his bread his buttered and pick Elliott, Stokes & Murphy upfront ever week!
Would have been better for him to get a move to a different Championship club IMO where he would have less competition for a centre forward position.
He might be employed regularly as a RM player instead but I'd rather see him develop his game as a striker as he showed the most promise in this postion when he first moved to Arsenal.
If he does play as a striker this will mean Elliot and Murphy will suffer as there could now be 7 recognised strikers fighting it out for the 2 positions (Kyle, Brown, Stead, Murphy, Elliot, Stokes and possibly Sadlier).
Stuttgart88
04/08/2006, 12:39 PM
If he does play as a striker this will mean Elliot and Murphy will suffer as there could now be 7 recognised strikers fighting it out for the 2 positions (Kyle, Brown, Stead, Murphy, Elliot, Stokes and possibly Sadlier).Point taken, but at some stage our lads have got to stand up and be counted and take on the likes of Kyle (who's injury prone anyway), Brown & Stead, none of which is a world beater.
Like the Grolsch ads, what's the hurry? If Stokes can figure in a third of Sunderland's games this year and get a few goals it's a hell of an improvement over Arsenal's reserves. Training day in, day out with the first team will be good for him.
I've been a big advocate of Elliott's since 2002/3. This year is a very big year for him, far more so than Stokes. It's a big year for Murphy too.
Dr. Ogba
04/08/2006, 12:57 PM
Point taken, but at some stage our lads have got to stand up and be counted and take on the likes of Kyle (who's injury prone anyway), Brown & Stead, none of which is a world beater.
Like the Grolsch ads, what's the hurry? If Stokes can figure in a third of Sunderland's games this year and get a few goals it's a hell of an improvement over Arsenal's reserves. Training day in, day out with the first team will be good for him.
I've been a big advocate of Elliott's since 2002/3. This year is a very big year for him, far more so than Stokes. It's a big year for Murphy too.
Agreed on Elliott, I've been touting this guy for a while now as the most natural finisher that we have. He was incredibly unlucky last season as I think he's well capable of playing at Prem level....If he stays injury-free this season I wouldn't be surprised to see him leapfrog both Morrisson and Doyle in the Irish setup...
youngirish
04/08/2006, 2:14 PM
Agreed on Elliott, I've been touting this guy for a while now as the most natural finisher that we have. He was incredibly unlucky last season as I think he's well capable of playing at Prem level....If he stays injury-free this season I wouldn't be surprised to see him leapfrog both Morrisson and Doyle in the Irish setup...
It's amazing how many talented Irish strikers are emerging in a position that we traditionally have always been very weak. If even a small percentage of the current generation of young forwards make the grade we should have an abundance of options in an area where generally only the top few International teams have had strength in depth.
In this season alone Doyle and Keane should be Premiership regulars (at least at the start of the season). Long at Reading also looks particularly impressive (he grabbed a hatrick last night in a pre-season friendly in Sweden) and looks to have the physique, pace and power to handle the Premiership if he takes the chances that come his way.
In the Championship Murphy and Elliot should do well at Sunderland. Murphy has been Sunderland's most prolific forward in pre-season while Elliot on paper is their most talented forward (and possibly player now Arca is gone). Stokes also now looks likely to be another Irish option in this position while Richie Saddler is making good strides at the same club in getting himself back in the professional game and could be another option in the near future.
At Ipswich Billy Clarke is highly rated and should certainly make some impression on the first team within the initial few months of the season. We also have Alan Lee at the same team. At Stoke Adam Rooney scored 4 goals in his last 3 games after making his debut at the end of last season and now looks likely get the opportunity to make one of the striking positions his own with the problems the management are having with Bangoura. At Palace we have the more experienced Morrision who I think will have a good season this year and should still remain a useful option for Ireland.
Finally in League 1 Andrew Keogh had an excellent first full season at S****horpe last year and will continue to attract the attention of bigger clubs if he impresses again this season.
eirebhoy
04/08/2006, 4:26 PM
and Clarke (if he signs), Cunningham and Delap! Lots of Irish in the North East now.
Stokes played in a trial match yesterday, and 'showed some neat touches', which sounds like he did well, but not great.
see http://www.safc.com/news/?page_id=10091
Is that Billy Dennehy that started? according to this he was released in May along with Joe Murphy:
http://www.4thegame.com/features/feature/189947/summer_transfers_roundup_may_2006_daybyday.html
SaucyJack
04/08/2006, 6:41 PM
It's amazing how many talented Irish strikers are emerging in a position that we traditionally have always been very weak. If even a small percentage of the current generation of young forwards make the grade we should have an abundance of options in an area where generally only the top few International teams have had strength in depth.
In this season alone Doyle and Keane should be Premiership regulars (at least at the start of the season). Long at Reading also looks particularly impressive (he grabbed a hatrick last night in a pre-season friendly in Sweden) and looks to have the physique, pace and power to handle the Premiership if he takes the chances that come his way.
In the Championship Murphy and Elliot should do well at Sunderland. Murphy has been Sunderland's most prolific forward in pre-season while Elliot on paper is their most talented forward (and possibly player now Arca is gone). Stokes also now looks likely to be another Irish option in this position while Richie Saddler is making good strides at the same club in getting himself back in the professional game and could be another option in the near future.
At Ipswich Billy Clarke is highly rated and should certainly make some impression on the first team within the initial few months of the season. We also have Alan Lee at the same team. At Stoke Adam Rooney scored 4 goals in his last 3 games after making his debut at the end of last season and now looks likely get the opportunity to make one of the striking positions his own with the problems the management are having with Bangoura. At Palace we have the more experienced Morrision who I think will have a good season this year and should still remain a useful option for Ireland.
Finally in League 1 Andrew Keogh had an excellent first full season at S****horpe last year and will continue to attract the attention of bigger clubs if he impresses again this season.
also Terry Dixon at Spurs, only 17, but highly thought of
http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/display.var.843465.0.0.php
Anthony also sorta reminds me of Graham Barret... Remember him? Loaned out from Arsenal to Coventery when they got relegated. heard he's playing his stuff at Falkirk now.
Also, a friend of mine who trained with him at schoolboy level in the Ireland setup said he scored a thirty five yard chip against him in a training match (My mate's a goalie for Monaghan United Under-21's)
FootballsKing
06/08/2006, 11:49 PM
stokes is an excellent player and will no doubt be the next big thing in irish football. dont insult him with graham barret comparisons- he will make it big,from what I have seen of him both at Ireland underage levels and also in a few clips of arsenal reserve games.
anyone know the latest on the sunderland move, and do you think he would feature much?
Irish_Praha
07/08/2006, 1:23 PM
anyone know the latest on the sunderland move, and do you think he would feature much?
He wasn't even on the bench yesterday but maybe Quinn wants him to settle in first. I must be a bit of shock moving from London to Sunderland :D
Anyway, as stated earlier Stokes hasn't exactly gone to a club short on strikers but Kyle is injury prone, Stead is decent enough for the championship but he just can't seem to finish anything off. Last season he played well for sunderland but just didn't have the finishing touch. I reckon Stokes will be slowly introduced to first team football. He'll probably make the bench soon and if Sunderland are winning comfortably he will get a run out. It will then be up to him to impress.
On the the other two Irish strikers there, Murphy ran out of steam after about 70 mins yesterday whereas Elliott looked more and more dangerous as the game progressed. A few injury-free games under his belt and I expect him to have another good season.
geysir
07/08/2006, 9:32 PM
stokes is an excellent player and will no doubt be the next big thing in irish football. dont insult him with graham barret comparisons- he will make it big,from what I have seen of him both at Ireland underage levels and also in a few clips of arsenal reserve games.
It looked to me that Leeza's post was about avoiding the "next big thing" tag regardless of how much promise a player shows in reserve football. Barrett was highly rated enough even at the time when he was released by Arsenal to join a championship club. Time will tell with Stokes.
tetsujin1979
08/08/2006, 12:11 AM
He wasn't even on the bench yesterday
I don't think the loan has been completed yet, just that Sunderland are interested in taking him on loan for the season and talks have begun
Irish_Praha
08/08/2006, 7:26 AM
I don't think the loan has been completed yet, just that Sunderland are interested in taking him on loan for the season and talks have begun
Aha I see. My bad, I thought it was a done deal :o Maybe he'll get his chance in the Arsenal first team instead - not. :p
eirebhoy
08/08/2006, 10:20 AM
http://www.safc.com/news/?page_id=10119
Niall Quinn has decided against signing Arsenal teenager Anthony Stokes on a season-long loan.
After careful consideration, the Sunderland boss has opted to let the striker, 18, go back to the Emirates Stadium.
Stokes trained with the Black Cats for a week, playing in a friendly against South Korea Under-20s last week.
Quinn confirmed: "Anthony is a young player who needs games now and we can't promise him that. I think Arsenal will loan him to a club who will guarantee him a game, week in, week out.
"I've a lot of good forwards here and he isn't, in my opinion anyway, ready to dislodge the ones that I will have in the team.
"We don't have a reserve team in a league here so I can't give games unless we arrange friendlies, so all in all it was best if he returned - but he's a good player."
Apparantly Sunderland are going to bring in Kevin Phillips.
Irish_Praha
08/08/2006, 10:45 AM
Yeah it's probably better if he goes to a club where he is at least 3rd choice striker or even League 1 where he could be first choice.
princeofoslo
09/08/2006, 11:21 AM
I hope I am wrong here but I have a nasty feeling that Stokes is on the way to join the Barret, Thorton, etc, club. Wenger has no problems about playing young players and now he is trying to ship him out? Of course Arsenal are saying goood things about him.
You are not going to get someone to take a player off your hands if you say he is no good.
Even Sunderland don't want him and that with a sympathic manger to Irish players in Quinn.
I have been very impressed when I have seen him play on Tv or those videoclips from the net. But I wonder if he is one of those big lads who shine against their own level but who don't develop anymore physically or football wise
drummerboy
09/08/2006, 11:29 AM
I posted here about a month ago that Arsenal wanted rid of him. However I was a bit sceptical. With Sunderland turning him down, it could be true. Hopefully not though as he is still young enough to turn things around.
eirebhoy
09/08/2006, 11:43 AM
I hope I am wrong here but I have a nasty feeling that Stokes is on the way to join the Barret, Thorton, etc, club. Wenger has no problems about playing young players and now he is trying to ship him out?
It doesn't look like they're trying to ship him out to me. They've loaned out Gilbert to Cardiff and Bendtner to Birmingham. Preston wanted to take Lupoli on loan but he rejected them. Wenger seems to be happy to loan out his reserve players this summer.
4tothefloor
09/08/2006, 8:14 PM
It doesn't look good for Stokes. Arsenal have just lost Denis Bergkamp, Pires and look like losing Reyes. Three attacking players. Ljungberg is injured for the first few weeks of the season, a player Stokes has been likened to. Surely if Stokes was as good as he is said to be, Arsenal would be holding on to him and giving him his shot. They did it with Fabreges, Adebayor (sic) and Toure. I think Wenger doesn't rate him highly enough. If he did he'd at least give him a chance.
John83
09/08/2006, 8:47 PM
Not everyone is ready at that age 4tothefloor. He might chuck him in in a year or two.
Or not, obviously.
eirebhoy
09/08/2006, 11:46 PM
4tothefloor - He hasn't even made the Carling cup team yet. Lupoli and Bendtner are Arsenal's first choice strikers in the reserves and they're allowed go on loan. Don't read too much into it. Toure was a 21 year old Ivory Coast international when Arsenal signed him. I think you're getting Adebayor mixed up with someone else, he was a big money buy in January. Fabregas - You've got a point there but that's one player. If you haven't made the first team at 18 I wouldn't write you off. :)
FootballsKing
10/08/2006, 12:04 PM
stokes didnt go to Sunderland because he wasnt guarenteed first team football. Whats the point in going on-loan if your not guarenteed first team football. This is understandable because of the amount of Strikers sunderland have-no point in the move.
Secondly Stokes was 17 untill three weeks ago. Players like Fabregas are 1 in a million. Stokes did come on as a substitute in the Carling Cup last season, and at his age it is ridiculous to suggest he should start for Arsenal-no-one ever does. He is going on-loan over the next few weeks and then you will see what he is made off-if not then then watch the Under-21 game next Wednesday if he plays.
4tothefloor
11/08/2006, 12:17 AM
4tothefloor - He hasn't even made the Carling cup team yet.
That's what I mean by at least giving him his chance. Everyone is raving about how good he is, yet at 17/18 not even a glimpse of him at Senior level yet. How can he be that good, yet not be good enough? It's not a size issue either as he's a broad lad. What I'm saying is, is he actually as good as he's been talked up, such as the next big thing in Irish football?
eirebhoy
11/08/2006, 12:46 AM
Here's the Carling cup team that started the 1st game against Sunderland last season and their ages at the time of the match:
Almunia - 28
Eboue - 22
Cygan - 31
Campbell - 31
Senderos - 20
Larsson - 20
Muamba - 17
Song Billong - 18
Owusu-Abeyie - 19
Van Persie - 22
Lupoli - 18
Subs used:
Stokes - 17
Cregg - 19
Bendtner - 17
Subs Not Used
Poom - 33
Connolly - 18
I've just checked and Stokes was the youngest of all the players involved in Arsenal's Carling cup run last season. Larsson, Bendtner and Muamba are all on loan at Birmingham while Gilbert is on loan at Cardiff. Lupoli is allowed out on loan but seems like he wants to stay at Arsenal. I don't see the problem with Stokes. He's ahead of schedule.
Closed Account
29/08/2006, 4:53 PM
Sky Sports report on Stokes to Falkirk (http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?HLID=412966&CPID=14&title=Falkirk+seal+Stokes+swoop&lid=&channel=Football_Home&f=rss&clid=330)
SPL side Falkirk have completed the loan signing of highly-rated Arsenal striker Anthony Stokes.
The Republic of Ireland youth international will be joining John Hughes' side until January after also attracting interest from Sunderland and Colchester United over the summer.
Despite being just 18 years of age Stokes appeared in Dennis Bergkamp's testimonial in what was the first ever game played at The Emirates Stadium, and The Gunners have high hopes for the versatile forward.
The promise of first team football has seen him move to Falkirk, where he will link up with compatriots and former Arsenal trainees Stephen O'Donnell and Patrick Cregg.
Falkirk managing director George Craig expressed the club's delight at landing the promising forward from the Premiership side.
"Anthony Stokes is one of the hottest properties to have graduated from the English academy programme," said Craig.
"He is extremely highly rated by his club and the Republic of Ireland.
"It may have seemed a long time coming to sign a striker but we always maintained that we would not make knee-jerk reactions or simply make a signing on the basis that a player in question had a profile.
"We believe at Falkirk it is important that any player who joins the club has the qualities we look for to assist us to achieve our ambition."
Stokes has joined a number of young Gunners in moving away from The Emirates Stadium on loan over the summer, with Fabrice Muamba, Nicklas Bendtner, Sebastian Larsson, Arturo Lupoli, Vito Mannone, Kerrea Gilbert and Carlos Vela all furthering their experience with other clubs.
tetsujin1979
29/08/2006, 9:48 PM
story on Falkirk's official site: http://www.falkirkfc.co.uk/falkirk-news/falkirk-sign-highly-rated-arsenal-youngster.html
Looks like the u-21 game will be on sky sports:
Falkirk fans should tune into Sky Sports on Friday evening for their first glimpse of the new signing in action, playing for his Country at Under-21 level.
youngirish
30/08/2006, 9:01 AM
If Stokes can only get a loan move to Falkirk then even at this early stage of his career I think he's going to turn out to be another Graham Barrett. If he chose a move to Falkirk over a Championship side (which I seriously doubt considering one of those mentioned, Sunderland, turned down an option to loan him) then he needs to look at himself and the people around him advising him.
After a bright start for Arsenal he faded a lot last year anyway so I don't see him being good enough to be much of an asset to Ireland.
bmozza
30/08/2006, 9:17 AM
Let's see how it gets on at Falkirk before we totally dismiss his chances! He's only a young lad and it seems he's been promised a good shot at the first team up there, which is probably why he went there instead of facing another battle for first team football somewhere else.
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