Anthony Stokes (F free agent b.1988)

[eirebhoy]

It looks like we have another gem on our hands and he's only 16.



They say it takes different strokes to rule the world. Anthony Stokes is certainly unique and without doubt has the class to one day be king of planet football.

The evidence is present for all to see. He came over from Dublin last year aged barely 15. Having excelled in the age group two years above, he did the same in the Under-19s and by the end of the season had become a reserve team regular. He is a complete striker in the mould Arsenal has not seen in recent years.

Whilst it is difficult to draw comparisons, the common consensus is that he is most like Alan Shearer but the youngster tends to run past defenders more often than the England legend. With such comparisons it may be understandable if the youngster would have already thought he had made it, but Anthony’s feet are firmly on the ground.

"I feel I have learnt so much since I came to Arsenal and I am so excited at the prospect of being able to continue my progress. Before I came to Arsenal the teams I played for tended to see me as a player that they gave the ball to run at goal and score. I still do that but I have learnt that a striker’s role has more to it.

"I have learnt to hold the ball up better to bring other players in and also, especially at Arsenal, defending is the responsibility of the whole team. I was previously never expected to defend and that is why at the beginning when I first joined I would sometimes switch off when we lost the ball in attack. Now I am very aware that I have to drop back to support the midfield and work for the team to get the ball back. That part of my game is something I am trying to improve."

It is a measure of the youngster’s attacking ability that it is in his defending that he is looking to raise the standards. Anthony is always working on fine tuning his shooting, heading, running on and off the ball and general passing game, but it is fine tuning. He has immense power, a supreme football brain showing maturity way beyond his years which must have been evident to Arsène Wenger when the youngster trained with the first team when he was just 14!

"I had a couple of sessions with the first team a couple of years ago and that was very good for me,” he explains. “I also trained with them when we came back after the summer break but I have to admit that I did not feel fit enough at that point to make the most of it. Being in the same set-up as some of the world’s best players is certainly one way of learning and that was one of the reasons I joined Arsenal."

It is common knowledge that many top Premiership clubs were trying to sign the youngster whilst he was with Shelbourne, the Irish team that held Deportivo at Lansdowne Road in the Champions League earlier this month, but the Gunners always seemed destined to get their man.

"I was first spotted by Liam Brady when I was about 11 or 12. Liam used to help out with the Dublin County team and saw me in training. He approached me afterwards and asked if I would be interested in a trial with Arsenal. Of course I said yes, came over and scored a hat-trick in my first trial game. I also went and had a look at other clubs but Arsenal were by far the best. The coaching was a cut above, but the whole set up and the fact that there were so many of the world’s top players at the Club made the option easy for me."
Whilst football and the choice to join Arsenal may have been easy, it hasn’t all been a breeze for the youngster.

"Even though my parents, John and Joan, have come over and I live with them in Southgate, I did feel a bit homesick and missed my friends from Dublin. I went to see Liam to ask him if I could go back to Ireland for the weekend. To my surprise and great appreciation, Liam said that because he had gone through the same experience as me when he was a youngster, he understood exactly what I was feeling so much so he said that I should take four or five days off. That helped me so much. Whilst I had no doubts, that gesture and show of understanding confirmed I was at the right club."

Now officially a first year scholar, the youngster is looking to make an impact on the new Under-18s league and beyond.

"I hope to do well in the Under-18s team but I am looking to progress to play regularly for the reserves and hopefully get a game for the first team in the Carling Cup. I’m very excited about the coming season," enthuses the youngster, who is seemingly oblivious to the excitement he is likely to generate in the coming few months. Watch this space.

By Lambros Lambrou
http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?article=221123

Also:

A natural finisher, Anthony excelled last year, making three reserve team appearances and scoring four times from eight Under-19 appearances - all as a 15 year-old.

He scored 12 goals from 17 Under-17 outings, and netted four from two FA Youth Cup games.

The young Irishman has trained with the first team on several occasions.
Wenger isn't renowned for bringing Irish players into the first team but hopefully this is one he can't resist. He should get a few Carling cup appearances this season.

[tricky_colour]

Sounds very promising, I hope he fullfills his potential, only time
will tell, you never know with how young players will progress but
he certaintly sounds 'the business'.

They have several other young players with Irish sounding names in the
youth set-up too, some are, not too sure about the others.

Personally I don't like players with names like Paddy Murphy or
Mick O'Reilly playing for England.

It just don't sound right!

[thejollyrodger]

he sounds brilliant. But he is only 16 and were looking another 4 or 5 years till we see him playing ireland if he does make it.

shouldnt he be invovled in the irish underage set up already?

[1MickCollins]

Interesting article, thanks for posting.

[Karlos]

Coventry Reserves 3 - 2 Arsenal Reserves (http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?article=261222&lid=NewsHeadline&sub=Reserves:+Coventry+City+3+Arsenal+2+-+Match+report&navlid=&sublid=&Title=Reserves:+Coventry+City+3+Arsenal+2+-+Match+report)

Irish youth player Anthony Stokes was on target twice for the Arsenal reserves tonight after coming on a substitute in a game Vs Coventry. Former Arsenal Striker & Irish international Graham Barrett was also on target twice for the home side who edged out the gunners in a tight game.

Stokes is having a good run in the reserves at the moment and scoring goals. It can do him no harm playing alongside the likes of Aliadierre, Lupoli & Eboue who have all recently got run outs for the first time. Nice to see Barrett scoring too. A pity he never made it at Arsenal but was never going to edge out Henry, Bergkamp, Kanu and Wiltord during his time at the club.

[eirebhoy]

Stokes' 7th goal for the reserves this season. Pretty good considering he has only started 10 or 11 games and played in midfield in his last 5 or so matches.

edit - Stokes second sound something special. He ran with the ball from a kick off, beat two players and scored. :)

[byrnie20]

Has anyone had the pleasure of seeing him live ?

[drummerboy]

Barrett’s career seems to be going nowhere.

Saw Stokes recently for Ireland u-17. Have to say he seemed to be taking a lot out of he ball but he is a real talent.

[eirebhoy]

Barrett’s career seems to be going nowhere.
He had a row with his manager because he wants to play up front and ever since has been playing reserve football. We should regard him as a striker if he wants to be which means he's behind a few players now for a callup.

[drinkfeckarse]

He actually didn't look too bad for us on the right but from what I've seen, he's nowhere near the mark required for a striker. So if he wants to be regarded as a striker and see his career nosedive, so be it.

[Ralph]

Don't worry about Barrett, he will find some club to develop what he has and thats a lot of quality. He played started 3 times for arsenal in Premiership about 4 seasons ago, the same season he captained arsenal to the youth cup. He got glandular fever at the start of the following season, it wasn't diagnosed and his performances were crap, he lost a whole season, by the time he came back aliadiare had moved ahead of him. I believe he doesn't drink or smoke and he has a good attitude, he will come good.

And by the way, Aliadare, Lupoli are muck and will never make the grade so Wenger would want to open his eyes.

[eirebhoy]

And by the way, Aliadare, Lupoli are muck and will never make the grade so Wenger would want to open his eyes.
Lupoli? He has a goal a game for the acadamy this season.

[Ralph]

That is my opinion, i saw enough of him in the carling cup games and fa cup last week. He does not contribute to the game at all and he will not get away with it in the first team. Aliadare is similar when play is being created he seem to be running away from it, when quincy came on against sheffield united last week he got on the ball more in 2 mins than lupoli did in the previous 45.

[eirebhoy]

The thing is though, Quincy has no end product. He has 4 goals for the acadamy this season, Lupoli has 20. Stokes has 10.

Does anyone have any news on Cregg's injury btw? He has been out for some time now.

[livehead1]

The thing is though, Quincy has no end product. He has 4 goals for the acadamy this season, Lupoli has 20. Stokes has 10.


people said c.ronaldo had no end product..not doing too bad for himself

[stojkovic]

Has anyone had the pleasure of seeing him live ?
Saw him a few times playing for Shels u-14s and u-15s. Was very big and strong for his age. At the moment he is still eligible for u-16 football until May so its great he's playing reserve football already.

After Arsenals season I think we could see him in the first team next season.

[byrnie20]

cheers for that,lets hope your right,he was in Arsenal's 2nd Champions league squad,for what it is worth now.

[Don Vito]

Looks to be close to getting first team debut for the Gunners in the Carling Cup against Sunderland on Tuesday night. Hopefully he’ll get a run, there’s plenty of competition for a place though with Lupoli and Bendtner (big fella from Denmark who’s got 9 goals from 7 starts for Arsenal reserves, Stokes hasn’t scored for reserves yet). Don’t want to be building him up but its great to see him making it in the Arsenal academy and these are dark days for Irish football so its good to any young players making progress. Didn’t see any of the U19 games in Cork but he was supposed to have been very good.

[SaucyJack]

Looks to be close to getting first team debut for the Gunners in the Carling Cup against Sunderland on Tuesday night. Hopefully he’ll get a run, there’s plenty of competition for a place though with Lupoli and Bendtner (big fella from Denmark who’s got 9 goals from 7 starts for Arsenal reserves, Stokes hasn’t scored for reserves yet). Don’t want to be building him up but its great to see him making it in the Arsenal academy and these are dark days for Irish football so its good to any young players making progress. Didn’t see any of the U19 games in Cork but he was supposed to have been very good.



they still playing Stokes on the wing?

[Don Vito]

they still playing Stokes on the wing?

No idea to be honest Jack, my limited knowledge of how he's getting on comes from the Arsenal website and various other sites, so details on formations and tactics are sketchy. Unless you're willing to pay for Arsenal.com premium services which I'm not its the best you'll get!

[nismo]

to be honest stokes didnt impress me in cobh after all the talk about him

[paul_oshea]

well his father and himself were up in the wishing well palmers green a while back and a mate of mine went chatting to his auld fella, who said that if they didnt move him upfront, they(his father) would be looking to move him on in the next year or so. the aul fella was adamant on this saying that he is wasted on the wing and isnt happy playing there as he is a nautral striker.

[nismo]

ALSO HE SEEMED TO WINGE A LOT AND WHEN IRELAND GOT A PENO HE WAS demanding to take it and tried to grab the ball off another irish lad as he was placing it to take it!!

[eirebhoy]

they still playing Stokes on the wing?
For the reserves but I think he plays up front for the U18s. He got a couple of goals in the top 10 reserve goals of last season (Cregg got one aswell):
http://home20.inet.tele.dk/arsenalclips6/ArsenalReserves.wmv

[thejollyrodger]

to be honest stokes didnt impress me in cobh after all the talk about him

Same here, im getting tired of the next big player who is about to break into the national team. Strokes and mac geady have it all to prove

[Peadar]

if they didnt move him upfront, they(his father) would be looking to move him on in the next year or so.

I would put my house on Stokes not making a breakthrough at Arsenal. He may get a few games in the Carling Cup but there's too much competition at Arsenal. He'll end up at Norwich or somewhere.
Sad but likely.

[jbyrne]

to be honest stokes didnt impress me in cobh after all the talk about him

all reports about the 4 - 1 win over italy spoke very highly of him

[M@ttitude]

For the reserves but I think he plays up front for the U18s. He got a couple of goals in the top 10 reserve goals of last season (Cregg got one aswell):
http://home20.inet.tele.dk/arsenalclips6/ArsenalReserves.wmv
Speed, Skill and finish.. He's got it all. Fantastic stuff.

[joema]

For the reserves but I think he plays up front for the U18s. He got a couple of goals in the top 10 reserve goals of last season (Cregg got one aswell):
http://home20.inet.tele.dk/arsenalclips6/ArsenalReserves.wmv

Thanks for that eirbhoy, he looks very good from what ive seen there:)

[nismo]

all reports about the 4 - 1 win over italy spoke very highly of him

everyone in the team was spoken about highly after that game!

[eirebhoy]

everyone in the team was spoken about highly after that game!
He set up 2 or 3 of the goals. McCaffrey named 4 players who stook out in qualifying and Stokes was one of them. Maybe he had an off day in Cobh. I've never seen him play 90 minutes so can only go on reports.

[dr_peepee]

Stook???..... I think you've O.D'd on Bo Selecta's Mel B :)

[drummerboy]

Seen him play against Slovakia I think in Whitehall last season and was disappointed with him. Maybe he had an off day.

[tetsujin1979]

I would put my house on Stokes not making a breakthrough at Arsenal. He may get a few games in the Carling Cup but there's too much competition at Arsenal. He'll end up at Norwich or somewhere.
Sad but likely.
Unfortunately I agree with you there Peader, look at the lads that have had to move on from Arsenal in recent years to get regular football - Stack, Upson, Pennant, Kilkenny, Bentley, Aliadiere, Barrett - there's the making of a decent side right there! I do hope he makes it at Arsenal, but I'm not convinced he will.

[Peadar]

I do hope he makes it at Arsenal, but I'm not convinced he will.

Well if he trusts Wenger and allows himself to develop as a right-sided midfielder then he may have a chance, but if he listens to his father and insists that he should play up front, he'll be gone within two seasons.

Arsenal struggle on the right when Ljungberg is out.

[eirebhoy]

I read comments from McCaffrey saying he'd only ever player Stokes up front. The reason he plays on the wing for Arsenal reserves is not because they see him as a winger but because Lupoli and Bendner (sp?) are first choice.

[Peadar]

The reason he plays on the wing for Arsenal reserves is not because they see him as a winger but because Lupoli and Bendner (sp?) are first choice.

I've heard an opinion to the contrary. Arsene Wenger likes to move players from to wing to forward positions and vice versa.
Thierry Henry and Anto Reyes being two good examples.
I've been told more than once that Wenger wants cover for Ljungberg and Stokes has been mentioned as a consideration for that role.

[eirebhoy]

I've heard an opinion to the contrary. Arsene Wenger likes to move players from to wing to forward positions and vice versa.
Thierry Henry and Anto Reyes being two good examples.
I've been told more than once that Wenger wants cover for Ljungberg and Stokes has been mentioned as a consideration for that role.
I'll take your word for it but he plays up front for the U18s.

[Peadar]

he plays up front for the U18s.

Doubt Arsene Wenger is too concerned about that. He will always do his own thing. Playing up front, Stokes has no future at Arsenal. :(

[mchurl]

it's up to him to prove himself and if he really wants to play up front he has gotta show he can do a job for arsenal up there

[Don Vito]

I would put my house on Stokes not making a breakthrough at Arsenal. He may get a few games in the Carling Cup but there's too much competition at Arsenal. He'll end up at Norwich or somewhere.
Sad but likely.

Don’t really expect him to make the grade at Arsenal either to be honest with the quality they have, and Lupoli and Bendtner appear to be first choice for the reserves. But so what if he has to drop a division to get his break, it’s worked out fairly well for Elliot and we’re not exactly blessed with strikers either.

Anyone got any team news on tonight yet? Still not confirmed if he is in the squad, I can’t even remember where I read he was in contention for a game.

[Peadar]

Anyone got any team news on tonight yet? Still not confirmed if he is in the squad...

He's definitely in the squad, the team wont be named until this evening.

Mart POOM
Manuel ALMUNIA
Robin VAN PERSIE
Alexandre SONG
Pascal CYGAN
Philippe SENDEROS
Sol CAMPBELL
Quincy OWUSU-ABEYIE
Emmanuel EBOUE
Sebastian LARSSON
Nicklas BENDTNER
Matthew CONNOLLY
Patrick CREGG
Arturo LUPOLI
Fabrice MUAMBA
Anthony STOKES

[Karlos]

I seen a good bit of Stokes while I was at Home Farm and he is a very tricky skillful player however at present he does not have the presence that Niclaus or Arturo and Quincy do to be considered first choice. It should be noted that he is a year or so younger than the others and will be given some time however I have sincere doubts that he will make it at Arsenal in either position mentioned - up front he is behind, Van Persie, Quincy, Lupoli, Bendter and Aliadierre, just for a place on the bench. Wide Right he is behind Ljungberg, Fabregas (who i'm told will move there when a central mid is bought in January) and the boy who many believe will be close to first choice this time next year - Ryan Smith who is on loan at Lecister City in the Chmapionship. Had Ryan not been on loan, I wonder if Stokes would even be playing for the reserves at the moment. Ryan's injury last year gave Stokes many more games at reserve level than usual, I believe.

[Peadar]

Fabregas (who i'm told will move there when a central mid is bought in January)

As much as I admire him, I don't think he's creative enough on the right to be the automatic start for Arsenal, in that position.

[Karlos]

you might be right there Peadar, but I've heard 'Le Boss' reckons he can play there - he did play almost all of the second half of the season there when Ljungberg was injured and Gilberto came back.

I'd personally prefer him in the centre but ya just never know what Arsene has in mind.

[Ozymandias]

Wenger has said he is like Alan Shearer with pace...high praise indeed..lets just watch this space...if he is good enough he will come through

[John83]

I've heard an opinion to the contrary. Arsene Wenger likes to move players from to wing to forward positions and vice versa.
Thierry Henry and Anto Reyes being two good examples. Ljungberg and Pires are both former strikers too from what I've heard, though perhaps not ever under Wenger. Given how Arsenal play, I suspect that's because Wenger likes his attackers to be able to float across the line, making them very hard to mark. Anyone who has succeeded in both positions will be fast, a good dribbler and a good shot. That fit the profile of an Arsenal attacker at all? :D


if he is good enough he will come through That's a bit obvious, isn't it? :p

Arsenal's standards are very high. We'll just have to wait and see.

[dr_peepee]

I've heard an opinion to the contrary. Arsene Wenger likes to move players from to wing to forward positions and vice versa.
Thierry Henry and Anto Reyes being two good examples.
I've been told more than once that Wenger wants cover for Ljungberg and Stokes has been mentioned as a consideration for that role.

I vaguely remember reading a quote where Wenger compared him to Shearer and said he was being played out of position on his instruction to bring on his all round game

[tetsujin1979]

Ljungberg and Pires are both former strikers too from what I've heard, though perhaps not ever under Wenger. Given how Arsenal play, I suspect that's because Wenger likes his attackers to be able to float across the line, making them very hard to mark. Anyone who has succeeded in both positions will be fast, a good dribbler and a good shot. That fit the profile of an Arsenal attacker at all? :D

That's a bit obvious, isn't it? :p

Arsenal's standards are very high. We'll just have to wait and see.
I remember Ljungberg won midfielder of the year in Sweden before he moved to Arsenal, so he may have been a striker at one point, but it wasn't Wenger who converted him to midfield.

[Karlos]

I remember Ljungberg won midfielder of the year in Sweden before he moved to Arsenal, so he may have been a striker at one point, but it wasn't Wenger who converted him to midfield.

Wenger converted him to a right midfielder. Ljungberg has stated in numerous interviews how he still believes his best position is down the middle behind a front man as a deep lying striker where he played in Sweden. He wasn't a stiker as such but he was far from a right sided midfield player. He actually came on up front on his debut against Manchester United (and lobbed Schemical!):)