谁有兴趣就看看吧,太长,我就不翻译了...
oung Guns - Jordan Fowler
- Jordan Fowler -
As the first team consistently improve, the younger players trying to make their mark can feel their task becoming tougher and tougher, that's the view of 19 year-old midfielder Jordan Fowler.
"They seem to be raising the standards all the time," he says. "That means that if we want to have a chance of making it as a professional at Arsenal, we have to prove ourselves to be that much better than what may have been required a season or two ago," adds Jordan, who is mid-way through a professional contract signed in the summer of 2002.
The prospect of competing against the likes of Patrick Vieira, Edu and the like would scare many off to make a career at another club, but not Jordan. "The way I see it is that for me to be given a three year contract by Arsenal at the end of my first year as a scholar suggests that it was felt that I had the potential to make it.
"From then on it's up to me to rise to that challenge to show that I am good enough.
"It would be easy for me to walk away and play as a professional at a club that doesn't have the world class players like we have at Arsenal, but that's not me. My attitude," explains the tough-tackling midfielder, "is that I owe it to myself to do my best and if that isn't seen to be good enough, at least I know that I have done everything that I could do to make things happen for me."
The Hainault based youngster has had the opportunity to gauge his ability close up: "I've trained and played with the first team quite a few times. They are even more relaxed in training and show even more ability than they may show on a match day.
"Edu, for example has got such fast feet he seems to create space out of nothing. When I'm with the first team and then I go back to my own age group I almost instantly feel like a better player.
"My confidence seems to grow and it helps me push on. I think the policy of bringing players into the first team set up for short periods at a time definitely pays dividends. I've got a taste of what could be and that makes me even more determined to make it happen," he declares.
The youngster plays in a holding role in midfield but he is just as comfortable as a centre back and has in numerous games played in both positions. "I think that being able to step in to a different role when required is vital and it makes for a better all-round player," he insists.
Jordan first made his impact on the Reserves last season and has played regularly this year, but he is looking forward to playing a part in the Under-19s, whom he has recently captained. "We're in the semi-finals of the FA Academy trophy and we want to win it, pure and simple.
"There are some who say that it would be good to win the last trophy before the Academy goes to one Under-18 team next year, but that is only a small part. We just want to win. The fact that the match is against Southampton," continues Jordan. "Is a factor because some of the younger lads played in the match where they knocked us out of the FA Youth Cup, and we were there watching. But, in the end who ever it was against, a win would be our aim and we would not need any other incentive."
The change in the youth team set up next year means that there will be a lot of players competing for Reserve team football "That's true and I hope to play a part in the Reserves but I really believe that I need to go on loan next season.
"I think I need to build up on my first team experience in a competitive setting. Hopefully," he concludes, "I can find somewhere for me where I'm going to benefit from the experience and come back an improved player."
LIAM ON JORDAN...
"Jordan like a few of the boys in the academy, has suffered with a few injuries over the past year or two. But as a player he's a strong lad and very good in the tackle. He is a good passer although I would say he needs to be more ambitious sometimes, and look to pass it forward more.
We are looking forward to getting him consistently fit, because he will be an important member of the Under-19 side that takes on Southampton in the play-offs. He's built up a lot of experience and can also play in a variety of positions, which is obviously another plus point."
