This "Arsenal kids" myth longer than their trophyless run

zocoss SG

THIS "Arsenal kids" myth has gone on longer than their trophyless run.

Now here's a kid: Theo Walcott...

Following Arsenal's win against the mighty Reading - their second in nine Premier League games (the other three points coming against brilliant Bolton), Arsene Wenger came out with this pearl: "If this young team stays together it can have a great future."

Anyone else getting bored of this myth about Arsenal's "kids"? They seem to have been young for about five years now.

Here are some of the "kids" who played at the Emirates on Saturday: Lehmann - 38, Toure - 27, Gallas - 30, Gilberto - 31, Adebayor - 24, Van Persie - 24, Hleb - 27.

...while Fabregas (left) also qualifies but Gallas and Hleb don't....

Fabregas, Clichy, Walcott (8 PL starts this season) and Song (2 PL starts this season) can still be considered youngsters but for Wenger to continually drone on about how young and inexperienced Arsenal are is insulting to anyone in possession of a functioning brain.

Let's also not forget Eduardo (25), Rosicky (27), Eboue (25), Almunia (30), Flamini (24).

If we're comparing them to pensioners, then yes, they're kids. Otherwise, it's time to bury the "Arsenal kids" myth.

glacer SG

Adebayor, Flamini and V.Persie still kids what..24 only leh..

kopiosatu SG

i think people have forgotten that footballers are at their peak around 28

so anything lower i would consider still "young"

felirox SG

hleb doesnt look 27 i swear.

iceFatboy SG

Adebayor, Flamini and V.Persie still kids what..24 only leh..

24 kids? I think only if they are in the early 20s like 20 -22 lah.

then U21s? toddlers??

glacer SG

24 kids? I think only if they are in the early 20s like 20 -22 lah.

then U21s? toddlers??

To me, i think that 24 are still considered kids in the football world, why? any problem with that? its my thinking, not yours

Sienx SG

hleb doesnt look 27 i swear.

true i thought he was 22-24 though lol

zocoss SG

I feel that those between the age of 16 to 21 should be consider kids... after 21 yrs of age... I think they should be consider as young adults already and when they reach 25, they can be consider as mature players...

Also, I disagree that most players peak at around 28 thesedays... Perhaps in the past but nowadays, i think 25 would be more appropriate in general... Maybe some could still do well at 28 but many may not be able to be at the highest level of their game or in other words, "peak at".

We look at players like Harry Kewell 29, Damien Duff 29 and maybe even Steven Gerrard who will be 28 next month... These players were at their peak at 24, 25 but today, they can only show flashes of skill once in a while... I think the days of players peaking at 28 is a very small portion in present day football... Many peak at around 25 and start to lose it when they reach 30... Example like Henry, Vieira, Shevchenko are just some of these...