Jay to play a part in Arsenal's future? I hope so! (Jay Simpson)

Member Name: ld75454

Product:	Jay Simpson
Date:	23/06/09 (162 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Pace, power, loves Arsenal.

Disadvantages: Lack of first team experience

Who would you expect to have scored the first competitive hat-trick at the Emirates stadium? Thierry Henry maybe? Perhaps you might think it was Emmanuel Adebayor? Or the Dutchman Robin Van Persie? If you guessed any of these players then you would be wrong. It was none other than 20 year old Jay Simpson during an FA Youth Cup game in February 2007. Who is that I here many of you ask. Well read below and you'll find out.

Jay Simpson was born in Enfield, England on December 1st, 1988. He joined Arsenal Football Club at just 9 years of age. His first step in the right direction was when he played for the under 18's aged just 13. Quite an achievement, I think you'll agree. After playing at this level for some time, he stepped up to the reserve league and was playing regularly for the team. He had caught the eye so much that he got a place on the bench for a Carling Cup game although he didn't quite make it onto the field. But even the fact that he had made it to be bench showed that Arsene Wenger liked him as this is the way that Arsenal youngsters climb through the ranks at Arsenal Football Club.

Jay was playing week in week out for the reserve team and the next logical step in his development was to go out on loan. He joined League One side Millwall on loan from Arsenal in August 2007 with the intention of him returning in January 2008 however this was extended to the end of the season due to his success at the club. He made his first team debut as a substitute in a defeat to Huddersfield Town and scored his first goal is a defeat to Swansea City. But this is where the negatives end for Jay's time at Millwall. In 44 appearances with the side, Jay scored eight goals. In addition to this he won League One's PFA Fans player of the year award in 2008. This is most definitely a big achievement for the young man.

His loan spell at Millwall was a very important stage in his career and I have read numerous interviews with Jay Simpson whereby he states that the best decision he had ever made was to go out on loan. It is clear to see that when he returned after a year at the League One club, his game had developed hugely. Instead of playing regularly in the reserve league for Arsenal, he was getting first team experience in a more senior league which developed his game massively.

Simpson is a prime example of why Arsenal sends their youth players out on loan and the value in which they can gain from such an experience. When he loan spell was completed, Jay returned to Arsenal and spent the fast half of the year back in the Reserves and in the Carling Cup team following a very successful pre-season with the first team. This included getting the winning goal against Barnet and a number of impressive performances whilst in Austria with the squad. He made his first team debut coming on as a substitute in a Carling Cup game against Sheffield United and scored his first two goals in the same competition against Wigan Athletic during his first start for the club. I think that during these two games, Arsenal fans got to see a glimpse of exactly what this young forward has got to offer. And it is quite a lot.

Jay signed on loan for West Bromich Albion in January 2009 for the second half of the season after he signed a new long term contract with Arsenal. Just three days after signing on loan, Simpson made his West Bromich Albion debut as a substitute in an FA Cup game and his first goal came during the replay of this game against Peterborough United. He went on to score his first Premier League goal in a draw against Hull City which I must admit pleased me immensely as I have to say that I am not a big Phil Brown fan. Jay appeared a total of 10 times for West Brom and scored twice during his time there.

I think that this experience was absolutely invaluable for the powerful young striker as he got to experience life playing in the Premier League albeit not for his parenting club. It was unlikely that if he had stayed at Arsenal he wouldn't have got a great deal of playing time. Unfortunately, Jay was unable to prevent them from losing their battle against relegation although it was clear from the games that he played that he was a bright spark in the team, always bursting with energy and making exciting forward runs into the box.

Jay Simpson is an incredible example of the type of players that are coming through the ranks at the Arsenal academy. He is extremely highly rated by Arsene Wenger and from what I have seen of him playing for both West Bromwich Albion and the Arsenal Reserves, I cannot help but agree. He comes across as a really nice lad who is completely focused on his football career with great determination and a superb attitude.

At 5"11 Jay Simpson isn't the tallest but he is a powerful striker who also has a great deal of pace. He has lightning speed pace combined with a great deal of power which means that he is going to be quite a handful when he gets a little bit of experience behind him.

As well as playing as a forward, Jay can also be utilised on the right wing. This was shown throughout his loan spell at Millwall and he developed his ability to time runs into the box to perfection and link up with the midfield more effectively. In doing so, you can see that he is now more experienced and confident in the role as a striker.

Jay's boyhood hero is none other than Arsenal legend Ian Wright, a favourite with all Arsenal fans. We can only hope that he is half as good as Wrighty and he will be extremely successful with the club.

Will Jay Simpson make it at Arsenal like his idol? Does he really have the potential to make a name for himself at a top four club? I really would like to think so. I think he is a fantastic striker that has surprised maybe people with the progress he has made, particularly whilst on loan at Millwall. But he has to beat off competition from others like Robin Van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor, Nicklas Bendtner, Theo Walcott and Carlos Vela first, as they are further along the pecking order than he is at present.

Arsene Wenger has described him has being a big surprise for him. Can he be a big surprise for Arsenal fans next season and provide us with the big centre forward we seen to be craving right now? Should the quota whereby a team has to field a certain amount of home grown players come into play soon, I am sure that Jay will play a big part in Arsenal's future and it will be nice to see an academy prospect make it through the ranks. It is in his hands to prove to Arsene Wenger in pre-season that he is ready to make the step up and start playing a part in Arsenal's title challenge and their endeavour to bring trophies to Arsenal.

Summary: A young man with a very bright future in front of him.