During the preseason this summer, while the Arsenal team were warming up with the Emirates Cup, the reserves were also participating in a few summer friendlies. In matches played against Boreham Wood and AFC Wimledon there were a few trialists featured, including 17 year old Japanese youth international Ryo Miyaichi. We now know that Miyaichi will be signing a 5 year development contract in December when he turns 18. It is fantastic news for Miyaichi as a player and Arsenal could reap many rewards both on and off the pitch.
Miyaichi’s trial in the summer saw him impress, particularly in the 3-0 win over Boreham Wood. He terrorized the fullback on the left flank, using his pace and wonderful dribbling ability to great effect. His performance against AFC Wimbledon was not as impressive, but Miyaichi’s direct style of play and skill on the ball made people take notice. He is two-footed, though his stronger is his right, which adds to his versatility and he has a real eye for goal. Miyaichi first garnered attention at the FIFA U17 World Cup where he shined in an ultimately disappointing campaign for the Japanese U17 national team.
Miyaichi stands tall at 180cm, but has room for improvement on dealing with the more physical aspects of the game. At the end of his two games with the Arsenal reserves, Miyaichi headed to Ajax for a trial run. Unfortunately, in a game against SVV Schveningen he suffered a double break to his fibula after being on the receiving end of a bad tackle. I can’t think of a greater sign that he was destined to become a Gunner. The injury does not seem to be as bad as initially feared so Wenger was quick to snatch him up after he was released by Ajax. Here’s what Miyaichi had to say about his discussions with Le Boss:
“Mr Wenger told me that Arsenal is my home and I that should learn some English and come back soon. It was difficult to choose between Arsenal and Ajax, but Arsenal wanted me the most”
Arsenal haven’t signed many players from Asia, the most noteworthy being Junichi Inamoto, but in recent years they have been making their mark in Europe and in the Premier League. Many Asian players, including Keisuke Honda of Japan, turned heads at this year’s World Cup in South Africa. If Miyaichi continues his development and progresses with Arsenal, it could open many doors into the Japanese football market. Arsenal already have a bit of a Japanese connection. In 1996, Wenger enjoyed an 18 month stint in Japan managing J-League club Grampus Eight. He took them from the bottom three to runners-up and also won the Emperor’s Cup. Wenger still follows the progress of the club and recently congratulated them on their first title win under new manager (and former Wenger protege) Dragan Stojkovic.
If Arsenal uses its connections to Japan and Japanese football, there could be a plethora of opportunities to take hold of in the Japanese market. Take Manchester United for example. For the past few years they have been making great strides in cracking open the Asian market, specifically in Korea and China. They have gone on tour in the summer off season playing friendlies and meeting with football fans. United have also greatly benefitted from the success they’ve had with South Korean international Ji-Sung Park in their first team. He is immensely popular amongst Korean football fans and features heavily in United’s preseason friendlies in Asia. In China, Manchester United have available a Chinese version of their website and have launched platforms to get fans interacting with the club. They have also earned huge sums through online gambling and e-commerce. United have an estimated 20 million fans in China alone. That’s a lot of shirt sales.
There are no guarantees that Miyaichi will become a success at Arsenal, though he possesses an immense talent and looks to have a bright future ahead of him. If he is able to come through the ranks and make an impact at the club, it will provide a golden opportunity for Arsenal to expand its brand into the Japanese footballing culture. Having an established player in the squad from Japan will already enhance Arsenal’s presence and garner attention from fans who are interested in the Premier League. While baseball is still the number one sport, the J-League and football in general is becoming increasingly popular among Japanese youth. Merchandising, online forums, shirt sales, advertising, overseas tours and player appearances are all massive opportunites for Arsenal Football Club to generate tens of millions in revenue. On top of that, Arsenal can acquire even larger commercial deals by landing Japanese shirt sponsors or even a new sponsor for the stadium when the deal with the Emirates comes to an end. If you look at the Bundesliga, their clubs rely heavily on commercial deals for incoming funds, which allows them to charge lower prices at the ticket stand for the benefit of the paying supporters.
Again, there are no guarantees that Miyaichi will fulfill his potential at Arsenal. However, it is entirely possible that he could, which is exciting, especially considering the young talent we already have coming out of the Academy, plus the imminent arrival of Brazilian wunderkind Wellington Silva. On top of that, it gives Arsenal a chance to make its mark in Japan and grow its ever-increasing fanbase. The stability of the club in the present and the bright prospects that lay ahead for the future mean that Arsenal look to continue to be a mainstay in world football for many years to come.
Make sure to check out Young Guns and Arsenal Youth for more information on Academy players and youth signings.
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Category: Arsenal News, Arsene Wenger, Hello, Introductions, Manchester United, Randoms, Video
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