Gooner Talk

Highly-rated Hearts of Oak youngster Tawrick Jibril is back at his parent club after trials with some of Europe’s elite – including Arsenal – did not materialize.

The 16-year-old midfielder attracted a lot of foreign interest during the summer window and apparently caught the eye of Arsenal’s chief scout Steve Rowley.

Reports claimed that Jibril underwent a two-week trial at Emirates Stadium in June with a view to a permanent move if he impressed Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.

Torric’s agent Prince Omar Ibrahim revealed then:

“We have received the documents from Arsenal inviting Torric for trials from June.

“We have taken the future development of the player into consideration and we all know that there is coach better than Arsene Wenger who can do the work.”

Jibril, 16, came to prominence when he was picked by Claude LeRoy for the home based national teams in their qualifiers for the Africa Nations Championships.

“Staying out of the team’s pre-season training program was never an act of indiscipline,” he told Hearts News.

“I sought permission from the club to go on trials in Europe. What I set out to do with these European clubs did not materialize so I don’t think it is wrong to be back where I belong.”

“For me it is all about maintaining my focus and taking the rest of the training activities very serious and I will surely pass the test. There is so much I have to grasp before I catch up with the squad but I hope I would not take long to get there,” he concluded.

The teenage sensation is regarded as the most exciting young player in Africa, and although he is only 16, has already made a handful of appearances for Accra’s first team.

Update: Portsmouth have asked to extend the trial of Jibril to another fortnight.

Speedy French fullback Armand Traore will be desperate to give Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger a title boost tonight, as the 18-year-old’s new Pompey side take on Manchester United at Fratton Park.

Traore, 18, makes his Portsmouth debut against United following last week’s season-long loan move from Arsenal.

The former France Under 17 international, who replaces left-back Hermann Hreidarsson at Fratton Park this evening, said:

“Obviously I had a chat with Arsene and he is going to be watching. I will speak to him after and some of the players, so I will be doing my best to get a result. This is a good chance to prove myself. Harry said he believes in me and I need to be strong.” Traore told The Sun.

Armand has made 18 appearances at the Emirates – most of them in the Carling Cup – since joining from Ligue 1 giants AS Monaco in late 2005.

As we revealed to you just a couple of hours ago, Portsmouth have signed Arsenal left-back Armand Traore on a season-long loan deal.

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp opted to move for the teenager after Jerome Thomas made his loan move permanent which allowed Redknapp to make another loan signing.

With Mikael Silvestre’s move from Manchester United to Arsenal, it has freed up the the Frenchman’s move to Fratton Park.

Joining Arsenal from AS Monaco, Traore, 18, has been used mainly as a reserve, although he has been a regular fixture in Wenger’s young Carling Cup team.

His first team debut came against West Bromwich Albion in October 2006, coming on as a 24th minute substitute for Emmanuel Adebayor.

He went on to start Arsenal’s League Cup Fourth Round match against Everton, played against Liverpool in the quarter finals and was praised for his performance, raiding down the left flank.

He finally got his league debut on April 5, 2008, against Liverpool and was used as a left-winger in Arsenal’s final two league games of the 2007/08 season.

Possessing great pace, and confidence on the ball, Traore was a member of the France U-17 squad. He was the only member of the squad employed by a club from outside France and is seen as a future star of the French national side.

Gooner Talk would like to wish Armand all the best with his season-long loan spell with Pompey.

Arsenal left back Armand Traore is closing in on a season-long loan move to Harry Redknapp’s side, Portsmouth.

The fleet-footed 18-year-old found himself out wide left in Arsenal’s reserves last season and slowly but surely became more comfortable and happy in the more attacking role.

With Mikael Silvestre’s move from Manchester United to Arsenal, it has freed up the the Frenchman’s move to Fratton Park.

Traore has made 18 appearances at the Emirates – most of them in the Carling Cup – since joining from Ligue 1 giants AS Monaco in late 2005.