Arsenal Youngster Makes Move Permanent

Steve Tilson's second summer signing sees the permanent arrival of Nicky Nicolau.

The Arsenal youngster, who was out of contract at Highbury this summer, has decided that his future is best spent, in the immediate period at any rate, in southeast Essex, where he completed the 2003/4 campaign with nine consecutive appearances. With England international Ashley Cole and promising youngsters Gael Clichy and Juan in front of him at the Premiership champions, the 20-year-old has made the decision to leave north London.

Nicolau, whose first eight matches were in his preferred position of left-back before he completed the campaign against Torquay United on the left-wing, never made a first-team appearance for the side that have just completed the entire Premiership season with losing a fixture at all, will now fill the left-back void vacated by Jamie Stuart and Neil Jenkins at the end of last week.

Indeed, the departure of that duo only served as an indictaion that the Camden Town-born talent of Greek extraction would be making his time at Southend permanent, despite rumours that clubs of a higher standing would make a move as soon as he became available.

Nicolau himself is unflustered at the prospect of remaining at Southend, which is, of course, closer to his home than many clubs. Speaking a couple of weeks ago he said, “I’ve enjoyed my time with Southend and I’ve enjoyed playing first-team football. I would definitely be interested in staying here”. The youngster, who revealed that he really liked the club, now intends to help the Shrimpers reach the Second Division with a series of consistent displays. Blues are still waiting to hear back from Lewis Hunt, who was also offered a one-year contract to remain after a successful loan period.

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com