Arsenal recruits youth players to the top flight

Four members of Arsenal's FA Youth Cup winning side have been rewarded with professional contracts - but the Gunners have released EIGHT other players in a busy week at London Colney. London-born defenders Luke Ayling and Craig Eastmond, French stopper Ce

Four members of Arsenal's FA Youth Cup winning side have been rewarded with professional contracts - but the Gunners have released EIGHT other players in a busy week at London Colney.

London-born defenders Luke Ayling and Craig Eastmond, French stopper Cedric Evina and highly-rated goalkeeper James Shea have all put pen to paper on new deals this week.

The four were also key players in Arsenal U18s' FA Premier Academy League success last term.

Among the eight who left the club on Tuesday were Portugal U21 midfielder Amaury Bischoof, who failed to find his form or fitness in a disappointing year after arriving from Werder Bremen last summer, and Portuguese starlet Rui Fonte.

As expected, Anton Blackwood, James Dunne, Abu Ogogo, Vincent van den Berg, Rene Steer and Paul Rodgers were all told they were not being retained.