TODAY, ABOUBACAR “SECRÉTO” TRAORÉ, the defender, will become the latest Ivorian player to arrive at Beveren. He knows that, if he is good enough, he could, like Kolo Touré and Emanuel Eboué, his compatriots, one day play for Arsenal.

When Arsenal established a “technical relationship” with Beveren in 2001, for an initial five-year period, many questioned why they wanted to form a liaison with an ailing small-time club from Belgium.

Arsène Wenger was looking beyond the Continent. Belgium, with its laxer work permit regulations — it takes only two years to get an EU passport — offers a bridgehead into Africa. Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers have established links with Royal Antwerp and Cercle Bruges respectively. But it is Wenger’s and Jean-Marc Guillou’s relationship that makes the Arsenal-Beveren link special. Guillou formed his first Ivory Coast academy with support from AS Monaco, Wenger’s old club. It is now regarded as the finest source of raw talent in Africa.

In return for technical support and provision of loan players drawn from the Highbury fringes and youth ranks, Arsenal have first shout on the Ivorian talent that Guillou churns out. Eboué is actually the first Beveren player to make the move to Arsenal. Touré arrived direct from ASEC Mimosas, although it was thanks to Guillou that he fell under the Highbury radar. Other Ivorians have come over on trial — Kolo’s brother, Yaya, who is now at Metallurg Donetsk — and Arsène Ne, who trained with Arsenal during the pre-season.

Last week Beveren announced that Guillou plans to set up an academy in Thailand. Wenger will doubtless be looking on with interest.

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