Reading 1-1 Arsenal (Reserves) Match Report

Arsenal drew 1-1 with Champions Reading, in a tough away game marked with late controversy, Goal’s either side of Half time from Jack Wilshere, and then Leroy Lita, made things level.

The Confirmed Arsenal Team

Mannone
Rodgers Bartley-Nordtveit (c)- Traore
Ogogo- Eastmond- Thomas –Wilshere
Fonte – Barazite

Subs: Szczesny, Ayling, (Cruise, Murphy 70) (Freeman 80)

The Confirmed Reading Team

Federici
De La Cruz (c) – Golbourne – Bennett – Rosenior
Kebe – Karacan – Bozanic – Convey
Lita – Long

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Arsenal started the half kicking into the wind, nervously, Scott Golbourne got away from Right back Paul Rodgers and crossed deep in to the box, which was gathered well by Mannone .

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, took over the role as the sides play-maker, but his confidence on the ball caught him out Irish striker Shane Long hussled the ball from Jay but his deflected effort flew over. Lita’s flick from corner was cleared off the line by the energetic Wilshere.

Rosiener then gave Craig Eastmond a “welcome to Reserves football” present, with a clash of head’s, the ball then broke for Kebe’s who burst past past Wilshere and then Emmanuel-Thomas before feeding Long who blazed over, the Gunners were creating little but standing firm.

Bennett was then left alone on a corner, but could not steer his header goal bound, under pressure from Bartley, who cleared long to Traore his energy and pace too him around the back of the Reading backline, his cross was met by Ogogo who under pressure headed over,

Barazite, Wilshere, Thomas Fonte all linked up in an excellent move on the fifteen minute mark, it was started by flowing passing from Wilshere who fed Barazite the Dutch man he took the ball under his spell and jinked in to the area ala Henry, but curled over.

The first 15 minutes were fustrating for both teams, Mannone’s kicking was not helping matters, but Reading were showing thier class, Lita twisted and turned Nordtveit, and he forced a amazing point blank save from Mannone.

Silky passing involving back heels and skills between Ogogo, Rodgers and Barazite opening the defence up, but Irish defender Bennett cleared well.

Kebe then flew past Wilshere, but the experienced Traore helped him out last ditch tackle, Whenever Reading tried to come frorward they found Nordtveit had organised the backline well, Jay Thomas’s then won a free kick 25 yards out, his looping ball was headed in to the keeper’s gloves by Fonte, who darted away from Bennett, Kyle Bartley was then winded, under pressure from Long, the physical battle between the teenager and the Republic of Ireland striker became fancianting.

Federici then volleyed a long ball forward which caused Arsenal real problem’s, Long twisted and turned Nordtveit but shot wide, the Gunners were holding on as the Royals looked for a half time lead.

Rugged Wilshere was all over trying to make things happen as the game broke out into a scrappy affair, Convey was trying to dictake but Eastmond kept a close eye on the American.

Arsenal were willing to put themsilves about, diving in for tackles but Reading moved it past the flying bodies of the Gunners, on the half an hour mark, the fans began cheering, as Luke Freeman went to warm up, along the touchline, but then attention turned to the pitch Fonte was then put through, but under pressure from Goldbourne he was forced wide and the chance dissapeared.

On 31 minutes, Nordtveit gave Lita some space, and he turned and drilled the ball in to the side netting a warning of things to come for the Norwegian.

Kebe then got around the back after Traore was exposed, and just as he was about to square it to Lita, Nordtveit cleared well. The corner was put behind by Bartley, the second one well saved by Mannone, in a rugged display.

Lita then went down under what appeared to be a kick from Nordtviet, the ball went out wide to Kebe, he played it in to the box, and Convey clipped his effort of the post from 3 yardsout.

Lita then had the next chance, rolling Nordtveit, and firing hard at Mannone who handled well under exreme pressure.

The final 10 minutes of the half, petered out in to passing and battling, but two fouls from Craig Eastmond gave two free kick chances, the first wasted but , and the second bulleted away by Wilshere who defended well on the edge of his own box.

But Arsenal would take the lead in first half stoppage time, De La Cruz for all his experienced waited for his keeper to come out and collect a Nordtveit long pass on the edge of the area, but just as Federici came to get the ball, Fonte knicked the ball and kept cool, clam and collected to pick out Barazite, who under pressure slotted the ball across the face of the goal, for Jack Wilshere to tap the ball in on his left foot, his first Reserves goal and his 12th of the term.

Arsenal got the second half underway, and now having the wind in their advantage the Gunners looked to build on the lead, Barazite tricked his way through and found Traore, who’s cross went behind for a corner, our first of the game, but a cautious Arsenal decided to keep players back rather than push for a second.

Kebe was coming in to the game more and more, his power was unsettling Armand Traore, and his ability to flick the ball on let Long in, but he was offside.

On 48 Minutes, Traore lost his concentration the ball was whipped in, Lita yet again rolled Nordtveit, and he crashed home from 3 yards out, his 5th goal in two games at Reserves level, and a frustrating goal to concede.

But Arsenal came straight back, amazing control from Fonte allowed him to get some space from Bennett, but the Portuguese Youth international volleyed into the keeper’s hands, Thomas then fed Ogogo, who’s cross found Barazite, who was tripped in the area, vast appeals went up from the crowd and players, but the referee did nothing, Niel Banfield was furious his side did not get the descion.

Wilshere then tricked his way out wide, before finding Emmanuel-Thomas, who found Rodgers in a brilliant spell of passing it seemed nearly everybody got a touch as Arsenal waited for a gap to appear, it was only an offside flag against Barazite which ended the promising move.

As the game reached the hour mark, it was really anybody’s to win, Emmanuel-Thomas was starting to run the game with his inch perfect passing, and the close control of Wilshere was creating half chances, but the obvious threat of Long and Lita was as real as ever.

Karacan was then booked for a shocking tackle on the talented Bartley who came bursting out from the back and ended up in a heap near the centre circle,

Then came a flash point, Ogogo clattered in to Convey in a strong tackle one the referee did not like, the frustrated winger was told to calm down.

Traore then broke out, leaving the electric Kebe for dead, but a great covering tackle from Rosienor stopped Arsenal’s breakout, the confidence was flowing through the side, Jack Wilshere, in almost the same style as Hleb rolled Rosinor who tugged his shirt, but again nothing was given.

With 20 minutes left Arsenal made two changes.

Rhys Murphy > Rui Fonte
Thomas Cruise > Jack Wilshere

Fonte returning after suffering a broken nose against Birmingham was withdrawn after a hard night’s work, Excellent to see Murphy return he would go on to add a physical presence to the strike force.

Nordtviet then made two excellent covering tackles to get Bartley out of trouble, he played a long ball forward which Rhys Murphy just failed to get on the end of, he England Youth international just lacking a little sharpness. Emmanuel-Thomas then switched outside to accommodate Cruise, who made an awesome impact.

Turkish Under 19’s skipper, Karacan raced past the whole back four, and in a one on one with Mannone he skipped past the Italian, and just as it looked a certain goal, Cruise threw his frame in front of the ball and saved it on the line.

Tricky play from Thomas, found Barazite on the edge of the box who blazed in to the arms of Federici, then their was a moment all Arsenal’s fans including me have been waiting for, Luke Freeman was introduced with 10 minutes to go.

Craig Eastmond > Luke Freeman

Rhys Murphy looked bright, he drifted inside, and with some step-overs and tricks he was blocked off, as Arsenal looked for a late winner, Freeman wrestled with Bennett and wasn’t afraid to put himself about for the cause.

Long then raced past Traore with just minutes left, he jinked inside and fired at Mannone who gathered the ball well on the goal line, Reading were pushing for a winner to keep up their title hopes, but Nordtviet cleared long to Murphy who raced away.

Then late drama, Traore was exposed, Kebe raced in, Mannone got a clear hand on the ball, but the referee gave a penalty to Reading to the delight of the home fans, Shane Long stepped up, and justice was done as Vito got down to his bottom left and beat the ball out of the goal a stunning save from the Italian. As frustration grew Nordtveit and Lita nearly went head to head deep in to stoppage time, and Ogogo was booked for trying to get Lita in the book, but the England Under 21 striker forced another superb save from Mannone.

Full time Arsenal 1-1 Reading

Man Of The Match – Vito Mannone,

Young Guns, player of the month showed exactly why he is rated as the new Buffon, several stunning saves, including a last minute penalty save impressed tonight, absolute top quality goalkeeper.

Article By – J.Sanderson