Arsenal 1-0 Charlton (Under 18's) Match Report

Arsenal’s Under 18’s got thier title challenge back on track with a 1-0 win over struggling Charlton this morning at London Colony.

The side have a youthful feel to it, but did boast strikers Rui Fonte and Nacer Barazite on the bench, along with returning left back Rene Steer.

Szczesny
Blackwood – Ayling – Thomas – Evina
Wilshere – Frimpong – Eastmond – Freeman
Sunu – Murphy-

Subs: Shea, Steer, Rasmussen,Fonte, Barazite.

Arsenal were a little slow out of the traps but Polish stopper Wojciech Szczesny kept the Gunners level with a series of fine saves.

But Arsenal soon fired themselves into action, some excellent pass and move football allowed Craig Eastmond to break through but as a former defender, he blazed it wide, Gilles Sunu was impressing, putting in a physical classy performance.

Frimpong was coming into the game more and more, taking over the play-making role, he floated in a deep corner which Rhys Murphy bulleted over, Wilshere, Frimpong and Eastmond were willing to get stuck in as the cagey battle continued, the young Gunners were then unlucky not to get a spot kick, when Ghanian born England youth international Manny Frimpong went down in the box, the referee waved away the appeals.

Anton Blackwood then came forward and layed Jay Thomas in who took some neat touches before letting fly from range, but the ball went well wide, as did Cedric Evina’s similar effort, a few minutes later.

Arsenal were pushing to a goal as the time ticked down before the break, Wilshere lobbed over the bar, and then from his floated effort Skipper Emmanuel-Thomas nodded over in a frustrating period.

In almost the same manner as the first half, Charlton came out the strongest a test for our young back four, Evina and Thomas’s defensive skills were then tested, and got the ball away, only for it to some straight back, and hit Luke Ayling and go over.

Wilshere, Freeman and Sunu were linking up really well, with the latter just trying too hard to impress, as the second half mirrored the first, Eastmond and Wilshere had the next chances but wasted them, but just as Steve Bould was willing to change things the goal came.

Jack Wilshere ala Hleb burst forward tip-toed beyond two challenges and layed it to the edge of the box where the energetic Frimpong waited, kept composed and rifled it beyond the goalkeeper into the corner, Arsenal got exactly what they deserved.

As the clocked ticked down the nervous Gunners nearly lost their lead, but two superb saves from the fore-mentioned Szczesny, but the Pole orchestrated one final chance for Arsenal, beautiful inter-changing play between Wilshere, and then Sunu allowed former Addicks striker Freeman the chance to ensure the win, but he mis-fired and it went wide.

Barazite and Steer were then introduced to shut up shop and guarantee the points, and the Dutch man had one final effort, after tidy work from Frimpong but the effort was flicked over.

Full Time – Arsenal 1-0 Charlton

Article By – J.Sanderson