Arsenal 6-0 Cardiff – Under 18's – Match Report

Arsenal’s Under 18’s got back on track, with a stunning 6-0 battering of Welsh side Cardiff City, at London Colney this morning meaning a play-off place is all but guaranteed.

With England being knocked out of the Under 17’s qualifying tournament, it mean Thomas Cruise was released and allowed to return to the Gunners, and he was given a start at left back, Luke Freeman parted Rhys Murphy in attack, with Sanchez Watt starting out wide, and Under 16’s skipper Conor Henderson alongside Frimpong in the middle.

Subs: – Shea, G.Hoyte, Evina, Barazite, Fonte

The Gunners struggled to get the flowing passing game going in the early stages, with the cold windy weather, and Cardiff settled quickly forcing Polish stopper Szczesny into action, in what seemed to be an open encounter, but Arsenal then fired into action, Frimpong’s powerful drive forced the Blue-birds stopper into action, he could only parry it and Rhys Murphy failed to convert the scraps.

However just minutes later Arsenal had the lead, from a set-piece, and it was the fore-mentioned Frimpong, his free kick curled low into the bottom corner to the delight of Steve Bould, capping off an impressive month for Emmanuel, his winner for the Under 18’s against Charlton, plus superb performances for England has pushed him into the spotlight.

The young Gunners were flowing, the pass and move football was back, and Cardiff seemed to be struggling after a long journey to London, and as Rasmussen jinked into the box, he was fouled and the referee pointed to the spot, Rhys Murphy strode up and his powerful effort was corner-bound despite the keeper getting a firm touch, 2-0.

Luke Freeman was next to test City’s keeper, and then after a foul from first time starter Henderson, Szczesny had to scramble away the free-kick, however Henderson nearly opened his account after a flowing passing move but saw his effort roll wide.

Half Time – Arsenal 2-0 Cardiff

Whatever the Cardiff coaching staff said it seemed to work, as they looked a much stronger outfit, and were now getting about the Gunners, willing to dive into tackles and use a physical element to stop Arsenal, this was summed up after a horror tackle on Luke Ayling, luckily he recovered.

But Cardiff were opened up again, Conor Henderson was impressive and he blazed over, before Rhys Murphy showed he is still a little rusty, after skipping around the keeper, but lost his balance and clipped it over, on 67 minutes Ayling then stumbled off Gavin Hoyte came on to add a new powerful influence.

Luke Freeman was then picked out, and sporting a new pair of boots, jinked around the stopper and rolled home for 3-0 the final knock out punch but more was to come, the returning Sanchez Watt was fantastic, his pace and power helped the Gunners dominate, and he got a reward, when the ball was fed into his feet he rolled the ball up his shin and lifted it over the stranded goalkeeper, a terrific piece of skill from the England school boy.

Bould then switched the team:

Rui Fonte > Luke Freeman
Nacer Barazite > Rhys Murphy

Arsenal were now passing, and moving around Cardiff like they were nothing, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas powered forward from midfield and let fly, his left footed effort hit the net for 5-0, then the visitors came racing forward, and forced Szczesny into action, the Polish stopped threw it out to Cruise, and with great vision, he rolled Barazite away who crashed home for 6-0.

And that’s how it finished, Arsenal 6-0 Cardiff

Goals : –
Emmanuel Frimpong
Rhys Murphy [Penalty]
Luke Freeman
Sanchez Watt
Jay Thomas
Nacer Barazite

Under 16’s Result – Arsenal 2-1 Cardiff 

Article By – J.Sanderson