Arsenal V Chelsea – Reserves – Match Preview

Arsenal Reserves return to action tonight, against Chelsea’s Reserves at Underhill in Reserves League South, with the Gunners playing the final part in a three game trilogy between the two teams over this weekend.

It started on Friday morning, when the Under 18’s lost 1-0 to Chelsea’s Under 18’s, and then on “Grand Slam Sunday” the first team lost 2-1 to their Chelsea counterpart’s, but tonight is a chance to claim back some revenge abet in the least important of the fixtures, last time out Arsenal won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Kieran Gibbs, he is now on loan at Norwich, Arsenal’s young players had the added distraction of the England team training at Arsenal’s training centre.

Coming into the game, Arsenal are without, the injured Henri Lansbury (Glandular Fever), Kerrea Gilbert (Ankle), Sanchez Watt (Unknown), with Nacer Barazite, Jack Wilshere, Thomas Cruise, Emmanuel Frimpong, Luke Freeman, Oliver Nicholas and Sam Byles, all on international duty, and Gilles Sunu is rested, so Neil Banfield can bring some of the first team players into the line up, to face the FA Youth Cup finalists.

Mannone
J. Hoyte – G.Hoyte – Nordtveit (c) – Steer
Dunne – Djourou – Song – Traore
Fonte – Murphy

Subs – Shea, – Rodgers, – Ogogo, – Ayling, – Emmanuel-Thomas.

Johan Djourou starts again, after playing last week alongside James Dunne on his return from injury, but with Dunne moving out wide, Alexandre Song returns from ANC Duty to partner the Swiss international in the middle of the park, Steer and Traore playing on the left hand side, offer extra defensive cover, with Justin Hoyte playing alongside his brother at the back, Havard Nordtveit skippers the side.

Rhys Murphy partners Rui Fonte in attack, with the pair showing real promise in recent weeks, however fatigue may play a part as the game wears on, but with no forwards in reserve they look set to play the full 90, Paul Rodgers, Abu Ogogo and Jay Thomas make up a strong looking substitutes bench, Vito Mannone returns to a starting birth after saving a last minute penalty in his last game, and with an injury to Wojciech Szczesny, James Shea is back up goalkeeper.

Kick off is at 7pm UK time, live coverage is on Arsenal TV, as well as Arsenal TV Online, more on that Here.

Full match report, coming shortly after full time.

Prediction, – Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea

Article By – J.Sanderson