Arsenal V Chelsea – Under 18's – Match Preview

After last night’s 2-0 win over Portsmouth attention must quickly turn to tomorrow’s Under 18’s fixture against Chelsea at their Cobham training head-quarters, with the young Gunners keen to continue recent form against the FA Youth Cup Finalists.

With Arsenal’s title challenge back on track in recent weeks three points could send us to the top of table with still matches in hand, the side will have to undergo mass changes, due to the Reserves playing yesterday and many players currently away with their national teams, added to huge injury’s in the Under 16s.

The game would have signaled various Under 16’s making the step up to the subs bench, however injuries to the likes of Cormac Hegarty, Jason Banton, Jeffrey Monakana, and with Rorie Deacon and Rhema Obed struggling for fitness, however Conor Henderson is expected to start.

Kyle Bartley is back from suspension, Sam Byles, Emmanuel Frimpong, Oliver Nicholas, Luke Freeman and Gilles Sunu are all away with England and France, Henri Lansbury (Glandular Fever), Sanchez Watt (Unknown) join the injury list, and Ahmed Abdulla (Personal Reasons) add to Vito Mannone and Kerrea Gilbert who are ineligible.

So that’s 15 players all missing from the game, Rhys Murphy and James Dunne will be rested, so it means that after not making a competitive start for a month, Nacer Barazite and Rui Fonte will start two games in three days, Kyle Bartley will come back and partner Ayling with Rasmussen and Eastmond being restored to midfield alongside Under 16’s skipper Conor Henderson.

Thomas Cruise and Jack Wilshere are rated as 50:50 to play so a familiar side, with a kick of youth to it, so if they miss out its 19 players missing, they should line up as follows:

Szczesny
Blackwood – Ayling – Bartley – Evina
Rasmussen – Eastmond – Henderson – Thomas (c)
Fonte – Barazite

Chelsea’s Under 18’s were in action last night, so they should be tired having to play again, but they booked themselves a place in the FA Youth Cup Final against Manchester City, so its a quality side despite them being in action a lot recently.

Young Guns has offered exclusive and in depth reports of all our matches from Reserves to Under 16s, keep up to date with all reports in our match reports area, and remember to check back tomorrow afternoon for a full report on this match.

Score Prediction – Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea

In other news, Carlos Vela has picked up an injury ahead of Osasuna’s, game with Real Betis and is rated doubtful, read more on this over at Carlos Vela News

The Under 16’s are not in action tomorrow.

Edit – Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal – Match Report 

Article By – J.Sanderson