Arsenal have finished Reserves League South with a seven game unbeaten run, thanks to Kieran Gibbs’s strike 20 seconds from time. The game was an even yet dogged encounter, which with a less than half a minute left seemed Arsenal had lost.
Nathan Delfouneso’s second goal in 3 days, seemed to have won Villa the game with just minutes left. Earlier Vito Mannone had been sent off for a foul of Williams. However replays showed the Italian did not make contact with the Villa Forward.
Mannone
Gilbert (c) – Rodgers – Thomas – Steer
Ogogo – Dunne – Gibbs – Traore
Barazite – Fonte
Subs: Szczesny, Wilshere, Frimpong, Murphy, Cruise
So to the game, Arsenal started brightly and tried to impose their passing game on the home side. Kieran Gibbs and Nacer Barazite showed some nice early touches, and the pair combined for the first attack of the game.
Gibbs controlled the ball expertly, and found Barazite who rolled his marker 25 yards out. He looked up spotted Armand Traore and placed the ball to the feet of the French Winger, he played a first time cross with Fonte missed and it ran for a throw in.
The Villa came back in to the game, Jay Thomas tried to be clever in possession and gave the ball away to Williams. Only a super tackle from Gibbs stopped the Togo International from shooting. Barazite was showing his ability, by peeling off the back four and advancing forward but the home side possessed one of the meanest defences in the country, and snuffed out the 17 year old.
After a brief period of Aston Villa pressure, Arsenal stepped up again. Barazite found Fonte who fed Traore on the left hand flank, he found himself into the box but Stuart Taylor smothered the attack out for a corner.
Abu Ogogo over hit it, and Villa cleared their lines.
Fonte then showed his brilliance by turning sharply away from Lowry, and bringing Ogogo in to the play down the right wing. His first time cross was deflected behind for another corner. Kieran Gibbs floated it deep to Traore, he pulled it back for Dunne who’s volley was blocked and cleared.
Arsenal’s superb start was being undone by excellent ball keeping from Villa, who by now where on top. Salifou robbed Paul Rodgers, and danced inside Gilbert and Dunne. However as he stepped into the box, Kieran Gibbs came shoulder – to- shoulder and won the ball. Salifou appealed for a penalty which was turned down.
James Dunne was then booked after a late tackle on Salifou, right on the edge of the area. Fortunately it was wasted. Then came injury scares for Rodgers (thigh) and Ogogo (Nose), but after treatment the pair recovered.
The Gunners soon stepped up again, Dunne, Barazite and Gilbert all combined with the latter playing a deep cross which was cleared.
Then came controversy, James Dunne was caught forward attacking by Salifou, he found Weimann who slotted the ball behind the advancing Jay Emmanuel-Thomas to send Williams through 1-on-1 with Vito Mannone. The Italian came out of his box, Williams jinked around him and then fell down leaving the referee with a difficult decision to make.
He pulled the red card out, and sent Mannone to the stands to the disbelief of the 20 year old. Replays showed that Vito made no contact with the Villa striker, however the red card stood. Rui Fonte was then replaced with the substitute goalkeeper.
Rui Fonte > Szczesny (43)
The half fizzled out as Arsenal got used to being a man light, the sending off is certain to be a huge talking point. How costly could it prove to be for the Gunners? the next 45 minutes would tell.
Half Time – Aston Villa 0-0 Arsenal
The second half began in a similar way to the first. With Arsenal taking control of the ball and Armand Traore looking to run at the impressive Lund, the Swede stood his ground and make life difficult for the young winger.
Villa then started to turn the screw, and introduced Nathan Delfouneso hoping the physical striker could bag another telling goal against the Gunners. Banfield reacted and brought Jack Wilshere on for skipper Kerrea Gilbert, Abu Ogogo went to right back with Wilshere playing right midfield.
The change revitalized Arsenal, Barazite and Traore played some superb one touch football with only the final ball from the Frenchman stopping a promising attack. Then Jay Thomas and Traore linked up moving from defence to attack. Lund stepped across Traore for a free kick.
Jack Wilshere’s impact was nearly instant, he played a one-two with Gibbs before Ogogo placed it back to Wilshere, his 25 yard drive was tame for Taylor. Wilshere then stabbed the ball over the Villa defence, but Gibbs was judged offside.
Williams then stole the ball from Jay Thomas, and fed Bannan he faked to shoot and Ogogo slipped allowing him to race inside, and curl the ball just wide of Szczesny’s post. Then followed more pressure from the home side forcing Arsenal’s Polish stopper to scramble two balls over his own bar.
Wilshere then skipped past two players as the Gunners looked to break, he found Barazite who teed up Gibbs, he cut inside and saw his powerful effort deflect behind for a corner. Jay Thomas was too casual in possession and was robbed by Albrighton, his powerful drive worked Szczesny again.
From the resulting corner poor defending would cost Arsenal, after Bannan’s effort fell to Herd at the back post he stabbed it back for Delfouneso, he found himself unmarked to slip Villa in front with just minutes left.
Banfield’s boys deserved more, and were now holding on as Aston Villa pushed for another goal to seal the game. But with 20 seconds left Arsenal would get their reward. Szczesny’s hopeful goal kick bounced in the rain, Herd miss controlled and Kieran Gibbs stole the ball 25 yards out.
After brushing off the last ditch tackle from Herd, Gibbs strode forward with confidence and after giving Taylor the “eyes” he clipped the ball over the former Arsenal stopper to rescue all a vital point and preserve the Gunners unbeaten run.
Full Time – Aston Villa 1-1 Arsenal
Man Of The Match – Kieran Gibbs.
The boy showed class and skill in a tight and dogged game. He was always looking to create and got the perfect result for him, and his team.
Article By – J.Sanderson
Amazing report, probably the best i’ve seen on the blog.
Not a bad campaign for the youngsters, who I feel, will be so much more better next season.
Do you know how many of these reserve team players are going to be released in the summer mate
awesome sanderson im 16 nd read often,y couldnt gibbs do it at norwich sounded mint 2nite sum sed dat if he played well he mite be in 1st team squad on sunday ‚ dus he merit it?
alot i would imagine.
Dunne, Ogogo, Steer, Gilbert people like that.
awesome sanderson im 16 nd read often,y couldnt gibbs do it at norwich sounded mint 2nite sum sed dat if he played well he mite be in 1st team squad on sunday ‚ dus he merit it?
awesome sanderson im 16 nd read often,y couldnt gibbs do it at norwich sounded mint 2nite sum sed dat if he played well he mite be in 1st team squad on sunday ‚ dus he merit it
Y couldn’t gibbs cut it at Norwich he sounded mint tonight, sum sed that if he played well he might get in the 1st team sqyad on Sunday v Everton, wud u say that and who else would you give a run out in the rest of this season,
.
OMG Bear questions cus i live in Nottz nd cant get to the matches myself lol, grest work as always Sanderson
Rijkaard = Gone.
YTF he take Iniesta off??.
Messi’s too sick fam.
Anyways, that goal could only be a whole world of good for keiran gibbs, happy to see him back in the team
Can you rate our player’s performance in todays game? I mean something like on sky sports, 1-10 rate?
we never looked dangerous tonight, we kept hoofing it up to Rui Fonte and he wasnt winning alot of headers due to his frame, was a very drab match, but their still learning
Kieran Gibbs looked the best player on the pitch but he really digged in and that was good to see and yes Rijkaard gone i never rated him.
So you watched the reserves instead of mancs lol some loyal supporters :D
j. sanderson, do you know if there are going to be any additions to the squad this summer? one thats reported is clement grenier of lyon or “the new kaka”. do you know anything about this kid or have video clips..i’d love to see him in action. cheers
could anyone find a clip of clement grenier??
I think there will be a large clean out this summer. So many of these players have proven to be well off the Arsenal standard. Rodgers, Steer, Ogogo, Dunne, van den Berg and Shea will probably all leave. I think also that players like Gavin Hoyte, Gibbs, Randall, Fonte, Murphy, etc. will go on loan or even be released.
We have got two new exciting 15 year olds and Afobe and other players will step up into the U-18. I think the U-18 will be held up by Wilshere, Afobe, Miguel and the Dutch guy. This coming summer will be very exciting on the transfer market, both for the Senior team as well as the youth teams.
yea i agree with stone but i dont no about rodgers i think he will still be here he’s improved alot and i thought he wouldn’t
James Dunne is under rated, the guy’s hunger and work rate is immense, something our midfield lack in the Reserves, don’t see a better choice than him tbh defensively.
What do you lot think of Afobe then, can he make it?
Gibbsy had to hustle at the last minute for that equalizer so well-played on his part. The goal was well-deserved! Hats off to the youngsters I mean youngstArs for having a terrific season. I am a PROUD Gooner :)
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Guys, I think the players below will go…
Armand Traore (Loan)
Kieran Gibbs (Loan)
Mark Randall (Loan)
Jay Simpson (Loan)
Vito Mannone (Loan/Release)
Fran Merida (Loan)
Abu Agogo (Loan/Release)
Paul Rodgers (Loan)
James Dunne (Loan)
Rene Steer (Loan)
Vincent van den berg (Release)
Kerrea Gilbert (Release)
These guys should go on loan to 2008-09 EPL newcomers/midtable teams or to Championship and get regular games. The should be getting enough playing time like Bendtner, Muamba, Larsson, Stokes did last time around, to prove that they are capable of breaking into Arsenal’s first team. I would like to see them develope to a mature player and play for us in the future.
J Sanderson, your view is much apreciated…
Wenger said this on the mirror:
“Gibbs, Lansbury, Randall and Wilshere are the future, i don’t expect he (wilshere) to be in the reservves for too long”
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/2008/04/28/arsene-wenger-hails-arsenal-defender-gael-clichy-89520-20397666/
at the bottom
pitty they all want to play in the same position…
Gibbs on the left, Lans and Randall central and wilshere on the right? Perhaps Lans on the right and Wilshere in central?
Would be f**kin cutting edge with all those boys up making a ‘fanastic four’, on the midfield though!
But seriously, for what i’ve seen Wilshere and Lansbury both seems to the potensial to reach the first team.
Not really Gibbs can play on the wing as can Wilshere while Lansbury is probably going to be used as a CDM and Randall a CAM.
lansbury isnt that defensive in his play is he? and im sick of playing players out of position ( do i need to bring eboue up?)
Q for Sanderson.
Do you know who’s the resource(or whatever you call the dude who decides ability and potential on players,) dude for Arsenal players and youths on Football Manager 08? Think some of the kids are kinda underrated, while some are a little overrated, like Murphy. He became a regular for me in the middle of 08/09 season, scoring 20 goals… In 24 matches. While Wilshere is kinda crap :/
Can someone tell me about Lansbury? Injured or why doesn`t he play?