Arsenal 2-0 West Ham – Reserves – Match Report

Arsenal’s Reserves extended their winning run to six games with a 2-0 win over West Ham this evening, to all but end the Hammers title hopes.

First half goals from Rui Fonte, and Jack Wilshere were enough to give the Gunners the edge in the London Derby. Arsene Wenger, David Court and Steve Bould were all watching on as 16 year old Wilshere made it 2 goals in 2 Reserves starts.

Arsenal were dealt a blow before the game even kicked off, with Johan Djourou picking up an injury.

Mannone
Ogogo – Nordtveit (c) – G.Hoyte – Rodgers
Wilshere – Diaby – Thomas – Traore
Barazite – Fonte

Subs: – Szczesny, Steer, Murphy, Sunu – (Djourou Injured)

Match Report

So to the game, Arsenal started the brighter of the two sides, and looked to impose the passing football from the start. Rui Fonte’s close control on the half way line allowed him time and space to find Barazite, the Dutchman turned and spotted Armand Traore in space, after threading him in Traore over hit the cross and the danger was cleared.

Then West Ham came back with some sustained pressure, however Nordtveit and Hoyte forced them into long range efforts at best. then it was all about Arsenal, Diaby lifted the ball past Collison and found Fonte on the edge of the box, as Rui tried to turn he was pulled down for a free-kick in a dangerous area.

Armand Traore and Jay Thomas both looked keen to take it. Thomas flicked the ball for Traore and the Frenchman blazed high and over.

However the goal would come on 24 minutes. Wilshere rolled his marker and cut infield, Fonte made a run around the back, and whilst holding his defender off, clipped the ball through the Hammers defence where Rui toe poked the Gunners in front.

Wilshere was looking fantastic in the midfield, he found Barazite in a following move and then the ball worked its way over to Armand Traore he smashed the cross high and wide.

Traore then tricked and turned away on the half way line, fed Barazite who raced forward he then rolled the ball in to the feet of Wilshere on the right wing, he dropped a shoulder cut inside and from 20 yards curled a left footed effort high in to the top left corner, a stunning strike from the man of the moment, to double Arsenal’s lead.

Jack then turned sharply away and fed Traore again he looked to out pace Jordan Spence, but the England International barged him out the way and cleared long as half time loomed.

Abu Diaby then pulled up as West Ham took a corner, and Neil Banfield quickly called Gilles Sunu over and made the change. on 41 minutes.

Meaning the midfield no looked like this:

Sunu – Thomas – Wilshere – Traore
Fonte – Barazite

Sunu nearly got on the score sheet shortly after, as he received a ball from Ogogo on the right flank, he drifted inside by blazed high in to the stand.

Half Time – Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Right from the kick off Arsenal got at West Ham, Gilles Sunu who had now moved up front with Barazite on the right, raced forward but with a lack of support was snuffed out quickly.

The Hammers looked rejuvenated, and capitalised in spaces in the back four. Space floated a ball in to Tony Stokes and only a last ditch Gavin Hoyte tackle stopped West Ham pulling one back. But up the other end Sunu was at it again, twisting and turning before unleashing a powerful drive, which was well saved down to the goalkeepers left.

Nordtveit was then nearly caught out by Stokes, but recovered well and then Havard showed forward talents with a 60 yard long pass over the Hammers back line with found Armand Traore. However he again over hit the cross with Sunu waiting.

Wilshere then won a free kick just over the half way line on the right hand side, his left footed dipping effort nearly caught West Ham cold, but the keeper managed to tip it over. Then Abu Ogogo received the ball in the left back slot, and with no options on he turned to play the ball back to Mannone, but in fact sliced it out for a corner, with a lack of concentration.

West Ham wasted it, but then the ball found Jordan Spence he pushed Traore in to the advertising boards and raced around the back of Rodgers, but the final ball was gathered by Vito Mannone. Traore then nearly got his own back after some impressive close control he tricked his way through before stabbing his cross in to the stand.

Armand then finally got a cross on target, he took his time and floated a stunning ball straight to the arriving Rui Fonte, his flick header went over. it would be Rui’s final action of the night.

Rui Fonte > Rene Steer (72 Minutes)

With Rodgers now playing on the right hand side, he found more space and played a lovely 1-2 with Nacer Barazite before side footing his effort off the keeper for a corner. Wilshere who was now becoming very tired found Sunu’s head with the corner, however he failed to keep it down and it ended up in the stand.

Sunu then showed his class by taking a Wilshere pass and flicking it behind the defence for the rampaging Rene Steer, Rene lacked composure and blazed high and over. More worrying though was that Gilles had now pulled up holding his hamstring.

It did not effect Sunu and he played a stunning 1-2 pass in to his fellow countryman Traore, his powerful drive was well saved by the goalkeeper. Then came the loudest cheer of the night as Jack Wilshere was replaced.

Jack Wilshere > Rhys Murphy (83)

A stunning performance from the young man, and one which the on looking Arsene Wenger will no doubt be impressed with. But the show must go on, and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas nearly added the icing to the cake, after skipping over 3 tackles before finding Traore who smashed in to the stand.

Barazite and Sunu linked up well and Gilles turned on the edge of the box and was pulled down, the free kick was another flick from Thomas to Traore and with the same result.. high and wide.

It finished 2-0 as we predicted in the Match Preview star performance from Jack Wilshere, he ran the show all night, however tired towards the end. Rui Fonte ran and took his goal well, Sunu and Barazite were also impressive, but Armand Traore was dreadful. i counted 11 crosses that were either over hit or ended up cleared.

Full Time – Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Goals:

(24) Rui Fonte Assisted By Jack Wilshere
(33) Jack Wilshere Assisted By Nacer Barazite

Article By – J.Sanderson

29 thoughts on “Arsenal 2-0 West Ham – Reserves – Match Report

  • April 21, 2008 at 8:27 pm
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    Thank You :D

    Abou Diaby picked up a hip injury, and is expected to be out for 2 weeks.

    Reply
  • April 21, 2008 at 8:27 pm
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    Goal and assist from Wilshere! This guy seems amazing :D Hope AW uses and trains him right the next years! (ofc. he won’t train him personally, but u know what I mean!)

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  • April 21, 2008 at 8:30 pm
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    So much for Armand Traore being a winger if he cant cross

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  • April 21, 2008 at 8:37 pm
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    Jack Wilthshire looked fantastic…. really impressed. throw him on against bottom of the league derby!!

    Reply
  • April 21, 2008 at 8:39 pm
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    Do you reckon that Jack Wilshere will be involved in next seasons Carling Cup Squad mate

    Reply
  • April 21, 2008 at 8:42 pm
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    I cant see it. I think Wenger will want to protect him. You know what the media is like in this country. They will dubb him the “new messi” or something stupid which will be uneccessary for him.

    Reply
  • April 21, 2008 at 8:46 pm
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    I know you were asking Sanderson but I believe Wilshere might be involved in the Carling Cup like Lansbury was this year. That guy just seems to be amazing. I have to say that he is the biggest prospect in the reserves. He might well be a squad player in 18 months or so.

    Our injury problems or hardly funny anymore. There must be something wrong with our training program or something. Djourou gets a knock, can’t play. Somebody touches Diaby and he is out for 2 weeks.

    One question though. Do you think Mannone will be the reserve keeper next season and Szczesny the U-18 keeper? I figure the Pole will turn 18 pretty soon so I don’t know how it works. I can’t see us using James Shea for the U-18.

    Reply
  • April 21, 2008 at 8:52 pm
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    Wilshere seems too young to play in the CC. and Szczesny is rated highly, i would expect Mannone to go on loan next term.

    Shea will be first choice under 18s with Mann number 2

    Reply
  • April 21, 2008 at 9:01 pm
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    I personally have allways beleved that if your good enough your old enough because Wayne Rooney was only just 16 years old when he scored that wonder goal against Arsenal for Everton at Goodison Park in 2002, and if Jack Wilshere is deemed good enough at 16 years old to be involved in the Carling Cup Squad next season i am all for it IMO

    Reply
  • April 21, 2008 at 9:07 pm
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    Totally agree with Kent IMO.

    IMO Wilshere can be better then Rooney. I doubt he’ll play next season IMO.

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  • April 21, 2008 at 9:10 pm
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    Once again, i beg of you loyal gunner fans, is there anyway we can have this game or at least highlights somewhere to download.

    I really need to see this kid wiltshire.

    Reply
  • April 21, 2008 at 9:11 pm
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    Friend you do not have much sense of soccer. You cannot rule
    someone in 2 or 3 games. That guy is very talentedis very. But Barazite he is the one who can make arsenal champion.

    Reply
  • April 21, 2008 at 9:15 pm
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    Try Video.google.com in a week or so

    Reply
  • April 21, 2008 at 9:30 pm
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    To be honest i would love to see the whole game ,this and the Derby match. Surely someone on here has the ability to put these matches on a torrent?

    Reply
  • April 21, 2008 at 9:40 pm
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    Wilshere and Barazite are the standout players from the reserves so far. It all depends on the mental strength of the player. Cesc Fabregas played in the CC games at 16 because he was that mature that he could deal with it. If Wilshere has the ‘right stuff’ Arsene will not be afraid to give him the chance.

    Reply
  • April 21, 2008 at 9:48 pm
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    talking about how rooney etc played at 16.. i remember three players who had their breaktrough at such you age who could cope with it.. fabregas, rooney and messi! Walcott, Ronaldo, Nani etc has all struggled after huge media coverage in such young age.. I heard Wilshere was tried too be “hidden” by wenger so this woulden’t happen to him too!

    Reply
  • April 21, 2008 at 9:48 pm
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    Wasn’t Cesc only 16 when he played against Wolves in the CC in Dec 2003?

    Reply
  • April 21, 2008 at 9:52 pm
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    Jimmy

    IMO means in my opinion, P.S Gooner Chris I think that Jack Wilshere will be involved in Carling Cup Squad next season because he is that good IMO

    Reply
  • April 21, 2008 at 10:22 pm
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    I was impressed with sunu when he came on he was a threat all day and the two cbs completly dominated

    Reply
  • April 21, 2008 at 11:20 pm
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    some body show me the highlights!!!!!

    Reply
  • Pingback: Abou Diaby And Johan Djourou Injured On Reserves Duty « [» Young Guns ! «]

  • April 22, 2008 at 2:10 am
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    So by reading between the lines of what Myles Palmer and Sanderson have been saying than our goalkeeping situation should be:

    No 1. Almunia
    No 2. Fabianski
    No 3. Some semi-retired old GK (like Mart Poom was)
    Reserves: Young Pole
    U-18: Shea
    Reading No 1. Vito Mannone

    Reply
  • April 22, 2008 at 7:18 am
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    I was not too impressed with Manonne yesterday.

    I got the feeling that Diaby was not interested and used a slight knock to get an early pass home. Then again he always looks lazy and uninterested.

    I thought Thomas was very impressive.

    Reply
  • April 22, 2008 at 9:02 am
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    from all i have been reading it looks like wilshere amd barazite are the stand out players for the reserve. i think they need to be promoted to the first team.i think wilshere can give us four EPL goals and barazite five.look at eboue all season no goal. it is killing arsenal. arsenal always outscored united during the days of fredee and bob peris. wenger bring on the two kids you saw last night; they are goal threats.

    Reply
  • April 22, 2008 at 9:19 pm
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    There’s a jack wilshere video on google video, featuring his assist and goal vs west ham

    Reply

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