Arsenal Under 18's Win Academy League Group A

Arsenal’s Under 18s have won Academy League Group A setting up a playoff place against Aston Villa, after a last gasp 1-0 win over Bristol City away this morning.

Steve Bould knew after last weeks 3-0 win over MK Dons coupled with West Ham’s defeat meant three points over Millwall on Tuesday, (which was achieved) and a victory this morning would put the title out of The Hammers grasp with one fixture left, and that was exactly what happened.

Bould welcomed back Polish stopper Wojciech Szczesny to his starting line up after injury, with James Shea dropping to the bench, after his goal on Tuesday, Conor Henderson started wide on the left with Luke Ayling and Jack Wilshere forming a central partnership in a 4-4-2 formation, Thomas Cruise partnered Kyle Bartley at the back, with Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Rhys Murphy being with the England Under 17’s Sanchez Watt was pushed up front with Luke Freeman.

The Starting Line Up

Szczesny
Eastmond – Bartley – Cruise – Evina
Rasmussen – Ayling – Wilshere – Henderson
Watt – Freeman

The game was nervous encounter for both sides, with the only goal coming with just 5 minutes on the clock left, and it was from the find of the season Jack Wilshere, his right footed pile driver means Arsenal win Group A, and will face Aston Villa for a place in the grand final.

Group – Winner

A. – Arsenal
B. – Aston Villa
C – Manchester City
D. – Sunderland/Nottingham Forest

Should Sunderland win their game in hand, they will face group C winners Manchester City, meaning for the final is between:

Arsenal V Aston Villa
Manchester City V Sunderland/Nottingham Forest

If Arsenal make the final, they will play at the Emirates Stadium, the result means next weeks game against Fulham will count for nothing, so Steve Bould could feature some of the Under 16s.

Article By – J.Sanderson

14 thoughts on “Arsenal Under 18's Win Academy League Group A

  • April 12, 2008 at 4:40 pm
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    Congratulations to the lads. Hope they make it all the way!

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  • April 12, 2008 at 4:56 pm
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    Really good to see Wilshere scoring, he looks promising.

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  • April 12, 2008 at 5:42 pm
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    keep it up lads. excellent news!

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  • April 12, 2008 at 6:01 pm
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    A big congratulations to the Arsenal U18’s team

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  • April 12, 2008 at 7:07 pm
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    Glückwunsch auch aus Deutschland. Freue mich ein Fan dieses Tems zu sein! Well done lads!

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  • April 12, 2008 at 7:22 pm
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    brilliant article on the gooner forum sanderson. cmon you gunners

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  • April 12, 2008 at 7:50 pm
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    One question. Do you think that Bould will bring in some reserve players for the semi-final game against Aston Villa? Maybe put Hoyte, Nordveit and Barazite in there?

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  • April 12, 2008 at 8:23 pm
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    maybe mate, i think he will stick with the team that has got him this far.

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  • April 13, 2008 at 1:42 am
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    Hopefully Afobe plays the final game of the season then!!

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  • April 13, 2008 at 2:39 am
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    Okay. I was just wondering cause he uses the reserve players in the youth cup.

    On times like these I wished I lived in London so I could go to all of these games. Why can’t USA be a little bit closer.

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  • April 14, 2008 at 5:20 pm
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    Beating Aston Villa will not be an easy task especialy with the likes of Nathan Delfouneso and Harry Forrester in the team IMO

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