Arsenal’s Under 18s travel to Bristol tomorrow morning to take on Bristol City Under 18s knowing a victory, would be enough to win Group A, and put Steve Bould’s side in to the play-offs, which in simple terms means a chance to win the league title.
Should Arsenal reach the final, they will have the chance to play at the Emirates a fantastic reason to push on and make sure they manage to do something the first team have not, win a trophy this season.
Three points tomorrow would also mean they have won the Group, and still have a game in hand, with the Young Gunners facing Fulham on the last day of the season.
Recent form would suggest Arsenal should win, they are bang in from and scoring goals for fun, their opponents Bristol are mid tabled in Group B, and have scored 50 goals this term, however a leaky defence has meant they have let in 50 goals, so an entertaining fixture is expected with plenty of chances and hopefully goals.
Team News
Steve Bould’s side has been bolstered by having players coming back to fitness and form in recent weeks, Emmanuel Frimpong, Rhys Murphy and Jay Thomas have all been in the goals recently, however it seems anybody in the squad is capable of putting the ball in net .
Henri Lansbury is currently recovering from injury and is building his fitness slowly, meaning he is doubtful to feature again this season, their is also doubts over his contract situation, in other news Anton Blackwood is rated at 50:50 so is Wojciech Szczesny, the Polish stopper has been injured in recently, but expected to start in goal, with Conor Henderson expected to keep his place after scoring against Millwall.
Predicted Line Up
Szczesny
Eastmond – Bartley – Thomas (c) – Evina
Frimpong – Henderson
Watt – Wilshere – Freeman
Murphy
Prediction – Arsenal – 3-0 Bristol City
Article By – J.Sanderson
what are the doubts of Lanburys contract situation?
Would be great if the U18’s could win the title this season. :) Always nice when an Arsenal team wins a title, regardless of it’s the first team or one of the younger teams. (Still keeping hope that the first team can beat United and Chelsea to the title, even though I know there’s almost no chance of that happening with our current form and bad luck. :-/ ).
What’s the problem with Lansbury’s contract situation? Any ideas?
of course, would be fantastic if we could win the title, getting the winning mentality into the boys at an early age.
and his scholarship is up next summer, and nothing has been agreed yet.
Would you know the times for the match and where it kicks off? I live near Bristol and would love to go and watch.
Many thanks.
I hope Lansbury does sign a new deal as isnt he rated as one of the brightest, if not the brightest talent in arsenals academy?
maybe, i think this season many players have exploded into the scene, Barazite is the biggest talent in the Academy.
deres a good player called tristan plummer will he be playing, we was linked with him last season lol
Plummer’s absoloute class. Are you sure he’s playing for their youth side?
What’s the format of the play-offs? Is this a national or regional competition and who are we likely to face in the next round?
Bristol have a leaky defence and a Plummer? Problem solved!
Any basis on the Lasnbury comment? Or “just not agreed yet?”
There is four groups/
Group A,B,C,D
Winners of group A +B player each other, as do the winners of C+D
the two winners of the ties, play in the final.
If we win group a, we will face group B winners Aston Villa.
Thanks JS.
Is this a National competition then? Who is likely to win groups C & D?
we are in talks with Henri about a new deal, but nothing done yet.
and its a national competition yes, its like a small version of the Premiership.
Group C winners are Manchester City, the Youth Cup finalists, Group D is between Sunderland and Nottingham Forest, only a point sperates the two, Sunderland are a point clear and have a game in hand so they look likley to win it.
so
Arsenal V Aston Villa
Man City V Sunderland
winners play each other in the final, if Arsenal get to the final they will play at the emirates
Lansbury should sign a contract considering Wenger said he’d be in the first team next year for which he would need a professional contract.
Loool i just watched Young Guns Academy on Arsenal TV. It was a good free-kick by Frimpong, very skillful goal by Jay and a typical striker’s finish from Murphy which Steve Bould believes will increase his confidence as he’s been off the boil in recent weeks. Steve Bould would like to see Frimpong score from open play and not from free kicks. lol. And he’s proud that the centre-back Jay Thomas got a goal.
Anyways, at the end of the show there was a interview with Paul Rodgers:
– He’s A Spurs Fan
– Likes Hip Hop/Rap/Grime
– Reckons Gavin Hoyte’s a joker and the funniest guy ever
– Aspires to be like a mixture of sagna and eboue
– The most annoying thing according to him is Lansbury’s behaviour. Lol. When he hides trainers in the changing room for fun.
– He would like a trophy
AFC won 1-0 with a goal in the last 5 minutes.