Whilst Arsenal’s first team are already well into their pre-season, Neil Banfield’s second string are preparing for their first warm up fixture against Crawley Town tomorrow afternoon.
The game was arranged last month and promises to be a tough test for the young Gunners, who’s squad will be depleted with Arsène Wenger taking many of the top stars to the Austrian training camp. However, Kieran Gibbs and Fran Mérida are back from international duty and will get a run out, along with many of the newly signed professionals.
Crawley admit they are expecting a squad of young international players to play the game, and have signalled out Kieran Gibbs as one of the biggest threats ahead of kick off.
Manager Steve Evans told the official website:
“I know how highly Kieran Gibbs is regarded at Arsenal, as are a number of the players we will face on Saturday. I also met up with some of the staff from Norwich in Dubai over the summer and they could not speak highly enough of Kieran Gibbs.
They also gave the highest praise in relation to the young players assembled by Liam Brady at the Emirates so everyone should prepare themselves for a cracker of a match as we are decent ourselves this season. Liam Brady and Arsenal legend Steve Bould will want their team to play football the Arsenal way and ultimately expect to leave here with a victory.
“Any players near the first team squad at Arsenal football club need to be very special indeed so we are all looking forward to the match.””
The future looks murky for many of the young professionals that were involved against Barnet. but did not go to Austria. It’s this bunch of players who are fighting for their futures at the club, and with the game set to attract media interest, new employers could be watching on.
Wojciech Szczesny has taken over from Vito Mannone as Reserves number one, he will play his first game since taking the jersey in front of an English back four. Kyle Bartley is expected to have recovered from injury to feature alongside another newly sign pro in the form of Jay Thomas.
Mérida and Barazite will offer a flair and class about Arsenal going forward, and the pair will feel assured to create with James Dunne set to sit in front of the back four.
Predicted Starting Line Up
Szczesny
Rodgers – Bartley – Thomas – Steer
Ogogo – Dunne – Mérida – Gibbs
Barazite – Fonte
Kick off is scheduled for 3pm at The Broadfield Stadium in Crawley. Arsenal will be wearing their traditional red and white shirts, with the hosts showing off their new yellow away kit.
Prediction – Arsenal 3-0 Crawley Town.
If you cannot get to the game tomorrow afternoon, Young Guns will be offering a Match Report shortly after full time.
Article By – J.Sanderson
so barazite really didn’t go to austria with the rest of first team players. i wonder why is that? he one of the best among reserve players. maybe he expected to go out on loan?
J is this game going to be shown online?
g0on3r -Him being loaned out would seem the most plausable reason for his absence.
Nope it not broadcast.
Yea i agree J i think he’s going to get loaned out I hope it will be ajax.
Plus J do you think the victor moses link might be true
Who esle do you feel will be sent on loan? Is Barazite the player Salamanica are talking about? is diogo out of the question now
I thought Dunne was getting the boot.
I don’t think that these players who didnt go to Austria are gonna be sold on, thats a bit simplistic fella.
The Hoytes both went to Austria and they aint gonna feature for the 1st team.
I thought you said Rhys Murphy was going to get a game?
What has happened to Sunu, Tom Cruise and Freedman?
Eh, shame it aint on ATV but i can understand the difficulties there. Anyway, looking forward to reading the report and i hope the lads do themselves proud.
Ur right thou, its still very much judgement time for players such as Agogo, Rodgers, Steer, Dunne and possibly Fonte aswell although he may be given slightly more time.
“I thought you said Rhys Murphy was going to get a game?
What has happened to Sunu, Tom Cruise and Freedman?”
….ummm…..the bench? They cnt all be in the startin line up…
hey J
Wats wid dis Victor Moses news in papers 2day??????
Got NE news on dat??
Barazite is in the squad for Austria as on Arsenal TV he was in the squad but just didnt play in the first game. Maybe hes going to be given a run out with the more experienced guys e.g. Nasri etc?
Also with regards to the Victor Moses link im sure most people will be bitching about the amount of youngsters but everyone forgets that every season we bring in some youth guys and some first teamers too.
I dont think there is much in the Moses story. Great player but i cnt see it happening.
Ur right thou JohnV, Barazite was announced for the Austria squad, im pretty sure i read his name on the list aswell.
Get Murphy in from the start!
Yup, I remember Barazites name on the list of players in Austria as shown on Arsenal TV the other night..
What has happened to Sunu, Tom Cruise and Freedman?
Mark C said this on July 25, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Freeman is training w/ the England squad for the Nordic Tournament i believe
Gibbs has been a bit harshly written off by Arsenal fans.
Norwich fans let me tell you don’t rate Gibbs. They had some Chelsea youngster that they thought the world of though.
barazite was a sub in our friendly against that hungarian side i swear
“Gibbs has been a bit harshly written off by Arsenal fans.”
Not by me he hasnt, hes always performed for the reserves, always impressed me greatly when hes been called up to first team action. I think Gibbs can be a massive player for us, technically above the usualy standard of english players, good footballing brain aswell. Hes also a versatile player which will help him get games and experiance in the first team. He can play central mid and on either wing (better on the left) and up front if needed. He also did well when played at left back for the senior side.
Left Midfield is the only position i can see him getting into and around the team for us as we have tons of centre midfielders so hes not going to get in there and Left back he wont b able to force his way in. Even on the wings he’ll face tough competition from the likes of Ramsey, Nasri, Rosicky, Wilshere, Troare and Vela who can all play there.
I think ur getting me wrong, im not sayign Gibbs will force his way into the side in any position as a starter any time soon. Im just saying, his versatility means that he can be played in a variety of positons, meaning he has more chance than many of getting a game or two under his belt.
At any rate hes very likely to go off on loan again so i doubt we’ll see much of him in an Arsenal shirt next season. I think he wants to do a Simpson and spend a whole season out on loan cuz he talked about how impressed he was of what Simpson achieved on loan and how much he’d seemed to have improved when he returned.
has anybody got a link to the video of the team training on arsenal tv
Johnv
I think Gibbs will rather do well at LB than CM or LM where we have tons of fringe players. He did well in the CC game against Sheffield United last season, better than Traore. I think Traore is better a winger than a LB. Traore has not been impressive at LB in all the games he featured last season. Gibbs can be at LB to support Clichy in that position. So Gibbs has a future.
Gibbs only played one game there though and the season b4 in the carling cup games Troare looked like a great player, so im not saying Gibbs wouldnt be a good option but he would need to play far more games there to convince me.
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johnV
So far, I see Traore as overrated. Not been impressive so far as a deputy to Clichy earlier on bandied about. His games at the Lane, Old Trafford, Servilla were all terrible. He also performed poorly in the CC finals however, he’s shown glimpses of quality at LM recently. He has a tough fight to live up to his hype.
I see Wilshare, Ramsey getting real chances next season. Wilshere will be playing in the CC coming season for sure.
Gibbs seems a good player but can he really get ahead of Merida, Wilshere, Walcott, Nasri, Traore (and even Barazite) on the wings?
Fabregas’ Dad
At the LB position Gibbs is better than the hyped Traore.
Traore is only 17 we have to remember though, he has amazing potential and runs a riot in the reserves. He just needs to pace himself when he gets lodged into the first team because his defensive mind seems to slip out the window.
“So far, I see Traore as overrated. Not been impressive so far as a deputy to Clichy earlier on bandied about.”
Jesus….hes only 18 (i think…may even still be 17) yet and ur sayin hes no good, give the kid a chance. Traore has been playing ok for the first team, and can only get better.
Man i love this website, its so in depth!
i agree with johnny maverik it still too early to doubt his abilitys plus we heared it from the Man himself Clichy and he SAYED THAT traore is one to watch and things he could challenge clichy in the near future
I hope so