Barazite, Lansbury & Mérida Confirmed For Crawley Clash

Crawley Town have confirmed this evening that Arsenal have included Nacer Barazite, Henri Lansbury, Kieran Gibbs and Fran Mérida in the squad for tomorrow’s friendly at The Broadfield Stadium.

Whilst they did not publish full details of the travelling party, they did take special notice of the four starlets. Manager Steve Evans is close friends with Arsenal’s Head Of Youth Development officer Liam Brady, and Evans took time out to look forward to the fixture and to thank the Gunners for accepting the challenge.

“All the lads are really looking forward for the game. Arsenal Football Club within football is recognised as an institution and we are honoured they are coming here. The Gaffer has persuaded Liam Brady to bring Arsenal Football Club to the town and it’s brilliant.”

Crawley may be relative minnows to even our Reserves, but after beating Tottenham’s youth team last week, Evans expects a competitive fixture to be played out.

“However all said and done our boys will want to win. We will not be taking a chance on either Steve Fletcher or Jon-Paul Pittman. We will make sure they are ready to return rather than gamble.”

“Our result with their local rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, on Tuesday evening will no doubt have raised some eyebrows at Arsenals London Colney Training complex.”

“I believe that is why the squad they have chosen is so strong and gifted.”

Some of the fringe Reserve boys are set to do battle with Town, and even though they have not made the trip to Austria like some of the others, Evans believes they are still in Arsène Wenger’s plans.

“These boys we are playing against are in Arsène Wenger’s plans and will no doubt play a part in the bigger picture at the Emirates this season so I know how difficult a match it will be.”

“When Mr Wenger gives an accolade like the one he has given on the boy Gibbs you really have to be special and it will be interesting to watch how good he is.”

Read our Match Preview to get the taste for the encounter, and be sure to check back shortly after full time for a full report.

Article By – J.Sanderson

59 thoughts on “Barazite, Lansbury & Mérida Confirmed For Crawley Clash

  • July 25, 2008 at 6:21 pm
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    Landsbury cant be happy if he has been sent home from Austria, I know he has not done too well but this must be a big blow to the lads confidence.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 6:24 pm
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    I agree Micky, unless something happened out there we dont know about?.

    Big chance for him to show what he is about now.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 6:24 pm
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    Lansbury needs to force his way into the side. He’s never gonna get in the team as a right sided midfielder. Impressive reserve performances at the center of the midfield will get him on the Carling Cup lineup. He’ll be vying for the defensive midfield role next to Cesc.
    I think the likes of Wilshere is staying with the team as he provides options on the wide. Randall is staying due to seniority and a chance to go out on loan again.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 6:28 pm
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    I think he needs to get back to what he is good at. 6 months out injured and then he is working for a first team place leaves a huge gap in standards.

    He needs to show he is settled for the Reserves before going back into the first team.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 6:32 pm
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    Maybe he knew before he went out to Austria that he would be coming back for this game? Given his long time out of football last season, I was quite surprised to see him pushed up to the fringes of the first team so soon. The Crawley game is likely to be quite competitive, so it will do him good to play in his preferred position in a tougher match than he might get against Burgenland.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 6:32 pm
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    As far as I’ve heard a number of youth players who initially travelled to Austria and Hungary have now returned to Colney.

    I guess that it got too crowded in Austria, now that all the Internationals (except Cesc) have returned to full training. Wenger loves to work with smaller squads in training, especially when working on tactics.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 6:34 pm
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    Jay – I cant see landsbury as a holding midfielder mate. He looks a decent player, but with so many young lads in his position I think the best move for him this season is a loan to a Championship team.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 6:34 pm
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    come on guys, don’t put pressure on landsbury. he sicked for more than half a year. he just able to play football. maybe he needs a few more months before he can get back to its best. everyone know how good he can be so have faith.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 6:42 pm
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    g0on3r – Who is putting pressure on the lad? We are simply saying that it must be a bit of a let down to be out there with the first team and then to have to come home and play for the reserves.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 6:45 pm
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    Lansbury needs to prove himself all over again I’m afraid as the period he has been off has not been beneficial to him as other talented youngsters have come through. Goodluck to him this year as I believe AW rates him highly.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 6:46 pm
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    At 17 being with the first team in Austria is an honour for Lansbury and Barazite I dont see it as a case of being “sent home”. Its interesting that Wilshere & Coquelin were kept. Randall and Simpson are 19 I would like to see what you think about thier chances? Will thier futures be decided in the next 4 weeks or so? I think they need to play or they could end up stagnating like Djourou and Hoyte

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  • July 25, 2008 at 6:53 pm
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    J.Sanderson some youngsters have been sent home ? whos come back

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  • July 25, 2008 at 7:08 pm
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    What’s up with all these steroids sites in your partners list? promoting steroids on a youth football blog? not a good message.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 7:09 pm
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    Lansbury is 18 months from even a potential first team place particularly since glandular fever. Hence Crawley then the reserves this year,or a loan at best.But he has the talent required for us.
    Nacer is a suprise – agree JS ? With his physique and talent surely Austria was appropriate.Or does Arsene go simply on age? If so Msr Wenger must agree with me about the sheer brilliance of Wilshire(or is it me agreeing with him!!!??)

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  • July 25, 2008 at 7:10 pm
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    What about Gavin Hoyte? Does he get to stay out in Austria or is he back too? Be strange to see him considered ahead of Lansbury and Barazite in terms of first team plans.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 7:14 pm
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    is coquelin back ?, come on msn Jamie lol

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  • July 25, 2008 at 7:29 pm
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    I really have high hopes for Lansbury. He could, if the stars align, become part of a new core of English players at Arsenal. I am no xenophobe but I really hope to see Lansbury, Randall, Wilshere, Gibbs, Simpson and, Walcott become first team regulars for Arsenal and England.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 7:36 pm
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    the best player in the youth team is Barazite ive seen alot of the youth acadamey games and let me tell u the boy is quality
    hes the next big thing

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  • July 25, 2008 at 8:11 pm
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    “What’s up with all these steroids sites in your partners list? promoting steroids on a youth football blog? not a good message.”
    Simmo…..

    Yep, I was wondering about this the other day… Not good !
    Otherwise… A very, very good and informative site !

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  • July 25, 2008 at 8:15 pm
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    what time is this game tommorrow

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  • July 25, 2008 at 8:18 pm
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    As far as i am aware it is just Lansbury that has gone home. Coquelin, Gavin Hoyte and Wilshere were all visible from Arsenal.com pictures of training.

    The Game is a 3pm kick off.

    As for the links they are adverts, make my time spend running the blog more worthwhile, without huge banners trying to sell you things.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 8:21 pm
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    Barazite gave the ball away a few times at Barnet. but I also saw one heck of a lot in him in that game. He reminds me a little bit of Pires out wide and that can only be a seriously good thing.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 8:24 pm
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    Maybe Barazite and Merida are being lined up for the Salamanca loan. J, any confirmation yet on who might be going? I figured Pedro was one certainty.
    Lansbury is still very young. He’s not ready for firsts yet.
    With Wilshere, I think the boss just wants to see what the limits of his ability are at the moment. Big feather in his cap though to continue with the squad.
    Similarly with Coquelin, this is the first opportunity to see what he’s made of. All been good so far.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 8:25 pm
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    I reckon Jack Wilshere will get into the first team before Nacer Barazite will IMO

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  • July 25, 2008 at 8:30 pm
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    Is there anyway to watch this game over the internet? Don’t think ATVO is showing it,

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  • July 25, 2008 at 8:31 pm
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    JS they keep showing Barazite as bein in the Austrian training squad theyve shown him 3 times as being in the squad so i take it he was in Austria so it must be him and Lansbury who have both been sent home.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 8:34 pm
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    James any news on a swap deal taking Cristinao Ronaldo for Eboue.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 8:45 pm
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    Daddy – the swap deal was just for a pair Ronaldo’s shoes. I think it’s good business though.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 8:56 pm
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    Oz, we also get 10quid monthly installments for 12 months.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 9:19 pm
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    Who’s going to be better Bendtner or Barazite? Interesting.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 9:20 pm
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    One more thing. How good is Wilshere’s dribbling? Some have likened him to Messi but seems more Piresy about him/Messi.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 9:46 pm
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    if any one should b miffed its barazite! he is the closest 2 the first team. lansbury and the rest jus need 2 continue playing and improving there game. my message 2 any aspiring futballer is simply keep working hard and u will reap wat u sow! even if its not Arsenal just take a luk at how many ex playas have gone on to have careers at other clubs! JUST DO IT!

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  • July 25, 2008 at 10:00 pm
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    Bent-ner, I’d say Bendtner because he’ll most likely get more chances. I’d say Wilshere is more closer to Joe Cole?

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  • July 25, 2008 at 10:14 pm
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    Arsene sees more of Barazite than any of us, so why not leave it to him to decide whether he is ready for the first team or a loan spell? As good as he might be, he plays in a position where we have plenty of options whereas Wilshere and Coquelin offer options in areas where there are fewer choices.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 10:35 pm
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    Barazite and Wilshire – eventually – at Arsenal or elsewhere will be shadow strikers. BOTH OF THEM. Different players with their own attributes but in the SAME basic position. If you don’t believe me then at least accept that Arsene has said as much.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 10:36 pm
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    I’d say Wilshere is like David Silva from what i’ve seen of them both.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 10:46 pm
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    Spot on Passenal. Seedorf, Jack Wilshere will be better than Joe Cole mate…he’s a Gooner!

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  • July 25, 2008 at 10:49 pm
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    That first touch that always takes the ball away from ur nearest opponent..what Jack does (and Barazite as well as Fran Merida)..a clear indication of class…they are the best attacking youngsters we have IMO.

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  • July 25, 2008 at 10:52 pm
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    TJ a wise person!!

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  • July 25, 2008 at 10:53 pm
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    Grasshopper!

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  • July 26, 2008 at 12:12 am
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    Ah well, guess i was wrong about Barazite being in Austria.
    Looking forward to reading the report tomorrow, still a bit miffed that its not guna b televised, but hey, cnt have everything.

    I recon it’ll b a 2-1 for Arsenal, but we’ll see. At any rate, it should be an interesting match.

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  • July 26, 2008 at 12:23 am
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    Very off-topic-alert!:
    Just curious. To all you British arsenal fans in here.

    Do most of you live in holloway and that area, or are you mostly spread around London? Just curious about how the local area counts and such.

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  • July 26, 2008 at 12:29 am
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    Very off topic again, but did I miss something? Is today Arsenal hate day. Been on youtube checking Arsenal videos and almost all the ones uploaded today is about Arsenal cheating diving and God knows what. There is a lot of arsenal hate going around right now, and I don’t know why. Do any of you guys know?

    Reply
  • July 26, 2008 at 12:29 am
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    I think you lot are reading to much into this, these players are simply coming back so they can play a full game while Wenger eases some more senior players into the 1st team (Ade, Nasri, Diaby etc..) i reckon we’ll be seeing Barazite and Wilshere in the Emirates Cup and Amsterdam Tournament though.

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  • July 26, 2008 at 1:00 am
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    PeteE, i can hear fans from the Hotspur stadium on match days. Live 20 seconds away from it.

    Derrick: Maybe, there’s been alot of anti-Ronaldo vids and they blame us because half of chelsea fans go on Youtube Russia and Liverpool fans can’t type well?

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  • July 26, 2008 at 3:52 am
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    Wilshere can beat a defender, but he will never be able to dribble like Messi. Messi is the best dribbler in the world and perhaps one of the best of all time. Jack is a more of creative winger who likes to drift into central areas and pass like Cesc.

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  • July 26, 2008 at 7:41 am
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    sanderson, just because you can,t see someone in the picture does not mean they are not there. perhaps you should get yourself awider lens .

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  • July 26, 2008 at 8:26 am
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    Which of the youngsters are in Austria right now?

    Wilshere
    Ramsey
    Nordtveit?

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  • July 26, 2008 at 10:41 am
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    I am really glad that Wenger is giving the real young youngsters a chance to play in the friendlies because realistically they won’t be getting much first-team football if any in the coming season. This is good exposure for them and hopefully they may get Carling Cup Football!

    I have been reading your blog for quite some time now but this is the first time that I have commented on it. It is really nice and I look forward to more posts and Arsenal news in the coming days/weeks/months. I am a huge Arsenal fan.

    My blog is at; http://tddi.wordpress.com if any of you people want to check it out.

    Crazysah

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  • July 26, 2008 at 10:56 am
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    LOL…most people living around WHL support the mighty Gooners. Especially in and around NPK and Seven Sisters. All the yids have moved out to Hertfordshire (Especially Cheshunt).

    Derrick – The English press hate Arsenal cos we’re seen as that “Foreign Club”…its worse because after Liverpool and the Mancs, we are the most glorious club on these shores. We are the PRIDE of the capital city and they cant stand to see us going this way…of course, they wont print that but they wont hesitate to have a little dig at us at any possible oppurtunity that arises. That’s not the problem though. The problem is that a lot of the referees also notice this and thus, give many dodgy decisions against us such as the “free-kick” they gave to the Mancs which Hargreaves despatched, the penalty the St Andrews faithful convinced the “ABSOLUTE PLANK” of a referee to award when Gael clearly won that ball, the BLATANT penalty that WAS NOT awarded when Lucas Leiva pulled Cesc’s shirt in the penalty area right in front of the ref, only for him to wave away the protests (i mean FFS, we must be the only team out of the top four that dont even get 50/50 decisions in our favour at home – its become a joke) need i go on? I’m sure you all know this.

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  • July 26, 2008 at 12:08 pm
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    “Which of the youngsters are in Austria right now?

    Wilshere
    Ramsey
    Nordtveit?”

    Yea, them 3 + Gavin Hoyte.

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  • July 26, 2008 at 12:38 pm
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    hello who is joseph mcarthur from scotland? galway united and JS can u get some info on him, cheers

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  • July 26, 2008 at 1:46 pm
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    the game tonight is not even live on arsenal.com :-(
    anywhere else ?

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  • July 26, 2008 at 2:35 pm
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    Oh and Jay Simpson is there aswell. So thats 5 youngsters.

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  • July 26, 2008 at 2:49 pm
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    Looks like Nordtveit is back for the Crawley game.
    Also includes Emmanuel Frimpong and Cedric Eviva on the bench.

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  • July 26, 2008 at 2:51 pm
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    Paolo Vernazza on the bench for Crawley.

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  • July 26, 2008 at 3:05 pm
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    ARSENAL XI: Wojciech Szczesny, Paul Rogers, Havard Nordtveit, Abu Ogogo, Rene Steer, James Dunne, Kieran Gibbs, Nacer Barazite, Rui Fonte, Kyle Bartley, Sanchez Watt. Subs: Rhys Murphy, James Shea, Thomas Cruise, Luke Ayling, Emmanuel Frimpong, Cedric Eviva, Jay Thomas

    Lansbury still at Austira?

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  • July 26, 2008 at 4:18 pm
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    winning 1 nil atm goal by gibbs

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