Arsenal Under 18’s maintained their 100% start to the new Academy League season this afternoon with a 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Compton Park.
The Gunners traveled to the midlands in fine form after another 3-1 victory – against Everton last week. Wolves also began the season with a three points after overcoming the MK Dons, meaning something had to give in the battle for the play offs.
Steve Bould had to make do without top scorer Luke Freeman, along with instrumental midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong – who were helping Steve Gatting’s Under 16’s in the Zinedine Zidane Tournament. Jonas Rasmussen, Cedric Evina and Anton Blackwood all missed out via injury last week, the latter pair returned and started.
Kyle Bartley and Francis Coquelin were rested ahead of Monday’s Reserve game, allowing Evina and Conor Henderson the chance to impress.
Shea
Blackwood – Ayling – Cruise – Evina
Eastmond – Henderson – Thomas (c) – Watt
Sunu – Murphy
Arsenal started at a frantic and imposing manner, catching the hosts cold with impressive football. The Gunners superb beginning reaped instant rewards, with Sanchez Watt putting the finishing touch to a neat move to hand the visitors a 2nd minute lead.
Striker Gilles Sunu had only returned from a 3 day intense training programme with the French Under 17 side yesterday, but he started and would notch the second just minutes after Sanchez’s opener. The youngsters were really putting in a shift to wrap the fixture up, that mission was completed before half time.
Flamboyant captain Jay Emmanuel-Thomas calmly sealed the points before Wolves could even get into their stride. The second half saw coach John Perkins patch up the gaps that had allowed Arsenal easy access to the Wanderers goal, frustrating the Under 18’s attempts to romp clear.
With eight minutes left they would finally get into gear, Aristole Lokonga beating James Shea to set up a nervous finish.
However, 3-1 it finished meaning Steve Bould’s side currently sit top of Academy Group A, and are the early pace setters. The Gunners are at home next weekend to an incredibly efficient Bristol City outfit, and will be looking to add to the 6 goals from the first two games of the campaign.
Article By – J.Sanderson
Looks like that Jay Thomas is gonna be a special player for us in the future. Seems to have the total package both defensive and offensive. Is he a future Arsenal captain?
Why did we buy Ramsey…sure, he’s a quality player, but we have an abundance of those in our academy too.
Thomas, Frimpong, Lansbury, Henderson…hmm.
Whilst Jay Thomas does score alot of goals, he is still a very very long way from being a first team player.
He is just too casual for Arsenal, he seems to drift through games, and lacks concentration. At the top level lacking concentration can prove to be the difference between a trophy and losing out.
he sounds like diaby
J.sanderson , I no they say it will be a young arsenal side , but vela and nicklas arent exactly youth and i would say apart from wilshere ramsey , song , djorou ,walcott etc who do you think will figure , there was a rumour of james dunne going to southend on loan , and do you think ogogo steer simpson will feature against sheffield united
lol i think diaby jus needs to be better defensively and know when to release the ball
but i seriously think we shuld jus buy veloso den its aiight
Vela is 19 and Bendtner is 20, they are still very young players. It will be second string players that play rather than Reserve team boys.
Ogogo and Steer will not feature, they are struggling to get into the Reserves at the moment. Jay Simpson will from the bench if he is still here.
to be honest, i know its to early to say, but i think jay thomas is a bit like senderos in terms of concentration, hes too “dopey” but still he has got time om his side
And as for James Dunne going on loan, not sure where you heared that mate, I’ve heared nor seen anything on that.
Nice to see Sanchez Watt get on the score sheet yet again IMO
Soory to go off topic, carlosjacktheosamir, the 3 weakness in Diaby’s game for him to be our 1st choice DM is “passing range”, “poor tackling” and the most important one is his “game tempo” infact if only I can make one player out of Diaby and Denilson and Song for us.
On Sanchez Watt one thing that i have noticed in his game is 1st touch sometimes leaves alot to be desired particlarly at crucial moments and this is one out of 2 most important technical skills that need at the highest level so he must be sorted out.
Bartley’s ommision today means he will play on monday then
Yep as mentioned in the article, Coquelin should also play and a couple of these boys should be on the bench.
A constant regular bt silnt reader from Africa here. I mst sae dat u a Fuckin Kick ASSSS ryter and u shud do ths 4 years 2 cum. Im high ryt nw so my appoogies 4or miswriting coz i aint in a solid state.ny wae so is jack wilksheere in FMM 2008 if nt is there a way to create him. it sounds stupid bt its sumthing thts bn buggin me ThnXXXX=)
my fault, i missed it J
Do you know yet if Rorie got on?
off topic i hope we never ever look at lisandro lopez portos number 9 he is shit… di maria now is a talent trust me jus watchin benfica porto match
wats happenin wid felipe ramos the madrid keeper sanderson
Arsenal nearly signed Di Maria last summer, but were out bid at the last moment. I don’t see what the Lopez comment has to do with anything mate?
And nothing at the moment.
How did Sunu play, and what were the goals like?
J, we weren’t outbid, Di Maria preferred to go to Portugal instead of England.
It’s a shame he chose Portugal because he’s a great player, although Nasri looks just as good.
We were, my friend is a journalist from Rosario [Di Maria’s old club].
We offered £1.5 million and had agreed to sign him. Skysports had even announced the deal, but Benfica came in at the last minute and out bid us.
Rosario Central kept things quiet and he joined them shortly after. Salamanca had been informed he was going there, but i think he prefered regular football rather than having to wait to play for us.
That fifth player in the line-up is a bit small, he’s never gonna make it in a first team that has to play the cold night at Bolton.
J, are you gonna cover Carling Cup and players making their first steps in the first team? Just wondering. Like Vela making his debut, or if say Merida or Lansbury gets a starting berth in the first team. I know it’s not a first team blog but it seems like once they grow up you… well, not stop caring but that’s the best way I can put it.
Well, for the sake of Di Maria we might not now have Nasri, and I bloody love the guy after his first couple games.
J, do you know how long they usually take for highlights of reserves/u18s to go on atvo?
reserves is next day after the match and U18s is thursday
did anyone here see the joe barton tackle on nasri, and then that little smurk on his face. i swear if i was in nasris shoes i would slap him in the face, but you know nasri’ only new to this country so lets give him time. but damn that barton needs sorting out.
Samuel – Yep i will cover it, quite a few people e-mailed me to ask so i will cover it for sure.
They go up on Wednesday at 5pm UK time mate.
And yes mate, Nasri owned him though.. kicked him into the floor :)
J.S Weres simpson on ur friendly goals scored against barnet and boreham wood and worthing
Joey Barton. What a Psychopath, can someone please DO HIM
Eboue or Diaby are very clumsy, I have a feeling the away game against Newcastle there’s gonna be amateur tackling from these 2
I always prefered Jay Thomas in the central mid role, playing slightly more defencive but still box to box along side some1 more attacking like Watt or Randall.
Ah well, another 3-1 win, another goal for Thomas and Watt and another promising performance from Sunu by the sounds of it. I know Sunu like Fonte got alot of stick last season but any1 who watched the Arsenal reserves 5-1 win over Derby reserves will know hes got something. Hopefully both Fonte and Sunu can show their true colours this season.
Cnt wait for the Reserves first game tomorrow now.
Cheers J. Keep up el good work.
wasen’t watt regarded as englands hughest talent some years ago? I heard even barca were tracking him…
Simpson been added up mate, cheers
“wasen’t watt regarded as englands hughest talent some years ago? I heard even barca were tracking him…”
From what i understand there were rumours but no real solid interest. They may have sent a scout to watch him a couple of times but i dont think they ever approached him. Dont forget, Barca watch alot of people.
As for England hugest talent, he was and to a lesser extent still is a highly rated prospect but hugest talent is a bit far, i dont ever remember that many people talking about him.
He definatly didnt attract the kind of attention as say Owen, Rooney or Samba have in the past. There again, if you look at Samba now thats probably a very good thing.
Maverick, im talking on a much younger age.. Watt is still 16, that is the age Rooney began getting attension (and baxter now), at 17 Owen began getting attension, but I always thought that 1-2 years ago, the FA was helding Watt pretty high in regard…
But he is still a massive talent though!