Arsenal kicked off the brand new Reserves League South season this evening with a London Derby against a strong Chelsea side at Underhill.
Before kick off The Gunners were boosted with news that Kieran Gibbs and Mark Randall had both signed new four year contracts with the club, they celebrated the announcement with starts. Jay Simpson and Fran Mérida returned from loan spells to claim a starting birth alongside midfield maestro Jack Wilshere.
Chelsea boasted star striker Didier Drogba in attack, offering Kyle Bartley and new skipper Gavin Hoyte a firm challenge. 7 English boys made the starling lineup for Arsenal, with the bench made up of a further 5 home grown talents.
Szczesny
Ogogo – Bartley – G.Hoyte (c) – Gibbs
Wilshere – Coquelin – Randall – Mérida
Simpson – Fonte
Subs – Shea, Thomas, Rodgers, Murphy, Dunne.
Match Report – Arsenal 2-3 Chelsea
Jay Simpson and Rui Fonte kicked off the new campaign, in a season which Neil Banfield has once more challenged his young charges to mount a serious title challenge.
The Gunners made an instant impression as Mérida found Fonte on the edge of the box, but he failed to convert. Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair fizzed a shot off Ogogo for a corner in an instant response, before Miroslav Stoch worked Szczesny from range.
The decent size crowd were treated to a frantic start as both sides attempted to keep possession, but the competitive style meant this was almost impossible.
Simpson looked bright in attack, he chased and harrowed the nervous Chelsea back line, eventually forcing a foul on the edge of the box. Fran lined up a curling shot, but saw his effort deflect off the wall. Chelsea looked dangerous on the attack, with van Aanholt catching Ogogo cold down the left, until a fantastic recovering tackle from the former Fulham man stopped a certain cross.
But the visitors would then be punished for their attacking exploits. First Fran lashed at shot at Rhys Taylor, before Randall found Coquelin on the edge of the area, Francis stabbed it back to Mark in the box, he shifted beyond two Chelsea defenders before flicking inside the advancing Taylor from 6 yards.
A terrific piece of skill from Randall, and a perfect way to celebrate his brand new contract.
Goal – Mark Randall (10)
Sensing the opportunity to bag the second, Arsenal kept up their relentless attacking. Wilshere and Fonte combined on the ‘D’, the new number 19 attempted a deft chip but got his angles badly wrong. Coquelin then robbed Jacob Mellis in the centre, before the Frenchman came thundering forward to play Mérida in, but the Spanish play-maker crashed over.
Chelsea came back with two attacks, but were snuffed out by Szczesny and Ogogo. It seemed every time The Blues tried to hurt Arsenal, they hit back with full force. Rui Fonte proved this as he tricked his way past Bruma and curled a stinging drive off the post. Mérida then stung the palms of Taylor from range, it was total one-way traffic towards the visitors goal.
Francis Coquelin was superb in the middle, his non stop running power had helped dismantle the struggling Chelsea midfield, who found it a task just to play passes through the 17-year-old debutant.
Seth Ofori had no change out out of Gibbs, but Sinclair nearly punished the Gunners high line. His cross saw Drogba work Szczesny, but he parried the effort back to the winger. Scott lashed the ball back across the goal, and only a last ditch interception from Ogogo stopped the equaliser
Shocking defending from Kyle Bartley should have levelled the scores, but Arsenal’s number one Wojciech Szczesny had other ideas. First he rushed out to make a perfect challenge on Drogba, before Sinclair smashed one at the giant Pole, he again saved expertly. The hat-trick of saves was completed as he caught Sergio Tejera’s free kick. A truly exceptional start to the new campaign.
An elegant ‘Maradona’ turn from Randall helped ease pressure in the corner as Chelsea kicked on, Drogba bullied Bartley out the wing, allowing space for Sinclair, he lobbed Szczesny but also the frame of the goal. Tejera was then booked when he really should have been sent off for a wild swipe at Mark Randall, the Gunners starlet scrapped hard for possession, but the Spaniard didn’t like the manner and preceded to take a pop at Randall’s neck.
Any bad fortune for the lack of a red card was rewarded moments later – Ogogo appeared to shoulder charge Stoch to the floor, but the referee gave nothing.
Arsène Wenger was spotted watching on from the terraces, was he taking a break from signings? or preferring to bolster his squad with Reserve players? the next hours will tell.
With half time approaching Drogba had a firm chance to bear down on Szczesny’s goal, but Gavin Hoyte wanted the ball more and made an great tackle to dispossess the giant striker. However, the Ivory Coast forward would play a part in the equaliser, he barged Ogogo over down the right flank, a neat pass across the face of the goal found Tejera who slotted home.
The strike was rather contentious as there was a solid case for Sergio to have been sent off minute before, but the effort stood, and Chelsea were heading for the break level.
Goal – Sergio Tejera (42)
Half Time – Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
The second period began with Banfield issuing clam to his players, the young Gunners were urged to keep the ball and look for a probing pass.
With just minutes of the half gone it should have been 2-1 to Chelsea as Tejera found Stoch 6 yards out, but the Slovak drilled his chance wide. A huge let off for the now complacent Reserves.
Jack Wilshere had a very quiet first half, but exploded into life with two delightful twists and turn down the right flank. But his passing was erratic at times as the previous high tempo fell away.
Randall was next to come close, a 25 yard free kick hit a hand in the wall and bounced off the cross bar, but Gavin Hoyte failed to finish the rebound.
With an hour on the clock the two danger men were withdrawn, Drogba and Tejera were replaced with Michael Woods and new signing Fabio Paim – who like Rui Fonte is on loan from Sporting Lisbon. Neil Banfield also shuffled his pack, James Dunne replacing Frenchman Francis Coquelin.
On 62 minutes Chelsea would snatch the lead, and it was the double substitution which would pay dividends. Paim’s 25 yard cross field ball found Stoch in acres of space on the left, he layed the ball across and Michael Woods tapped beyond Szczesny.
Goal – Michael Woods (62)
The second strike had really killed Arsenal, who now seemed lethargic and frustrated. Rui Fonte was lazy in attack, Fran Merida’s passes were not sticking, and the lack of a defensive midfielder left the Gunners exposed.
Seven minutes later it was game, set and match. Jacob Mellis darted into the area, Gibbs’ tackle only profited the ball for Scott Sinclair, he curled beyond Szczesny into the corner for 3-1.
Goal – Scott Sinclair (69)
A frustrated Gavin Hoyte lashed out at Stoch on the edge of the box, and the diminutive forward nearly punished him from the resulting free kick. Kyle Bartley performed well against Drogba, but when facing the pacy Paim and Stoch, he looked average. However, it was Bartley’s excellent passing range that offered the greatest chance of a conciliation effort.
Banfield was looking for a reaction for his boys, and he got one. Wilshere released Jay Simpson who was scathed down for a free kick, another certain red card that the referee let go. Bartley bullied the wall out of the way, and Rui Fonte curled a stunning effort perfectly into the corner. Game on.
Goal – Rui Fonte (77)
Mark Randall was then replaced by Rhys Murphy, and the true character of the boys came out as a fight back began. Simpson won a corner following an electric run down the right, but Wilshere wasted the chance to score.
A succession of further corners tested Chelsea’s defence, with Kyle Bartley nearly clipping home Dunne’s cross. Arsenal had there fight and belief back in there play, and in Rhys Murphy one of the best young strikers in the country. He tried to work an opening with Gibbs, but Chelsea were just holding on.
They managed to ride out the storm and Arsenal’s 7 game unbeaten run in the Reserves was over.
Article By – J.Sanderson
Me, I doubt it unless you have something else to back up your ruomor, Alonso is more likely..
What does everyone think of M’Bia here??
WEVE NOT BEEN MENTIONED ALL BLOODY DAY. WERE NOT IN FOR ANYONE.
WENGER HAS LIED ALL SUMMER TBH.
There is no link, it’s a radio station mate.
How about Blaise Matiudi aint Giles been watching closely for while now…………. Just Sign someone good to make us a better and stronger team
Manuel at least use your brain and comment tomorrow when we can see what has happened?
Adam – Matoudi is not coming here
http://youngguns.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/arsenal-scouting-matuidi-but-no-contact-with-etienne/
Alonso’s name was mentioned by Auclair, he feels the signing of Riera has opened up Alonso’s move to Arsenal.
Has wenger lied? He said he would sign a player, and he has – Silvestre.
I’m disappointed at the lack of signings, but thats life.
well if you are saying he doesn’t start for his national team cesc didn’t start till the final i know it was a joke and he should have started but veloso is a quality player and watching him in the champions league for the last 2 years people should know him
is there really much chance in liverpool letting alonso leave now they are not getting barry and seem to remember reading veloso stuff a while ago but nothing came of it
That radio link sound exciting “an amazing player”.
J.S if veloso isnt the man then who do you reckon is??????
T-Gully what is the word pal????
We need some links, there must be news.
But Riera is a winger and Alonso is a central player? just doesn’t add up at the moment.
But i would say it seems like Alonso, or maybe M’Bia.
yes he has:
early summer he promised signings within 2-3 weeks – nothing.
commanding centre back to help deal with long balls through the centre – nothing.
midfield signing before 2nd leg vs twente – nothing….
need i say more….
arsene needs to not bother saying anything about transfers from now on. just keep his thoughts to himself, because all he has done is promise things and not deliver.
Well either way if we sign someone or not………… Am sure the team is still capable of great things just need to sort out the CM someone to compliment fabregas
ALONSO GET READY AND HE HAS TO KEEP CESC HAPPY
I CANT BELIEVE YOU GUYS!! U CALL URSELF ARSENAL FANS?? IF U WHERE A LOYAL FAN U WOULD KNOW BETTA THAN TO THINK WE WONT SIGN ANY1!! DO NOT PANIK!!! THE SIGNINGS ARE COMING!! WE WILL ALL LAUGH TOGETHER ONCE THIS HAPPENS!! TRUST ME GUYS!! IF IT DOESNT HAPPEN THEN TAKE IT ALL OUT ON ME!! BUT IM SO CONFIDENT IT WILL!! WENGER IS DA FUCKIN MAN!!!!
We have to remember though, respected journalists are equally capable of speaking BS as truth. “You’ll never win anything with kids.”
I think Alonso will be the addition. We need one midfielder with experience and we should be good. If not we still have a solid team once the injured come back.
george you are completely right. we arent signing anyone…
and that tenuous barton link has been rubbished by barton. so forget that too!
Manuel – We got Ramsey.
and he didn’t promise a midfield signing, he promised A signing in general, and we got Silvestre.
ramsey did not sign in the 2-3 weeks after wenger said what he said…
OK GUYS—WE WILL SIGN THE COMMANDING CENTRE BACK IN THE FORM OF METZELDER OF REAL MADRID!
THE SECOND SIGNING IS IN MIDFIELD…..ALONSO IS THE NAME. WENGER HAS FAITH IN DIABY PARTNERING FABREGAS IN MIDFIELD DURING TH CHAMPIONS LEAGUE!
Haha I didn’t say we were’nt signing anyone. I just don’t want to get my hopes up for nothing to happen. Arsenhollis, get your man to give us some names!!
t-gully, where are you pulling these names from?
your over-active imagination?
arsenal have not had one mention all day. no links, nothing. nothing is happening. get over it.
manuel – why do you feel the need to be so negative. watch, see what happens, then pass opinion. You are jumping the gun mate.
Alonso or m’bia eh.
is m’bia any good?
Wenger said not to expect anybody, and if we get somebody it’s a good surprise. He said he wants to surprise people, but he cannot give promises.
Don’t be harsh on Manuel, everyone is entitled to an opinion here. Just because a lot of people are optimistic there will always be doubters and that’s ok.
George my man can give you more than names mate, how long since you got any poon-tang???
Anyway…my man still has Alonso as the only boy in the pipes
Alonso would defo compliment fabregas
Take it elsewhere please mate and don’t inflict it on people.
i just cant see it. i really cant.
i believe we are short of where we need to be and i am frustrated by what arsene has said all summer.
he is a brilliant manager and i wouldn’t want him to leave by any means, but this summer he has annoyed me.
I share your frustration Manuel, but i think your just jumping the gun a little. Let’s give it an hour or so, then we can look at where we are, but i agree.
At the moment we are far from where we need to be.
hahah this is so great i luv it!! any1 who is a true supporter will be on this website till sfter midnight!! i love it CUMON BOYS GET EXCITED MAN!! FUCK IT!! WE HAV 2 WAIT ANOTHER 5 MONTHS FOR THIS FEELING AGAIN!! LETS JUST ENJOY THE ANXIETY!!!!ADRENALINE RUSH OR WHAT!!!
also i am happy with what we have got this summer anyway nasri looks class ramsey and coquelin are going to be great silvestre adds great experience bischoff could turn out to be a bargain and getting vela back from loan has added more options up front
Yeah you’re right. At least our club is stable unlike City. What happens when them Arabs get bored?
no 1 signed yet. and an hour to go.
55 MINUTES LEFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
COME ON, WENGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wonder how he’s feeling right now and what he’s actually doing. Sweating over how he has a time limit to sign (insert name here) or enjoying the fun because he wants to sign nobody. I can’t see which one looks more likely.
Veloso was in the squad but was not named in the staring eleven or the bench fuelling speculation of a move to Arsenal.
One more hour to go ffs. At least wait an hour AFTER that to start moaning, if that’s your thing.
Arsenal.com went down briefly at midnight last year, only to come back up with the Diarra confirmation. Gallas was confirmed the year before on BBC after midnight as well.
At least wait another hour or two.
At the bottom of the page it says theme by Bryan Veloso…. Is it a sign???
J.Sanderson , You Was Getting Alot Of Praise
I also share the frustration manuel mate!! really i do…but i promise you all this will soon be relieved!! LAST HOUR BOYZ!!CUMOOOONNNNNN!!!!!!
Oh, good news, Dave. Yes, very good news…but still, time’s running out and I think most of us are getting pretty nervous.
And it looks like Man Yoo probably will get Berba and get stronger but also Chelsea will be weaker without Robinho who’s probably going to a really strong City side.
51 minutes.
this man city things is really annoying. i hate the way these random billionaire’s are investing in english football, giving clubs who have underachieved for years the financial advantage over clubs who have built their history in a proper businessman like fashion.
what has gone on at city today is utterly farcical.
OMG WE REALLY ARE GETTIN VELOSO!!!! YESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!
Wenger is an absolute joke! He is completely unacceptable, it is now gonna be 5 years without a trophy. disgraceful, the club is going backwards. I feel really sorry 4 u fans that are still optmistic but the reality is we wont be challenging this year. we are 3-4 players worse than united and chelsea. Even City have got a stronger squad then us now. and believe me now NO ONE WILL BE SIGNING!
blimey, arsenal were mentioned on SSN for the first time just then. but really it wasnt anything to write home about.
even if wenger not sign anyone, i still think we can win trophy this season. wenger knows what he doing.
T-Gully, how do u know?
I think it will be Veloso lads.
finally 3 signings Nada Zilcho and Diddly Skwat
T-GULLY. you are a wind-up merchant.
T-Gully u need to take a chill pill mate. Stick 2 reality or u will end up depressed
We Keep Crying about experince i for one thinks from what happened after the bham game last season. the boys will be more experinced and stronger the main loose we hav to replace is Flaminis position but who says that one of the fringe players wont come in and do what flamini did improve and have a breakout season all in all yes we hav a small squad and need to strengthen in certain position mainly CM but i BEILEVE THE BOYS CAN STILL DO GREAT THINGS THIS SEASON NO MATTER IF WE SIGN SOMEONE OR NOT
robinho to city calderon confirmed it
45 minutes left…
As for now, our new signing is…none yet unfortunately. Wenger, hurry up! Best manager in the premiership but you need to be quicker when you do get transfers!
Too late lol. This is his alter-ego writing as we speak.
OH MY GOD ITS OFFICIAL MAN CITY HAVE SIGNED ROBINHO!!!!!!!!!!!! WOT DA ACTUAL FUCK IS GOING ON!!!??? (http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=845203)
T-Gully where was the veloso link??????
George are you sore at me sweety??
Will it be no one, Vieira, Alonso, Veloso, Barry…
I wonder how awesome it would feel to be a last minute signing. That would actually be really cool.
Haha lets forgive and forget lmao
adam, i admire your optimism, but i think most arsenal fans will disagree.
we just don’t have the strength in depth or winning experience that chelsea and united have. no doubt we will have bad injuries again and once that happens our squad is just paper thin.
we have too many injury prone players and too many inexperienced, although talented, youngsters.
this squad as it is, might win something in 2 to 3 years, but now? no chance. we are 1 or 2 signings away, which is why so many of us are wound up.
I have a feeling it will be from either the Spanish league or the French league. I just have that feeling.
Manuel you say that but look at everyone else. United, although they have acquired Berbatov, look flat without Ronaldo. Chelsea haven’t looked good ince the opening day and Liverpool…2 words Gerrard, Torres
berba to united….
DONE
OMG Arsenal have signed Xabi Alonso (www.shitechat.com)
WHAT A GREAT TRANSFER WINDOW THIS IS TURNING OUT TO BE IN GENERAL!! VILLA OR GOMEZ 2 MAN CITY ASWEL NOW LADS!!
Manuel, I think we’re stronger than we were last time and we will definitely challenge for (if not win) the title and the Champions League crown.
Man City are really going to upset the balance of football in general. Their owner is 10x richer thsn Abramovich!
I still think we can win the PL without new signings but I’d love to see a new signing. Diaby could be a fantastic player for us if he manages to stay fit for the whole season and Song is very good at DM as well.
I hate it that small clubs like Man City suddenly get taken over and then start buying crazt-it’s not right. Chelsea were already a CL club so their situation wasn’t as bad as this. What’s the bet that if there were no such things as billionaire owners, we’d be sitting here bragging about how easily we’re gonna win the PL.
WTF!!!!!!!!!!!! WAT A DEADLINE DAY
No Chelsea were a UEFA cup club
Sod the debates about stronger or not, that will be for tomorrow morning.
Right now this is great fun chasing rumours, even if they are hair-brained, im having a ball.
On another site they reckon barry is ours….?
any leads guys?
J.SANDERSON , Alot Of People was talking about you tonight
HAVE FAITH BOYS THE SIGNINGS ARE COMMING!! WENGER WOULD NOT WIND HIS BELOVED FANS UP LIKE THIS IF HE WERE TO NOT SIGN ANY1!!
all foreign investment sucks to be honest.
doesnt seem to be happening in other countries. just here, and it does unbalance things and fastracks teams who are underachieving straight to the big time.
only M’Bia but Wenger always keeps things private
ha ha fabregas dad u r a serial joker
they say anything can happen in football on one hand we have berbatov being kidnapped by fergie and on the oyher we have robinho going to a side that struggled to get through a uefa cup qualifier against a rubbish danish team
1 or 2 away seriously??? 2 seasons ago our reserves were being narrowly beaten by Chelsea’s first X1 now they are being beaten by Chelsea 3rd x1 + Drogba. We need a keeper, an understudy right back 2 centre halves that can play together against top opposition (and I dont mean fulham) an understudy left back a decent right sided player, a defensive midfielder and 2 strikers with nothing to prove. Then we might have a chance against Chelsea/Man U/Liverpool and the resergence that will be Man Al City. Dont discount the scum down the road or the Villa either. Everyone in the window apart from us!! Anyone going Blackburn, Bolton and Sunderland??
Think about our squad. We have the best strike force (first choice and in terms of strength in depth), the best full backs and the most creative midfielders in Rosicky, Nasri and Fabregas. I don’t think Rosicky will get injured often after having had surgery. Last year our defence did cost us vital points but Toure should be back in form now and towards the end of last season, we did have some goalscoring problems with Van Persie, Eduardo and Rosicky missing for large chunks.
What site is that Arseneholics??
34 MINUTE TO GO
bc, you’re saying we need all of that to stand a chance against Liverpool and Man City, two teams we finished well ahead of last season?
Either way i wouldnt be suprised if we didn’t sign anyone tonight and we have a better chance of doing so in the janaury transfer window……….wenger sees something in the players we have that we dont know about so lets keep fingers crossed and hope for the best
NO ONE PANIC!!!
chelsea reserves site actually posted highlights of the game – a youtube rip from arsenal tv!
http://chelseayouthandreserves.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/arsenal-reserves-2-3-chelsea-reserves-video-highlights/
manuel u r just bitter mate, im sure you would love it if we got taken over by some billionaire consortium and could sign players like robinho and kaka! all this means is that over the next few years arsenal will be battling 4 fifth rather than fourth
THE POINT IS WE NEED 2 REPLACE PLAYERS THAT HAVE BEEN SOLD AN THIS IS THE REASON I HAVE FAITH!!
I have doubts about Almunia though. And Gallas and Toure aren’t great either but we’re gonna have to deal with them for at least another season.
StewDod you sound as optimistic as Manuel
I belive Liverpool are trying to agree a price with us for Alonso,
does anyone know how the under16s did in the Cannes final yesterday
Is that inside of info or just plain bullshit steera?
StewDog,
no i would hate it if we got taken over by that fat fuck usmanov. i love the way our club is run.
what i dont love is wenger saying he is going to do things in the market and then not doing so!
Did anyone see that these new Man City owners were looking at Arsenal to takeover instead of City. This could be us signing Robinho. But hey, id take Wenger and his philosophys any day of the week. The Premiership is getting ridiculous!
fabregas dad, yes we have good players but we dont have enough match winners when we are playing badly and you will see in the next two away games the old frailties return coz wenger is too stubborn to change. sorry 2 sound negative but its reality, wenger needs 2 either change or go(even though he wont)
Gully but those players can be replaced by the fring players
Lehmann — Fabianski
Helb —- Nasri
Gilberto —- Song/Denilson
So we just really need one signing to replace flamini really
If we don’t sign anyone for DM and Song, Diaby and Denilson aren’t up for it, then we’ll be seriously screwed.