Arsenal 2-3 Chelsea – Reserves – Match Report

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