Whilst Arsenal’s first team have an important Champions League game with Fenerbahçe tomorrow evening, in a rare clash, the Gunners second-string also have a fixture – a tasty London derby against West Ham at Bishop’s Stortford.
It’s rare that both teams play on the same day, yet this now means Gooners will have a decision to make on how they spend their Tuesday evening. A small selection of fans are expected to head East for the encounter between two of the most prosperous Reserve teams in the country.
International duty robs manager Neil Banfield of some of his most important players, although it will also present an opportunity to several names who have been knocking at his door. Rui Fonte will be absent after playing for Portugal yesterday, meaning one of Rhys Murphy or Gilles Sunu will partner Jay Simpson in attack.
Kieran Gibbs is away with the first team for the previously mentioned clash with Fenerbahçe, leaving Banfield with a tricky choice of replacements. Rene Steer will be available for selection following his trial at Cheltenham, but Thomas Cruise or Jay Emmanuel-Thomas are the other standout options.
Cruise has been in great form for the Under 18’s this campaign, and is thought of highly by the coaching staff. His average performance during the defeat to Aston Villa saw Tommy singled out for some criticism, even though he was left painfully exposed by the attack minded Emmanuel-Thomas.
Amaury Bischoff is expected to make his second start in the Red & White, once more building up his fitness levels ahead of a first team debut around December time.
A full Match Preview will be added tomorrow morning, with a Match Report following on the Full Time whistle.
Article By – J.Sanderson
JS, Is Bischoff that good that he’ll make his first team debut that soon? Is he level with Diaby, Denilson, Song, Ramsey etc to be considered to play alongside Fabregas? His rise from nowhere to Arsenal’s first team would therefore be meteoric!
Does thomas cruise play left back or centre back for arsenal under 18s? He reminds me of a young tony adams i remeber him and jack rodwell playin for england under 16s he looked brilliant
Could this be the line up?
Mannone
Hoyte Ayling Bartley Cruise
Bischoff Randall Merida Wilshere
Simpson Murphy
subs; Shea, Thomas, Lansbury, Sunu, Steer
Good line up, but i would prefer Hoyte in the middle with Ayling at right back. Also Bischoff in the middle, Merida left and Whilshere right.
who else is missing throug international duty apart from Fonte? And have Dunne, Ogogo and Rodgers now finished their trial with Forest? If they’re back at Arsenal, won’t they be involved?
Banfield adapted the formation to bring Bischoff in last time out, playing him behind the forwards. I would expect this…
Mannone
Ayling – Bartley – G.Hoyte – Cruise
Wilshere – Randall – Merida
Bischoff
Simpson – Murphy
Szczesny is also away, and yes the three are back, but i expect them to just be on the bench. Lansbury is still suspended i believe.
bc, isn’t Lansbury suspended following his sending off ?
Lastuvka
Spence – Collins – Davenport – Lopez
Bowyer – Collison – Mullins
Sears – Bajner – Boa Morte
5 or 6 nil to West Ham I’d have thought.
Haha, extremely optomistic ZIG.
We’ve found that our kids have been more than enough for most outfits boasting Premiership experience.
I am not sure but i think U18s league is part of suspensions for reserves so lansbury might be available and Wilshere, Freeman & Frimpong have left for Spain with England U17s so they will not be available.
I think Banfield could test Cruise again at LB by starting him hopefully he will perform better this time.
How did fonte do for portugal what was the score etc. And why won’t ogogo dunne and rodgers be in the squad
This will be a great test for the Reserves against a presumably strong West Ham side, let’s see how much we’ve learnt from the Aston Villa fixture! Will be good to see Randall, Wilshere and Bischoff mixing it against Premier League opposition too.
I feel West Ham will be too strong, surprise me Gooners!
http://www.arsene-al.co.uk
Fonte scored twice, Portugal won 2-1 I think, but 100% he scores the 2 Portugal goals.
http://www.arsene-al.co.uk
Cool cheers ell who was it against
I hope those fans don’t head east JS – on my map Bishop’s Stortford is north of London
Hello! we’ve got a Champions League game today!
I’m going to watch the CL game live and then the reserves in repeat on Arsenal TV. I recomend you to do the same.
btw. Wilhere are on Tenerife to play 3 Euro u17s qualify games.
btw. Aren’t Wilshere on Tenerife?… I would suppose so as England has 3 games in Euro u17s qualifiers, start tomorrow against Armenia.
Who of the youngsters are travelling to Turkey?
Could you who are going to the game do me a favour. One of West Ham’s CB is Icelandic and is called Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson. Could you tell me how he plays as I’m curious about my fellow Icelanders.