Arsenal’s Reserves returned to action this evening, with Neil Banfield’s boys hosting West Ham United in the first home game since the turn of the year.
Last time out, the Gunners lost 1-0 to an experienced Hammers outfit, with Junior Stanislas scoring the only goal on a freezing night in October. However, this time around, both sides fielded their Under 18’s.
Arsenal showed 8 changes from the XI that started the reverse encounter, whilst West Ham also opted for a largely Academy based team.
Shea
Eastmond – Bartley – Ayling – Thomas
Randall (c) – Coquelin – Frimpong – Wilshere
Bischoff
Sunu
Subs – Evina – Watt – Murphy
Match Report – Arsenal 0-1 West Ham United
Mark Randall led out his young troops to do battle with West Ham, and the midfielder won the first battle of the evening, the toss.
Arsenal, in red and white shirts, white shorts and red and white socks kicked off against the Hammers, in light blue shirt, light blue shorts and light blue socks.
Both sides began brightly, but it was the visitors who settled better against an experimental home defence. Anthony Edgar showed superb touch and pace to skip beyond the stranded Eastmond, yet the winger took his time and Craig was able to get back and poke it away for a corner. The delivery was poor, and Ayling cleared the lines.
Coquelin helped swing the balance back into the Arsenal favour. West Ham were tenacious about their work, but the Frenchman hassled a stuttering Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson, and was subsequently fouled. Wilshere’s dipping free-kick was well grabbed by Marek Stech.
With 10 minutes on the clock, excellent keep ball worked a fantastic chance for Arsenal. A flowing move involving Thomas, Wilshere, Bischoff, Eastmond and Sunu, saw the latter race into the box, before teeing up Randall who cut inside onto his left, and clipped the resulting effort inches wide of the post.
Wilshere was quickly becoming the best player on the park. His dancing run took out 4 players, and only a late challenge from Ashley Miller ended the exciting move. The tempo of the game was increasing.
Edgar was making Eastmond’s life very difficult indeed. Randall failed to track back and help his defender, who was left painfully exposed. Luckily for the Gunners, Luke Ayling was at his brilliant best to deal with the danger.
As the half hour mark approached, there was little to show from either side. Emmanuel Frimpong and Mark Randall had long range shots blocked and saved, while West Ham had bombared the hosts from the air, but failed to make a serious impact.
Wilshere set up Bischoff and then Emmanuel-Thomas in quick succession, the result was two corners, but both were wasted. Bischoff then cut inside and worked Stech with a flicked corner bound effort, but still no break throughout.
Daniel Kearns then had the best chance of the evening on 43 minutes. As Thomas was caught out of position, Kearns cut inside and smashed a powerful drive off the underside of the cross bar.
It was the final action of the first period.
Half Time – Arsenal 0-0 West Ham United
The second half was more of the same.
Arsenal had the best chance of the half so far, when Sunu flicked Wilshere’s driven cross over the bar from a tight angle, but neither side looked like going and winning the fixture.
Neil Banfield summoned Rhys Murphy from the bench on the hour mark, with the surprise coming as Craig Eastmond was the man who made way.
Instantly, Arsenal looked much better. Emmanuel-Thomas cut inside and blazed a pile driver which was well saved, but it was just typical that West Ham would punish the poor finishing.
Kearns’ cross shot was parried by Shea, right into the path of the arriving Miller who lashed home on 72 minutes
Goal – Ashley Miller (72)
Frimpong’s long range drive was about as close as the hosts got to an instant come back. Banfield was busy talking his side through the closing stages, but West Ham looked the better of the two.
Murphy’s evening then came to a terrible end. The striker pulled his hamstring attempting to flick home Bischoff’s cross, and the striker instantly knew he was in trouble. The Brighton born youngster collapsed to the floor in distress, and was replaced by Sanchez Watt up front.
That seemed to sum up the evening. So much promise, but just as things got into gear, the game was over. The Gunners never really looked like scoring, and were marked out of the game. Gilles Sunu isn’t really a goalscorer, and with Murphy looking at another 4 weeks on the sidelines, the Frenchman must start finding his scoring boots.
Full Time – Arsenal 0-1 West Ham United
Article By – J.Sanderson
Nice and quick again J!
Unlucky boys, no doubt they’ll pick themselves back up and the reserve action would of done the younger lads the world of good again! Bit worrying about the last time the reserves have won though.
Real shame for Murphy, I hope we can get him back for the Youth Cup, I really think 3 games in 5 days was really too much for him, especially considering he’d only just come back…
:) Thank you.
Yep, cannot believe the luck Rhys has had. I just hope his potential isn’t lost because of the injury problems.
Thought we played well tbh
frimpong is a BEAST
JET Is hench
lacked the last ball really that was all.
Post as soon as you know more about murphy
quick as usual, had possesion as usual but didn’t create many chances, wilshere was quite good. Is Merida in Roma squad? sunu looks good, randall doesn’t, don’t know why the hell he’s captain. Anyway you said Rosicky would play in in the reserves this month, is he still on course? Thank you.
Is it me or does coquelon never have a bad game! The kid is pure class!
i think frimpong and coquelin are the reasons arsene aint bought a new dm. Was at the game tonight my god the noise when frimpong tackles someone… i love it! And he is the only player who will shoot!
I think Sunu could have a future in midfield for us. He reminds me of Eboue in running style with abit more composure but not a goal scorer like you said. So J E Thomas played left back, do you think he can play that position for the first team? Who do you think will make the step up first out of these youngsters. Merida and Gibbs seem to be doing well.
I thought when the goal went in, Randell gave up. Really disappointed with his contribution tonight and he needs to worry for his Arsenal place as there as so many good central midfielder coming along.
ARSENAL LACK WINGERS, the only player who was willing to take players on was sunu and maybe wilshere. We just kept passing and probing without going direct to goal. We played exactly like the first team kept playing pretty football without no end product. Craig Eastmond i feel sorry for hes had the same treatment thomas crusie had in the reserves
Shame about Rhys. Looks to be our best striker out of the youth cup semi. That Giles Sunu kid is absolute pants, carries no goal threat whatsoever and looks less of a striker than Almunia. I know he scored a hat trick against Sunderland (christ knows they must be crap) but honestly the kid is hopeless.
Rhys got injured attempting a very cheeeky lob finish over their monster of a keeper. It would have been a goal against a keeper like Shea. Still, it just shows how classy the boy is. I got big hopes for him as long as he can sort out his injury problems.
Sunu can’t play up top on his own. His game doesn’t suit it. Receives the ball far too much with his back to goal, 25 yards out with a defender right up his arse. He’s better equipped to play on the wing as you may have noticed once Murphy came on. Sunu moved more over to the left and caused them more problems there in 5-10 mins than he did for the rest of the game.
I just don’t get what the management see in Mark Randall. He disappoints me so much. Rarely picks the right option. He also looked like he couldn’t be bothered tonight, and this is supposed to be the captain. A little fatigued even though he should be the fittest guy out there in the red and white since he didn’t participate in an F.A Youth Cup game just a few days ago. As for the rest of them, they got really tired towards the end of the game.
Ayling, Coquelin and Wilshere impressed once again.
Superb report as usual JS.
Frimpong’s interview at full-time was brilliant, he seemed really confident going into the Youth Cup tie with Man City. Hopefully he can replicate a performance similar to that which he made at WHL.
I’ve sent you an e-mail by the way mate, check your GMail inbox.
:)
randall and bischoff were poor today considering they are very close to the first team, i think the whole team never performed maybe due to the game played againts spurs the other day but randall and bischoff had no reason to not perform oh well
just seen west hams win over arsenal. the gunners never looked like getting a goal if they were there all night they do talk a lot of sh** on arsenal t.v.
Re dave. How the hell is sunu pants? I take it you have only based this on because he doesn’t score that many goals. I thought he was superb tonight and his workrate was second to none.
1 nil to the cockney boys……
Where is Nordtveit?
it’s totally ridiculous to blame randall’s performance, he played completely out of position, it was clear from the very start he was going to struggle, he is not a winger.
Wilshere had a good game, even if he is much better wide right or in the middle than on the left.
Overall I found the technical level very impressive, can’t believe most of the team is english
frimpong and coquelin are top class defensive midfielders
Great win for the West Ham Under 18’s.
Marek Stech = Best Young Keeper In The World!
Marek Stech was the only “wonderkid” on show tonight. Disappointed in Wilshere, thought he had more end product and was two footed. Obviously not. Deserved win for West Ham, created the 2 best chances on the night and never looked in much bother.
Frimpong and Coquelin look nice little players.
How did the likes of Randall and Bischoff get on this evening? I suppose it’s really make or break time for the two of them. Either step up to the first team in the next season or 2 or look elsewhere.
Shea 7, Eastmond 5, Bartley 7, Ayling 6, Thomas 7, Wilshere 8, Frimpong 7, Coquelin 7, Randall 5, Bischoff 5, Suna 6. What do other people thing?
I have to reiterate the question above: What on earth has happened to Havard Nordtveit? Why isn’t he playing?
Randall and Bischoff were really poor in my opinion, they didn’t really do much and failed to step up to the plate.
I can only imagine Nordtveit is putting the final touches to a loan move, or he’s away with Norway.
I never liked Randall, not his football or his attitude. Tonight made me dislike him even more, he just looks like he couldn’t be bothered.
Coquelin on the other hand never ceases to impress me, from the pre-season to now I’ve never seen a bad performance from him.
Yeah, word is Nordtveit is going to Brann on loan – most probably the reason why he wasn’t involved.
Bischoff isn’t going to make it :(
Randall seems to be given the armband just to add it to his resume when we sell him this summer.
Glad to see Merida has been ‘promoted’.
Marek Stech = Best Young Keeper In The World!
Thanks
I don’t really get the comments about randall, he is not my favorite player, but what did you expect from him on the right side of midfield. Bischoff has no excuse though.
What about Rosicky? IS he still on course to play for the reserves this month?
The striker’s principle role is not just to score and the coaches know that. Obviously when Sunu’s chances come he should score but he didn’t get them. His work-rate, link-up etc. was good. I want to see more confidence in Randall and better decisiveness as he could make it. If not, then it looks bleak unfortunately.
Thomas is only developing by playing LB, not his future position. Bischoff’s position looks like it could be CM or even as a deep lying playmaker.
Norway under 19/21 is not playing this week. But several clubs (as you probaly know) is keeping tracks on him. SK BRANN has already been linked.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/reserves-news/ayling-bould-is-the-best-for-young-backline
Havard and Kyle are good prospects but it’s all about this boy right now as far as young CB’s at Arsenal are concerned. His reading of the game reminds me of Tony Adams who wasn’t the fastest defender around either but like the article states, he is also a ball-playing CB, (more so than TA ever was), something AW loves. I hope he makes the CC starting line-up next year to be tested at a higher level to see how he fares. He can be world-class as long as he continues to learn from Steve Bould and keeps focused.
Not seen a reserves game since Portsmouth so this was a bit of a suprise really, I thought it was laboured from all our boys most of the night, except the middle of the park where our two boys were exceptional, think there were a few contributing factors to this.
1, Most of them had played a few of games recently.
2, I imagine a couple of the boys out there would have had their hearts set on a trip to Rome, so maybe they were a little down in themselves?
3, Looking @ West Ham they are certainly a big strong unit (unusual for them), both their CH’s looked decent & I would be surprised if they don’t make the next step-up.
I also don’t see the fuss that is made of Randall & if he’s that good surly he should have the experience now to play out of position for a reserve game?
However all in all I was disappointed in our display, we only looked dangerous in front of goal for the 10 min period that Rhys was on. Let’s all hope it’s not a bad one & he makes some part of the youth semi’s coming-up soon.
Oh I’ll ask it too where the fxxks Nordtveit
The matches who Arsenal plays without Ozyakup they will be lost the matches. Ozyakup must be play becuase he is a very good player in the midfield and I think he is better than Frimpong an will play for the A team in future,
Nordtveit ready for Lillestrøm(norwegian premiership team) on loan.
http://www.vg.no/sport/fotball/norsk/artikkel.php?artid=557407