After playing out a spectacular 3-2 win over Aston Villa in the F.A Youth Cup earlier in the season, Steve Bould’s Under 18’s mirrored the result in the Academy League this morning.
In their first fixture since retaining their status as Group A Champions, Bould rotated a little, but in essence he kept the same names who helped secure the title with a win over Watford last week.
Shea
Obed – Boateng – Miquel – Evina
Yennaris – Aneke
Rasmussen – Özyakup – Watt (c)
Deacon
Just like December’s enthralling fixture, the goals came early, however it was the Gunners who struck first.
Cedric Evina’s jinking run stretched the Villa back line, creating space for Sanchez Watt to arrive in space and nod home the Frenchman’s cross.
From then on, Arsenal showed their inexperience at this level. James Shea’s clumsy foul in the box offered the Midland’s outfit the opportunity they were looking for to get back into it, and the home number one was powerless to prevent the leveller from 12 yards.
Shortly after, slack marking saw the visitors complete the come back, and leave Bould fuming. Although they could afford a slip up, the Youth Cup Semi-Finalists showed their character and fired themselves level through Roarie Deacon’s second in as many games.
The unbeaten run in 2009 was saved, but things got even better when skipper Jay Emmanuel-Thomas made a decisive cameo appearance from the bench.
Emmanuel-Thomas picked out leggy Danish winger Jonas Rasmussen who smashed home his second of the campaign to claim the three points.
Article By – J.Sanderson
J do you think that Wenger sees this 4-2-3-1 formation as the future of Arsenal FC, so he’s implementing it throughout the club at all levels?
Love the sight by the way!
would love it if next season we could watch the U18’s games live on Arsenal TV, any chance of that happening do you know?
J, what ever happened to Traore?
he`s on loan at pompy
He is on loan at Portsmouth
LOL what an idiot. ‘What happened to Traore?’.
How is jonas rasmussen playing. His he a fast tricky winger?
JET seems to always be efective and make the difference, looks like he is definately the one to look for from the current youth team (of those who haven’t playing in Carling Cup)
any idea where arsenal academy are in the league table? are there any links to that?
What’s the general view of Rasmussen? Is he good enough to push on at the club and start making some reserve appearences next season?
Rasmussen isn’t fast at all. He’s more of a central midfielder playing out wide. He has good ball control, good passing ability and very good from set pieces.
No you tits he hasn’t played for a while
Goon, our under 18s have won 1st place in their group with quite a lot of games left. Yeah, we rock
goon – Arsenal academy are top :)
@ Trotski, JET needs to prove himself at reserves level 1st bofre thinking of making 1st team appearance in the CC.
@ Nacer Barazite, flip was asking of Traore bcuz he hasnt played for Pompey or their reserves for a long time.
@ Davo, Rasmuss’s promotion to reserves level will depend on his performances for u18s which has been good for the last 5 matches.
@ Dave, thats the formation that the 1st team plays away from home in the knockout stages of Europe. As for live u18s matches, i dont see that happenings for the foseeable future especially when they dont show all rounds of FA youth cup run live.
Traore has been injured for a month or so, he’s expected back in the next couple of weeks.
J, when do I get taken off moderation :( ?
J. another suggestion but i dont why why u dont do it.
Can you not have the tables for reserves and youth somewhere on the site.
Hey J,
Do you think that Wilshire was promoted to the 1st team a lil bit earlier??
I think he should not have been put infront of the media spotlight this early