Chelsea V Arsenal – Reserves – Match Preview

Arsenal’s fruitless Reserves are back in action this evening, as they take on Chelsea at Griffin Park looking for their first win since the turn of the year.

Neil Banfield’s options have been severely depleted with injuries mounting up and the already sizable list of loanees growing since January – but it has presented the manager with the opportunity to blood through some members of the impressive F.A Cup Youth side. However, as you would expect with extremely young players, form has been a big problem.

Arsenal’s lofty position of 2nd seems a distant memory now, as the Gunners languish in 5th, but they do have two games in hand over the clubs above them. Chelsea have also had a mixed campaign, and are currently 7th with a point less than their visitors this evening, yet they’ve played a fixture more. Last time out Arsenal were humbled by West Ham, whilst the Blues were smacked by Tottenham in a pulsating London derby.

The same names that helped turn the Semi-Final tie with Manchester City on its head feature tonight, but at Reserves level goal scoring has been a significant problem. That issue isn’t helped tonight as Banfield doesn’t have an out and out striker in the squad. On the plus side, Champions League winning centre back Mikael Silvestre continues his return from injury with a surprise start, whilst Amaury Bischoff will operate just off live-wire Sanchez Watt.

Wojciech Szczesny replaces the stricken Vito Mannone between the sticks, and the Polish stopper will no doubt be tested by a Chelsea team packed with recognized stars. Notably French winger Florent Malouda, but also leggy marksman Franco Di Santo, and Arsenal’s former Brazilian trialist Minerio.

Szczesny
Eastmond – Bartley – Silvestre – Cruise
Randall – Frimpong – Thomas – Merida
Bischoff
Watt

Subs – Shea – Ayling – Evina – Dunne – Deacon

Prediction – Arsenal 0-3 Chelsea

Kick off is at 7pm UK time at Brentford’s Griffin Park stadium. Tickets are still available, but should you not manage to get to the fixture, both Arsenal TV and Arsenal TV Online are broadcasting proceedings. A usual in depth Match Report will be published right on the full time whistle – so there’s no reason why you can’t keep up to date with all the action.

Article By – J.Sanderson