Arsenal’s Under 18’s arrived on Mersyside early this afternoon to prepare for their season swansong – the F.A Youth Cup Final second leg. Already boasting a 4-1 aggregate lead following Wednesday’s enthralling first leg, it would require a massive upset for the Cup to be heading anywhere else than the Emirates Stadium this campaign.
Goals from Gilles Sunu, Sanchez Watt and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas were sandwiched in between a Jack Wilshere penalty in front of 33,000 at a bouncing Emirates on arguably one of the most enjoyable atmosphere’s ever at the £430 million stadium. The only sour note came when Alex Kacaniklic pulled one back for the visitors.
But that goal and the sort of form that Liverpool have shown this term will be enough to make them believe a come back of epic proportions is possible. Yet with away goals not counting for anything it would mean they need FOUR unanswered goals to walk away with the trophy for a third time. Arsenal are safe in the knowledge they could go down 2-0 and still be crowned Champions.
Steve Bould was his typical bullish self in the after math of the first leg and maintained the stance that it’s only half time in the tie. But with the Academy League trophy already in the bag it seems nothing can stop his rampant charges from pulling off a double which seemed unlikely at the start of the season.
In terms of team news, only one change is expected to the side which performed in the first installment – that’s injured midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong will bow out in place of third goalscorer Sanchez Watt. It will allow a change to the formation with a more narrow five man midfield.
Predicted Starting XI
Shea
Eastmond – Bartley – Ayling – Cruise
Coquelin
Lansbury – Watt – Thomas
Wilshere
Sunu
Prediction – Liverpool (2) 1-3 (7) Arsenal
Kick off is at 19:45 (7:45pm) UK time at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium. Arsenal have returned all their unsold tickets to the Liverpool ticket office and you can only buy them on the gate on the night.
Alternatively the game is being shown live on Setanta Sports with live Audio commentary on Arsenal TV Online. You can also catch a Match Report right here on the full time whistle.
Article By – J.Sanderson
Intresting to hear steve bould say he would have started rhys murphy if hed been fit.
Is this Tonight or tomorrow?
who takes Frimpongs place in the squad- Ozyakup, Miquel, Boateng?
Lansbury, Watt, Thomas and Wilshere – all future Arsenal first teamers as far as I can see.
Is Watt actually any good?
I think watt will start i just wanna see lansbury in CM he can be awesome in there hes more composed than wilshere he does not give the ball away as much. I like to see wilshere of sunu, lansbury alongside coquelin and watt on the right wing hes looks very good on the wing. Sanchez watt has to be the most underrated player at arsenal he looks a class player
Sanchez watt very pacey, can dribble past players can hold the ball up and he never seems to give the ball away. I like him on the right where cuts inside like messi does for barcelona.
Sanchez Watt in central midfield??? That formation was how we started the first leg, with Frimpong playing in there. When he got injured, Watt came on and played up front with Sunu, and Wilshere dropped back into centre mid to make it a 4-4-2. That’s presumably how we’ll start this evening. And we’ll presumably stuff ’em again.
lansbury doesn’t keep the ball as well as wilshere, he definitely has to improve in this area
I think the lead should make us go there and play relaxed football. that is when we are at our most dangerous. we didn’t fluke that 4-1 at all so I cant see any way Liverpool can come back into this match. If anything we should get at least a draw.
surely Watt will play up front? alternatively watt goes wing and Bouldie stiffens midfield by adding Lansbury to Coq and wilshere who are already there.
But personally I would keep the same line up because it was so smooth on Friday.
i woudlen’t see watt in the centre, but rather out wide or up front? its been there he mainly has played for arsenal to last years haven’t he?
Henri Lanbsury is a better CM than Wilshere. Wilshere was brilliant going foward but awful defensively he kept giving the ball away. Henri lansbury not a RW hes sensational when u play him CM. Alot of people have not seen Lansbury play and most people who watch reserves game have not been impressed cause hs ineffective on the right. When he plays CM hes a different player
I think the word on Watt on blogs like this is that he’s got all the attributes to become a star, he just needs to get his head down, work hard in training and apply himself. I remember being told that there was a feverish hype about him between the age of 11-13 similar to that which Joe Cole received at these levels and hearing about all the best clubs in the country wanting him made him take his foot off the pedal a bit. Being under someone like Bould now full time, hopefully he’s got his head on track now and he can live up to his ridiculously cool name.
(Plus, if he goes on to be an England international and like Beckham in 1998, gets sent off and ruins an national chance of glory – it will be pretty much the only opportunity to see DIRTY SANCHEZ as a newspaper front page headline.)
i dont really watch that much youth so can someone please tell me what type of player thomas and watt are? Is thomas like viera??? Watt??
Thomas = better version of Diaby, but with aggression and leadership qualities and sound passing. Still needs to define himself a real position though (pretty much has to be CM).
Watt = see above, I asked the same question.
@ Nacer Barazite, no JET is a worse version of Diaby, at least Diaby is good is 2nd striker position and poor in others whereas JET’s positions are still undecided. As for JET showing aggression, give it up mate, he is colder than water in north pole.
The 1st team @ moment is suffering balance problem because too many of them dont have workrate and height issues as well, so unless JET gets real & really up his workrate then his opportunities will be limited but if he does improve his workrate then opportunites will be aplenty. Just look @ Gibbs, he brings good workrate & pace to the 1st team, but he has also been fasttracked also bcuz of his height compare to Clichy meaning even 6ft 1 Ronaldo couldnt exploit him in the air. JET also has height quality that Wenger wants for the 1st team thus he should put the work in.
Let’s be frank. Diaby was (and is) considered one of the absolute greatest prospects in the world. JET is just exciting. No matter how infuriatingly dimwitted Diaby plays, he will always be better than an average muscly English lad, JET is great but will never be better than Diaby, or he will need to pull something special out of the hat.
how goood is giles sunu?
Jay Thomas its too aasy for him cause hes very strong at this level similar to bendtner in the youth teams who found it easy as well. He needs to go on loan to see the real world of football
JET is just strong, to say he is better than Diaby now or will be can’t be true. If diaby played at that level then he would too seem strong, but there’s no doubt that Diaby has the better ability. Just hope Diaby stays fit next season.
I used to be a MASSIVE Diaby fan. But the guy is hopeless. He is 23, has zero decision making, dribbles and loses it, passes to no one, doesn’t defend… JET is 17/18, a giant, ridiculous skill, scores goals, and a local lad. Yes, the youth levels are piss easy, but you can only beat what’s in front of you. I’m surprised you are writing him off so easily.
JET loses the ball a bit too easily I think but still a blinding player. I think Watt should play off the striker again and tear through their line. Hopefully Murphy will get more time to shine 2nte. Watt was too quick for Ayala and Kennedy on friday, we should do it again.
Diaby has failed, he had a big potential, but injuries have harmed his development and espacially his decision making. Thomas is young and skillful and can easily be better than Diaby in one or two years from now.
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Need stream too, plz!
Players at 23 don’t fail btw. There are loads of players, who were obscure and not looking up to standard but turned out to be the best in the world (Drogba and Toni come to mind, both were middling second division players). Diaby has the skill, he has the physical strength and pace, he can have the vision (van Persie’s goal against Everton and his against Villa spring to mind) – he just needs to apply himself and cut out the bullshit to become a very good prospect.
Personally, I think he’d turn into one of the best in the world under someone like Ferguson but Wenger is all too much about personal freedom. It works wonders with most players but looking at Diaby, I think he needs someone stricter around willing to call him on his lackadaisical performances.
Iraqgoals.net has a lousy stream if you want one.
1-0 watt its over
http://liveballlive-tv2.blogspot.com/
Case in point; JET is crap today.
But Eastmond is horrible, absolutely crap. Why does he play football? Do we not have a better RB?
john, I ve seen lansbury play many times, his first touch needs to improve. Wilshere is an expert at keeping the ball, nobody cares if he doesn’t defend
missed 1st half. How we played? chances for both sides? Whos impressed and whos been poor??????????
lansbury being wasted because he play RM. i don’t think wilshere will play in center midfield position for first team. maybe bould wants to improve his toughness like he wants to improve landsbury skills by playing them both out of position. i think the same goes to ayling who i think would switch to right back and thomas to center midfield. as much as arsenal wants to win this cup, this still part of their educations. overall, arsenal really outclassed liverpool. keep it going lads.
Classy stuff, trashing teenagers, especially when they’re 5-1 up in the Cup final.
reading some of the last posts I really thought we were 3 down.
indeed, classy stuff.
Arsenal crumbling
Watt is playing very well, Ayling and Bartley are making mistakes but at 17 that’s not terrible. Coqueling was brushed off a bit easily for a few minutes but is pushin very well. Sunu is great and so is Wilshere. JET is all power and no show, Lansbury is meagre in finishing and crossing. The backs are not good.
whats the score
JET is very skillfull , not all power at all. He had a very bad game today but he’s been the best young player of the season for me, great potential
That’s great. Now how will this translate when these cats are ready to move up the big club. Arsenal needs lots of help. Sure fourth place okay but it’s been four years since Arsenal has brought home some hardware. Let’s see. If you want to talk about young guns The Champions League Final will have two of the best Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. I can’t wait to see this baby on TV. Thanks for check out my blog.Bobby Gee. http://bobbygee.wordpress.com/
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