West Brom 1-1 Arsenal – Reserves – Match Report

Arsenal’s Reserves played out the first installment of a double header against West Brom this evening as Neil Banfield’s boys hope to end the season on a high.

Their lowly League form has partly been caused by several players going out on loan, yet three young Gunners returned from their spells away to go straight into the starting XI. Abu Ogogo, Rene Steer and Rui Fonte were joined by the Reserves regulars and summer signing Ignasi Miquel for the trip to the Hawthorns.

Mannone
Ogogo – Bartley – Miquel – Steer
Randall – Mérida
Bischoff – Watt – Thomas
Fonte

Subs: – Szczesny, Evina, Ayling, Sunu.

Arsenal kicked off in their red and white shirts, white shorts and red and white socks against West Brom in navy and white stripes, white shorts and white socks, and Banfield’s boys went straight for the jugular.

A tidy one-two between Sanchez Watt and Rui Fonte saw the former in-between the Baggies back four inside 25 seconds, and only a smart low save from Dean Kiely denied the opener.

It was the young visitors who were offering all the questions to their experienced counterparts. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas’ jinking run took out 3 West Brom players before dragging a shot wide of the target.

Up the other end, Romaine Sawyers then created the best opportunity of the game after hurdling Ignasi Miquel’s challenge, but a superb block from Kyle Bartley blocked a resulting shot.

Filipe Teixeira then warmed the palms of Vito Mannone from range, resulting in a corner. It would be the start of a barrage coming from the right hand side, until a foul on Mannone ended the rampant attack. However, it was only a temporary break, and once more Bartley was required to keep things level after Bednar got around the back and squared into the area.

On the 15 minute mark is was quite even. Miquel’s inexperience then caught him out, as Luke Moore got goal side, the Spanish defender clipped him over and was rewarded by going into the referees note book.

The next 10 minutes were a midfield battle as both sides tried to gain control of the fixture. Yet Arsenal broke the movement with an excellent chance for the first goal. Bischoff and Mérida combined to open up the West Brom back line, and with Fran one-on-one with Kiely, he attempted a deft lob only to see the ball fly over the bar.

Mannone then made two excellent saves to deny Sawyers before making a brilliant stop to prevent Kim from scoring. It all came about after Kim dispossessed Randall on the edge of the box and then barged his way through Miquel and lashed a fizzing shot from 10 yards.

But for all their pressure and good football, the Gunners snatched the opening goal. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas punished West Brom’s high line with a super ball for Mérida, the little play-maker raced into the box and clipped a stunning effort over the advancing Kiely with his right foot.

Goal – Fran Mérida (34)

The goal buoyed Arsenal and despite a late rally from Albion, Banfield’s boys  headed for the dressing room in front.

Half Time – Arsenal 1-0 West Brom

West Brom kicked the second period off but seconds after losing the ball the visitors returned to pressuring their hosts. Ogogo could have made it 2-0 after Emmanuel-Thomas showed silky skills in the box and pulled it back, but Carl Hoefken’s made a timely deflection.

That should have sealed the win, but instead the Baggies broke up the other end and got themselves level. Ryan Donk’s surge from defence opened play up, and after Mannone saved brilliantly from Luke Moore, Romaine Sawyers side footed home the rebound. An unlucky goal to lose.

Goal -Romaine Sawyers (53)

Two changes were then made with the Under 18 games coming up in mind. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was replaced with Gilles Sunu on the left, while Luke Ayling replaced Kyle Bartley. All this happened as Mark Randall was receiving treatment for a broken nose.

The substitutes seemed to signal a defensive mentality. West Brom stepped up their play and through Bednar they had a match winner. The Czech marksman first cut inside and fired at Mannone, before lashing a 25 yard pile driver off the Italian’s cross bar.

With 20 minutes to go, Cedric Evina replaced Sanchez Watt on the left wing, but in truth neither side looked like bagging a winner. The 5 minutes of stoppage time passed by with little to report, meaning the spoils were shared.

Article By – J.Sanderson