Arsenal V Aston Villa – Reserves – Match Preview

Arsenal Reserves take on Aston Villa in a top of the table clash at Underhill this evening. Neil Banfield’s side have suffered a dip in form of late and subsequently lost their first game this season against Portsmouth last time out. Yet a victory over their Midlands counterparts tonight would propel Banfield’s boys into top place with a game in hand over their title rivals.

Villa head in to the game undefeated, but like Arsenal have hit a dry patch; drawing their last three games. However, the Villains will be a stern test for Arsenal with the likes of Andreas Weimann and Nathan Delfouneso in particular posing a real threat to any defence.

Due to the postponement of the West Ham fixture earlier in the month, the Reserves have only played once since the Carling Cup tie against Liverpool, making Wednesday’s game vital for any of Arsenal’s young guns staking a claim for a starting berth against Manchester City. After the shock inclusion of Craig Eastmond in the previous round, Mark Randall, Francis Coquelin and Craig Eastmond will all be out to impress Arsène Wenger.

As Young Guns told you this morning, first team trio Łukasz Fabiański, Fran Mérida and Jack Wilshere are all in the squad and will start. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas returns from his three-month-loan spell with Blackpool while young striker Benik Afobe is prefered to Luke Freeman as an alternate striker. Thomas Cruise and James Shea both return from injury.

Predicted Starting XI

Fabiański
Gilbert – Bartley – Ayling – Cruise
Wilshere – Randall – Emmanuel-Thomas
Sunu – Watt – Mérida

Subs:- Shea, Eastmond, Coquelin, Frimpong, Afobe.

Kick off is at 7pm UK time at Barnet’s Underhill Stadium. Arsenal TV Online are streaming the fixture live for those who cannot get to the game with highlights to follow-on Thursday morning via Arsenal.com. Young Guns will have a full Match Report on the full-time whistle.

Article By – J.Sanderson

45 thoughts on “Arsenal V Aston Villa – Reserves – Match Preview

  • November 25, 2009 at 2:47 pm
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    Good to Cruise back from injury while our most intelligent defender is also back from injury [Ayling]

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  • November 25, 2009 at 2:59 pm
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    Certainly. It will be interesting to see how fit they are and how much they can give but definately great to have them back.

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  • November 25, 2009 at 3:02 pm
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    Just read that Sheffield Wednesday did a bid for a lot of Arsenal youngsters on loan, but all the ones they wanted were needed by Wenger for the Carling Cup. Anything on this J?

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  • November 25, 2009 at 3:06 pm
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    Think that starting line-up will be very poor defensively, and will have a tough time coping. Wilshere and JET don’t really like to track back, and Randall isn’t as good defensively as Coquelin or Eastmond.

    Would take out Sunu and move Wilshere up and put in Coq or Eastmond or even both of them in place of Randall.

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  • November 25, 2009 at 3:13 pm
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    It’s very interesting tonight. There is loads of different options depending on hiw fit certain players are, but having three defensive midfielders in the squad makes it tricky.

    haho – Yeah I saw that, I’m not sure who it is, but I’d imagine somebody like Watt. Brian Laws is somebody I’ve had some dealing with, he’s a very good manager who likes to try and bring on young players.

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  • November 25, 2009 at 4:17 pm
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    if thats the starting midfield, we will be terribly weak defensively. I hope at least one proper DM starts. You really need two defence minded players in midfield in a 4-3-3.

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  • November 25, 2009 at 4:30 pm
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    you don’t need 2 defensive minded players in midfield, one is enough. I’m pretty sure either Coquelin or Eastmond will start the game. Randall will probably start on the bench

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  • November 25, 2009 at 4:45 pm
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    i fink the team would be more like this.

    ———–Fabiański
    Gilbert – Bartley – Ayling – Cruise
    ——- coq – eastmond
    ——-Emmanuel-Thomas
    —-wilshere– Watt – Mérida

    yea pretty sure eastmond and coq will both start. with coq being more box to box and eastmond holding.

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  • November 25, 2009 at 4:55 pm
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    i hope what Sharpovic said…not a big fan of Randall for the last 2-3 yrs…seems to have lost his way …as ever, nice post J !!!

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  • November 25, 2009 at 5:19 pm
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    Thats very interesting, aaaa. I’d like to see Jay in that free role where he can do what he wants.

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  • November 25, 2009 at 6:07 pm
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    i think this is the reason merida is considering leaving arsenal. he is older than ramsey and been at the club longer yet he never gets a game 4 the first team. as described by guillem balague he is at that stage where he is 2 good for the reserves but not quite ready for the first team. dont u think it would have been better j 2 loan him out 2 a premier league club. i could remember when we loan out song 2 charlton and that did him a orld of good. p.s what mark randell is still doing at the club i do not know. this may cause uproar but in my opinion neither he watt, simpson or gilbert will make it at the club. i know their are a lot of sanchez watt fans out their but i dont see why. he just runs about like a headless chicken whilst the likes of wilshere ramsey and merida have a footballing brain.

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  • November 25, 2009 at 6:13 pm
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    Has it ever occured to you that we are missing that sort of player that just runs and works hard for team Cesc the best? We certainly have enough technical players with the ball, why not vary our squad with people who can offer different strengths. it’;s clear Watt has impressed much more than Gilbert or Simpson in training and in first team when given chance so unfair to categorise him with them without justification.

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  • November 25, 2009 at 6:26 pm
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    I agree with Dan, wenger must have seen something in watt, and thats why he is infront of the rest. i dont understand why there are so many doubters here.

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  • November 25, 2009 at 6:27 pm
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    I predict:

    Fabianski
    Gilbert-Bartley-Ayling-Cruise
    Coquelin-Eastmond-JET
    Wilshere-Sunu-Merida

    I’m pretty sure Wilshere would play in the forward 3 as I think Wenger said once that Wilshere is too attack-minded to play in midfield, and Merida played on the left wing in the Carling Cup so I can’t see different in the Reserves. Good to see Ayling and Cruise back too.

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  • November 25, 2009 at 6:41 pm
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    dan hard work is for a defensive minded midfielder not a winger/striker. what u admit their is that he has no ability except hard work.i just dont see why where handing him a new contract

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  • November 25, 2009 at 6:50 pm
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    anyone got a arsenal reserves live stream link today pls/

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  • November 25, 2009 at 6:57 pm
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    YEH ME TO ANYONE GOT ANY RESERVE LINKS???

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  • November 25, 2009 at 6:57 pm
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    So Tevez is not a good player then? His game is based opn determination and hard work. To an extent Adebayor at his peak for us relied on that ability first and foremost along with strength. Watt has shown great finishes (didn’t mention it cos I thought you knew that).Remember AW has stated that this season it is about working hard from the front. It was pointed out by pundits at the start of the season that seemed to be a big change in our game regarding the pressing our attackers are now doing.

    Don’t write Watt off before he gets his chances is all I’d say. I for one would love to see Lansbury, Thomas, Merida, Watt, Coquelin and Eastmond get extended runs in the team in the Carling Cup for the next 2 years (others on loan). They are still young and they need to grow together. IF anyone impresses then they more than deserve to get on bench or if injuries suffice. But apart from AW’s eye in training which he takes very seriously, I as a fan would love to see myself players develop in stages and be judged as they are put in at their respected stages of career before making bold judgements on ability, which can always be improved upon.

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  • November 25, 2009 at 6:59 pm
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    Well said Danny boy.

    Reply
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  • November 25, 2009 at 7:08 pm
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    Lukasz Fabianski
    Kerrea Gilbert
    Kyle Bartley (c)
    Thomas Cruise
    Craig Eastmond
    Francis Coquelin
    Jack Wilshere
    Fran Merida
    Jay Emmanuel-Thomas
    Gilles Sunu
    Sanchez Watt

    that is the starting line up so it looks like eastmond back in defence?

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  • November 25, 2009 at 7:08 pm
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    that team is far too attacking…i would say atleast 1 of eastmond/coq will play..with randall and jet…wilshere and watt will flank sunu id imagine…altho i just remembered merida???lol…we have a STRONG reserve side!!

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  • November 25, 2009 at 7:14 pm
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    i think Freeman deserves the chance more so than Afobe. he’s been much more consistent. Afobe has been a bit alike Adebayor, scoring in flurries

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  • November 25, 2009 at 7:43 pm
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    1-0 to us, Sanchez Watt with goal, and Merida has been sent off

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  • November 25, 2009 at 7:43 pm
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    Merida sent off! Watt scored…. They scored

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  • November 25, 2009 at 7:45 pm
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    1-1 now Villa have equalised

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  • November 25, 2009 at 7:51 pm
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    Does anyone know how rerserves red card works? will Merida now get 3 match ban for 1st team meaning he might miss the CC

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  • November 25, 2009 at 7:59 pm
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    Yes Supergunner, he’s banned for three games now (1st team included). Well that’s how it used to be. Not sure anymore.

    This cunt referee has just ruined this game. ATVO have the worse coverage ever. Fucking annoying how a game changing incident like that can take place and we only get to see the beginning of it where the little wanker Delph has put his hands in Fran’s face and somehow at the end of it all and the ref talking to his tosser lino for about 2/3 mins, he decides to send Fran off and give Delph a yellow. I’m so fucking raging right now!!! You can bet ur arse if it had been JW instead of Merida, he would have seen yellow along with Delph.

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  • November 25, 2009 at 8:00 pm
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    It’s 2-1 to Villa.

    Merida’s sending off has really affected the lads.

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  • November 25, 2009 at 8:07 pm
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    Merida was stupid for raising his hand but i agree it should be yellow a piece or red a piece.

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  • November 25, 2009 at 8:33 pm
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    TheCritic
    Watt – Albrighton and Craig Gardner

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  • November 25, 2009 at 8:40 pm
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    greg – pu t the smokes away. have you ever seen him play ? he is a head less chicken goal merchant who very rarely passes unless he cant shoot. Someone clearly got a fat brown bag for his transfer. he will end up at grimsby.

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  • November 25, 2009 at 8:58 pm
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    Exactly Super. It should have been an equal punishment for both whatever that punishment may have been. The only time it should be different is last night, for example, where Cesc didn’t do much wrong except approach and square up to the guy but he overstepped the mark by thrusting his head towards Cesc. Cesc didn’t react so he got a yellow and the Liege player rightly saw red.

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  • November 25, 2009 at 9:04 pm
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    Also, i didn’t see Merida raise his hands at all cos the wankers at ATVO have got shit coverage! All i saw was Delph raise his hands towards Fran’s face.

    NB’s Quote: Incompetence by the three officials has ruined the game for us.

    Well, he said something along those lines.

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  • November 25, 2009 at 9:26 pm
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    Nice win Villa.

    Reply
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