Arsenal required penalties to dispatch of Crewe Alexandra this evening in the third round of the F.A Youth Cup. In an entertaining affair at Barnet’s Underhill Stadium, goals from Benik Afobe, Luke Freeman and Chuks Aneke kept the tie alive before goalkeeper James Dunn saved a penalty in the shoot out to secure the win.
Dunn
Hajrovic – Boateng – Miquel – Evina (c)
Aneke – Frimpong – Henderson
Deacon – Afobe – Freeman
Subs: McDermott, Byles, Özyakup, Meade, Yennaris.
Arsenal conceded an early penalty but equalised through Benik Afobe. Crewe then put themselves back in front only for Luke Freeman to again level the scores. At 2-2 the game went into extra time where the visitors thought they’d knocked out the Cup holders only for Chuks Aneke to crash home a header with 5 minutes left. It meant penalties would decide the tie.
Oğuzhan Özyakup missed but Freeman, Evina and Afobe were all spot on from 12 yards. James Dunn then made himself the hero with a stunning save allowing Ignasi Miquel the chance to win it. He scored and the Gunners edged themselves into round four.
Feel fee to check out our partners, Puntersrealm, for the best betting bonus offers!
Article By – J.Sanderson
that is not good.
Look like a good comeback, and happy they went through to the next round. But 3-3 against Crewe is a very dissappointing result. Crewe U18 isn’t really setting the world on fire, they are last in their academy group.
Awesome! First team needs some(more) injection of youth?
Pingback: Tweets that mention Arsenal 3-3 Crewe (Arsenal 5-4 On Pens) – Report « [» Young Guns «] -- Topsy.com
just defrosted from watching the game! Great spirit from the team! Did brilliant on attacking set pieces but overall not impressive!!!
Crewe have a decent academy so I don’t think it’s fair to criticize.
They might be bottom of their U18 group but maybe they are playing positive football to help the players learn.
Results don’t mean much at all at these levels so trying to guage quality on results is pretty pointless.
Apparently the Crewe keeper made an error at 1-2 so maybe Arsenal got a bit lucky in that regard.
As long as they are learning then positives have been achieved for both teams.
Is that guy for real? Moaning about not being able to beat Crewe, we’ve got a reputation for having the one of the best academy in the country. Perhaps we might of won if we had the resources to afford to sign every Tom, Dick and Harry from every far flung country in the world or buying all the best youngesters from clubs in the lower leagues (i.e. cheltenham)
Well put, dooop23
i think you mean gillingham
jerome- We bought Jamie Edge from Cheltenham.
No to be honest, this is a bad thing and anyone that gives a lame excuse as to why it is not is just crazy. You have to remember that we dont generally buy players that are already world class, so we must develope world class players to stay with the teams that buy world class players. We are not a club that can except average players and are team tying Crewe is definetly average at best. It is starting to frusterate me, that it seems like players have started to expect this progression to the first team and just assume that because we give young players a chance. Wenger making sure we dont have to many first teamers that will block young players from “developing”. Your first place spot is earned not just handed to you. I wish not to see another player that is not ready to play for the first team be involved in a first team game. It helps no one. Eastmond,Randall, Gilbert, Fabianski…etc. Hell even Merida. If you want to play for Arsenal you must earn it. No more players that just arent good enough to be players for a team that is supposed to be winning title. Aka Almunia,Sylvestre,etc. And if another player talks about leaving then ok go!!! I love this club but excepting medocrity is getting old. The reason Barcelona is so good is that their young players no what level they need to get to to play for their first team and players that arent good enough leave.(exception Fabregas) People are seeming to forget that we are not westham, Bolton, Tottenham…etc. We are ARSENAL and mediocrity should not be expected anymore.
Our team playing in the saturday matches is not as stong as last night, due to the fact the likes of Harry Davis are involved with the first team at weekends. The likes of Nick Powell and Max Clayton are both also only 15.
fine enough shane, though it is an academy match and should be seen as development. The trophy is a good experience for the youngsters, but all in all one match is not going to make much difference for them. And I believe we are now starting to seed the rewards of the long term youth project. By 2011 I am sure the talents have flourished, then there is a talents available in all levels of the club to challenge the established players. Ramsey and Wilshere are for example two players that are likely to be mature by 2011, Gibbs would have challenged again this year though unfortunately injured. I do not think that is mediocrity; rather long term thinking and investment
west ham as you mentined…what if they had been able to keep their talents, they would have been a top club. Ferdinand, Cole, Lampard etc.
It’s not fine enough from shane. He’s mostly talking out of his arse.
It’s one game at youth level and results mean little at this level.
Just because they drew one game doesn’t mean they are average.
No I was upset with getting a draw verse Burnley too. What I am saying is that we let weak links hold the team back. Not every player can succeed at Arsenal. If senderous wasnt in verse liverpool in the champs league game,we would have won. Sylvestre as a third choice centerback is ridiculous and why do you think Man Utd sold him to us. And players like Eastmond and Gilbert are not good enough for a club of our size. Almunia is not good enough. But we let these players stop all of the good work that is being done. There is a reason players like David Bentley left in the past. They were not good enough, but now days it seem like we want to hold on to these players. Yes of course the Jack Wilsheres and Ramseys are quality but those are not the players I am talking about. I guess if you like going 4 years with no trophies then that is fine but I dont want to see our team which is good enough to win trophies be held back by a few players that are not. And No tying Crewe is not good enough and the Arsenal coaches would say the same thing. These arent 9 year olds.
AFC took 6 pens, but you only mention 5 takers, who scored the other.
I don’t know what you have against Eastmond but he is still young enough and deserves a chance. He would make a decent squad player if he continues to work on his game because he is versatile. Look at how Man Utd use players like O’Shea and others and I don’t think it’s too far fetched to say Eastmond could do a role like that if he has the right attitude to keep working on his own game.
I agree about Gilbert but he has only played in the Carling Cup and Champons League games after qualification is secured. He will likely leave soon anyway.
The problems with the first team are not an issue to compare with the youth development side of the club.
There are problems with the senior team. I’m not claiming there isn’t any but the development of youth has been a big positive for the club. I don’t think Wenger is not buying in certain areas solely to give youth a chance. He’s made mistakes of late though imo.
For the senior team goalkeeper is an issue and depth at central defence. I’ve said on here (I think it was on here) before that I would never play Silvestre again in any competition.
Also Bentley didn’t actually leave because he was deemed not good enough. He left because he wanted games and Wenger couldn’t offer them to him at that point.
Once again I do think you are putting to much emphasis on this sole Crewe result.
Also I think that you are thinking because Crewe are a League 2 club that they should be easy to beat.
Crewe have some promising talents at the moment. Nick Powell played for England U16’s that won the Victory Shield. He was supposed to have done well last night too.
Max Clayton is supposedly wanted by Liverpool. Harry Davis is on the senior teams bench at 17.
I’m not saying these player are exceptional because I have seen almost nothing of them all but Crewe do have a better youth system than quite a few Premiership clubs nevermind Championship or League 1.
Are we home or away against Ipswich in the next round?
shane,
football is not good for you son. If you cannot take a win in a youth cup and a draw in midweek I fear for your health. You sound about to jump off from the next bridge.
You should find something else beside football. And leave us Arsenal fans enjoy our club.
typeface…wow, I am not going to respond to your comment other then by saying wow.
They always talk about how weak Arsenal fans are in England and now I see it. Liverpool, Man u, chelsea fans would all be a little upset at this point but not arsenal fans. They have just come to accept 4th place and if someone is alittle frusterated at this then he is suicidle. LOL. Thats messed up.
there’s a good chance arsenal will end up second, not fourth, it wouldn’t be that bad. so “mediocrity” is a bit harsh
No, I am saying letting mediocre players bring down a very good team.
I blame the defence how could we take three goals from crewe….when crewe (from what i read) didn’t put their best players on the field……i don’t know what goin on with the defender this year but it seems like only miquel have the class to play next level , evina is too offensive, hajrovic too soft and boateng so much overated, we don’t need sterling (but if we buy him it’s ok…..lol) but a good young defender someone who really have defensive ability.
So, you want us to buy a defender just for the U18s? It doesn’t matter if this batch of defenders aren’t good enough. They won’t make it to the first team.
Everyone can see that this year’s team isn’t as well balanced as last year’s. That doesn’t matter if there are a few outstanding prospects who will make it in the long run. The players will only play in the U18s for 1 or 2 years. No point bringing in players just for that age group unless they are truly outstanding and have a chance to make it in the long run.
Pingback: Top Posts — WordPress.com
I just saw the highlights, Crewe hava some good players to be fair to them. Their third goal was very well taken.
The team spirit looks fantastic at Arsenal, that’s good.
Deacon looks like he lost a bit of sharpness compared to the beginning of the season.. hope he finds it back
Yes, it is disappointing, but it is only one game. Hopefully they will sort the dfense for the next round.
Clearly, this year is not as good as last year. The quality is lower, but also the blend is not as good. As it was mentionned above by Sooth, the squad is not as well balanced.
They are missing some physicality but also explosivity. In the centre of the park, Eastmond and Coquelin were big powerful boy.
WIth those and JET they were also able to bully team, letting Sanches Watt and Sunu use their pace on the counter attack. JET was particularly useful in set pieces and corners. He scored a lot on corners and free-kick to get us out of jail.
This year, they do not have that possibility.
At least, they showed good character to come back each time. Sometimes, character is the small ingredient that makes all the difference between a great player and a good player.