Arsenal’s Reserves return to action this evening with a tricky trip North to face Stoke City at the home of non-League Nantwich Town. The fixture will see Luke Ayling begin his tenure as second-string skipper.
After a flying start to the season, defeats to Portsmouth, Aston Villa and Fulham curtailed a potential title push but a 4-2 romp over West Ham last time out put Neil Banfield’s boys right back in the running. Since then a selection of his regulars have left for loan spells including captain Kyle Bartley and regular goal getter Sanchez Watt. Those exits cushioned by the return to fitness of Ayling and Nacer Barazite.
Banfield is now set for a reshuffle and on the advice on Arsène Wenger, Francis Coquelin will play at right back as the boss tried to hone his defensive talents. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas will continue in the striker role behind a midfield containing first-team players Fran Merida and Craig Eastmond. Barazite and Emmanuel-Thomas will form an exciting forward line.
Predicted Starting XI
Shea
Coquelin – Ayling – Miquel – Cruise
Frimpong – Eastmond – Merida
Barazite – Thomas – Freeman
Kick off is at 7pm UK time at Nantwich Town’s Weaver Stadium. Highlights will be available via Arsenal TV Online on Thursday while a Match Report will be published shortly after the full time whistle right here, on Young Guns.
Article By – J.Sanderson
Comments
It’s Craig Eastmond vs Francis Coquelin.
Their fortunes undergo an interchange to be honest.
Congratulations to Ayling. Be a good Arsenal reserves skipper. :)
J. is the plan for JET to be developed into a striker then? Has Arsene finally decided his best position?
J. whats with gill sunu. is he injured
Hatchet: it looks like it might be the plan. He will certainly add a bit more height to the first team over Arshavin! See this article:
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3216355/reserves/stoke-city-res-v-arsenal-res?tab=preview
Now I feel the urge to say we should Sign Khouma Babacar and Romelu Lukaku,
AFOBE WELLINGTON LUKAKU BABACAR as our future strikers.
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J. is the plan for JET to be developed into a striker then? Has Arsene finally decided his best position?
Hatchet said this on February 10, 2010 at 5:08 pm
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Hatchet: it looks like it might be the plan. He will certainly add a bit more height to the first team over Arshavin! See this article:
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3216355/reserves/stoke-city-res-v-arsenal-res?tab=preview
Wacko said this on February 10, 2010 at 5:40 pm
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Banfield explained the reasons perfectly, changing young players’ positions in U18s and reserves is for developing their game understanding plus if they go on loan, they cant just say to their new mananager, “sorry i cant play in that position”. They are trying to make them more rounded.
Arsenal’s very own enfant terrible Zak Ansah scored for the England U16′s team yesterday in injury time against the Belgium U16′s team in a friendly match after a Raheem Stirling cross in injury time.
Bedeuro what is Khouma Babacar like? i have never seen him play
The Arsenal website actually says that Sunu, not Freeman is starting with Barazite scoring in the 8th minute.
and Mannone in goal.
I saw JET against stoke, he look 2 slow 4 striker. What did u think J ?
Jonathan ,
Babacar is very strong and fast for his age, the match I saw him play , he tried very hard, and scored, a fluke.
Perhaps we should take another Look at Demba Ba , I like the look of him as well.
I believe if you look at our team after coming to the realization that Wenger is not going to spend 20 million on a player and that other clubs are spending irresponsibily, and Wenger knows that in this time, while paying off the stadium, he can use his reputation to bring in the best youngsters in the world while developing homegrown ones too. In 2 to 3 years the debt on the stadium will be down, football clubs will be hurt by the overspending, and all these youngsters will be primed to take over football, competing with Barcelona. And it isnt just that we have a couple good young players, it is we have about 10-12 of the true top class and another 8-10 that could join that group. That is why as long as Eden Hazard comes, I will be satisfied because that will lock up our future ambitions. Also it would be nice if Fabregas stayed.
Shane, Ba wouldnt cost 2 much money, 10-15 mil,
Yes I think in the long term we will benefit us,
Lukaku and Babacar I would like, for 5-10 each.
Chamakh to sign for us?
I dont think Ba is better than Bendtner and doesnt have upside that he has. I am not a big fan of Chamahk, I think he is around the level of Ba, but one is free.
What about Obasi? Gameiro?
I think we need a strong forward who love sthe club, and would actually fight 4 us.
Is Chamakh a Fan?
Hard worker?
Obasi is good but is a winger. We were in to sign him from lyn oslo but work permit issues stopped that. I havent seen Gameiro yet. A hard working target man is Bendtner. To me if we were to sign a new striker, I only think we need a guy of exceptional talent. If not Bendter and Vela are coming through.
ts really helpfull and informative , Amazing work darragh ..Way of explanation and pictures presentation is attaractive .
Huh that was weird, my comment didn’t show up. Anyway I wanted to say that it’s good to know that someone else also touched on this as I had trouble finding the same information elsewhere. Yours was the first place that clarified this for me. Much obliged.
Took a tour of the stadium last week, excellent