Arsenal’s Under 18’s extended their unbeaten run to 12 games this morning by dispatching of Cardiff City 4-2 in the Welsh capital. Benik Afobe continued his superb form by bagging the opener to become the youth teams leading goal scorer this campaign, while subsitute Zak Ansah also found the net. Oğuzhan Özyakup and Samir Bihmoutine got the key goals following two efforts from Cardiff’s Nathaniel Jarvis, both which appeared to be offside.
Steve Bould rotated once more, handing a rare start to Nigel Neita after he looked lively as a substitute against MK Dons while three other changes from last weekend included goalkeeper James Dunn, right back Sam Byles and Irish Under 19 international Conor Henderson. Martin Angha was handed a chance to impress at centre back and Samir Bihmoutine continued at left back.
Dunn
Byles – Angha – Boateng – Bihmoutine
Özyakup – Yennaris – Henderson
Aneke – Afobe – Neita
Arsenal host Reading at London Colney next weekend.
I am not convinced by Afobe i have been more impressed with Chuks Aneke, Yennaris, freeman.
Aneke, freeman, yennaris seem to have that maturity and inteligence and look like arsenal players for me.
Afobe i havent been impressed with. Bendtner at 16 was miles ahead of afobe at that age. Bendtner was 6ft 3/4 but could go past 3 or 4 players for fun, create chances and score any type of goal.
If you think a young player doesnt convince fine, but that doesnt make your opinions FACT because until AW put majority of them to 1st team games and 1st team training then we will never know for sure.
I don’t know how you cannot be convinced by Afobe. His goalscoring and assist record speaks for its self.
First, of our best XI players in the under 18s
10 of them are wonder kids so they all look good and all will be very impressive in their games but it depends on how they do in their loan spell
Afobe, Freeman, Ozzie, Aneke, Miguel, Deacon, Henderson, Byles, Ayling, Evina can all make it into our first teams but it depends on how they perform in their loan spell
What people dont understand is that we have a talent factory going on in our youth ranks and for the next 10 years these will be the people who will take over from people like Almunia, Van persie, Arshavin, Eduardo, Diaby
You can already see that happening now with emergence of Bendtner, Cesc, Gibbs, Wilshere, JET, Sunu, Lansbury, Tech 9, Barltey, Ayling this will only speed up and in a few years most of our first team players will be former youth players and this is what Barca has been doing for Centuries and this is what Azax did in the 70 and 80’s
What is it that you need to be convinced exactly? We’re talking about a playey who has had a great goalscoring record at every level he’s played. He’s obviously convincing enough to be held in high regards by arsenal and barcelona, wouldn’t you say? In opinion, based on actually watching afobe play on a regular basis, is that he’s going to be a top notch striker for us.
Just my opinion mate. Hes still got plenty of time to develop but right now hes not ready for arsenal first team. I remeber reading the sun when Afobe said he sees himself playing for the arsenal first team squad in the carling he said it last year.
Of course he’s not ready for the first team. He either meant next year, or he was being very, very ambitious – and as far as I’m concerned that’s a great attribute. Interestingly enough it’s one Bendtner’s always had in abundance, and should be part of the attitued that you say Freeman, Aneke and Yennaris have (not saying they don’t)
Fair enough John, but I like the idea of having a few predatory goal scorers, too, poachers, fox in the box, big target men, or whatever it is that Afobe is good at (rather than going around 3-4 players and creating chances, as you put it). I don’t see drogba going past players and I don’t think you’d turn your nose up at him. Inzaghi? Batistuta? Eduardo pre-injury? If they go past players it’s on the basis of intelligence (spotting poor positioning, catching defenders in two minds, etc).
yes, finally a new font that is readable!
now if only the black comment box with the black backgrund (which makes it hard to find) is fixed all is well
although to be honest, the grey font is better than the white ;)
j who is cooke on the arsenal website it says that cooke was on the bench?
Benik Afobe has more to his game than say Zak Ansah does becuse he just looks like a penalty box striker, not that there is anything wrong with being that of coarse IMO.
Ansah is 16 and he’s playing regularly and scoring goals for the under 18s so I dont rate him any lower than Afobe but I have taken a dislike to him after his comments on facebook
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In an entertaining first half, Benik Afobe fired the Gunners ahead early on, only for Jarvis to draw the Bluebirds level on the half hour mark. Oguzhan Ozyakup restored Arsenal’s advantage two minutes later, before Jarvis netted a superb second to draw parity for Cardiff going into the break.
City failed to maintain their performance going into the second period however as substitute Zak Ansah scrambled home to restore the Gunners lead, before Samir Bihmoutine finally put a resilient Cardiff side to bed with his late strike.
Detailed Report: Cardiff, who were forced to play three under-16 youth players in their back four, struggled to maintain the Gunners gifted attack early on, with Chuck Aneke and Afobe in particular testing the unfamiliar defence..
The Gunners early pressure would pay off as Benik Afobe gave Arsenal the lead inside the first ten minutes of the game, Afobe racing clear of the City defence before firing home under goalkeeper Reece Oatley.
The Bluebirds would find their feet in the game as it progressed, with Jarvis capitalising on some slack defending, only to see his shot denied by a superb save by Arsenal keeper James Dunn. Stephen Last almost headed home the resultant corner, but instead found the side netting with his far post effort.
But Cardiff would soon peg back their more illustrious opponents on the half hour mark as Jarvis bagged his first of afternoon, heading home a deep Jonathan Meades free-kick to bring the leveller their play deserved.
The Bluebirds parity did not last long however as Oguzhan Ozyakup restored Arsenal’s advantage just two minutes later. The young Dutch midfielder combined well with Afobe on the edge of the area before superbly firing home past Ottley, giving the Bluebirds stopper no chance.
The goal shook the Bluebirds who almost conceded another soon after the restart as Chuck Aneke’s cross come chip flew just wide of the far post, having left Luke Powell stranded on the left flank.
But Cardiff would soon regain their composure and draw level just three minutes later as Luke Cummings found Jarvis with a delightful pass, Jarvis using his strength and pace to shrug off his marker before firing home at a tight angle.
It was a superb goal for the Bluebirds, which rallied the side going into the break and they almost took the lead in first half stoppage time as Jonathan Meades hit a superb curling effort on the edge of the penalty area, only to be denied by the crossbar.
Cardiff maintained their momentum going into the second period, but it was Arsenal who would almost retake the lead as Ozyakup clipped the far post with a long range effort.
The Bluebirds continued to match their more illustrious opponents as the half progressed, but it was Arsenal who took the lead with twenty five minutes to go as substitute Zak Ansah controversially fired home out of the keepers hands after Afobe’s initial effort was smothered by Ottley.
The goal failed to deter the Bluebirds however, who almost levelled the scores for the third time through the impressive Jarvis who raced on to a superb through ball on the right. Looking for his hat-trick, Jarvis managed to get a good effort towards goal under pressure from the Arsenal defence, only to see his effort thwarted by Arsenal keeper Dunn.
The Bluebirds would come to rue that miss soon after, as Arsenal made sure of the victory with just under fifteen minutes to go.Arsenal left back Samir Bihmoutine calmly slotting home to polish off the victory for the Gunners from the left.
Cardiff had little chance for a route back into the match as the game drew to a close, but the Academy can be proud of their display against a strong Arsenal youth side with Nathaniel Jarvis in particular showing his credentials.
Cardiff City Academy: Ottley, Jones, Powell, Davies, Yoraserth, Last, Cummings, Meades, Jarvis, Farah, Diallo. Subs: Al-Basith, Richards, John, Owen, Warton
Arsenal Academy: Dunn, Byles, Bihmoutine, Boateng, Yennaris, Aneke, Ozyakup, Neita, Henderson, Angha, Afobe. Subs: Cooke, Wynter, Ansah, Rees
http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10335~2000426,00.html#continue
Thanks for that mate!
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If you could compare Afobe’s style to any striker, who would it be?
In the english game it will Carlton Cole and Darren Bent style with better technical ability
Afobe for me is a like a Darren Bent. He doesnt get involved with play but hes got good movement and hes a decent finisher from what i have seen in the highlights this season. Hes good on the last shoulder of a defender.
Chuks Aneke has impressed me so much. Hes got the time on the ball thing like wilshere, lansbury, jay thomas seem to have.
He looks like the new Diaby
A bit like Defoe from what I have seen, maybe Bent like John said aswell.
I dont know but it seems like those kind of players are better suited for a 442 than a 433, considering the importance of the role the centerforward has in the build up and link up play. Of topic, which position are Angha likley to end up in?
Thanks for this blog!
nah he will work as a good target man and I can see him slotting in really well
Angha will be a CB he works really well
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“Bendtner at 16 was miles ahead of afobe at that age. Bendtner was 6ft 3/4 but could go past 3 or 4 players for fun, create chances and score any type of goal.”
yet for some reason Nicky doesn’t have the skills to that nowadays ….
its a bit harder to do that in EPL don’t you think if arshavin cant do his tricks in the EPL then hoping to bendtner do his tricks is just ridiculous.
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Is Vermaelen getting a one match ban or a three match ban ?
I am confused now
Do you plan to keep this site updated? I sure hope so… its great!
commentators during the game said its a straight red with a 3 match ban
3 match ban.
Could be appealled though but i doubt it will be.
Was extremely soft, didnt even tug or hold a shirt, franco fell under the pressure as replays showed.
so who decides and when do they decide ?
I believe its only a 1 match ban, though a lot of people seemed to be confused. Three (3) match bans are only for violent conduct, which this wasn’t. I looked up the FA.com site and saw some of their past suspensions for interfering with a goal-scoring opportunity and the suspensions for those were 1 match.
so why did the commentators say it will be a 3 match ban
I want him to be ready for Spurs
its a one match ban
PLAYERS SENT OFF UNDER LAW 12 (4) and (5)
A Player who is dismissed from the Field of Play for denying a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity by physical means or by handling the ball, will be suspended automatically from all approved First Team matches commencing forthwith, until such time as his Club’s First Team has completed its next match in an approved Competition.”
Yup, it’s only a one match-ban.
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3151337/first-team/arsenal-v-west-ham-united?tab=report
Should never have been a red, if we appeal it will he be able to play against Brum, regardless of wether its successful or not?
or they can increase it for Frivolous appeal forget it dude
Song and SIlvestre should be OK against Birmingham who’s greatest quality is to stop conceding goals not scoring them.
This is will be our most likely Lineup
Sagna – Song – Silvestre – Clichy
Diaby —– Fabregas —- Denilson
Rosicky —- Bendtner — Arshavin
A few have got Afobe’s talents twisted. He’s got far better technical ability and dribbling skills than Bent had at his age. He’s also improved his build-up play immensely over the season.
by the way im an arsenal fan from cardiff and ibrahim farah who plays 4 cardiff and played against arsenal is a massive talent. the reason why i brought this up is that he is also a massive gooner. i know this as he is the brother of one of my friends.