Arsenal Reserves’ chances of winning Reserve League South are all but over this evening after drawing 1-1 with Champions elect Aston Villa at Villa Park. A strong lineup which included Nigel Reo-Coker and Wilfred Bouma met the Gunners, but Nacer Barazite continued his excellent run of form to rescue a point following Nathan Delfouneso’s earlier strike.
Banfield again rotated. Vito Mannone started between the sticks while the back four in front of him remained unchanged. Emmanuel Frimpong and Conor Henderson dropped out but the returning Francis Coquelin and Chuks Aneke took their places in a more balanced midfield. Sead Hajrovic was named on the bench following a long standing injury. Ignasi Miquel took the arm band.
Mannone
Yennaris – Cruise – Miquel (c) – Evina
Aneke – Coquelin – Özyakup
Barazite – Murphy – Freeman
Subs: Shea, Boateng, Hajrovic, Deacon, Afobe.
Match Report – Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal
Aston Villa snapped out of the traps and pressed Arsenal straight from the start. Marc Albrighton broke down the flank and forced stand in skipper Miquel to put the ball into touch in a flying start. Vito Mannone was then forced into two saves, one a chip from the aforementioned Albrighton and then a low down one from Nathan Delfouneso.
Chuks Aneke had the first Arsenal chance, striding forward from midfield and shooting over. It was a brief glimmer of light for the Gunners in what was a Villa dominated first half. Nigel Reo-Coker and Delfouneso had further chances before the whistle, but the brilliant Italian Mannone was keeping the league leaders at bay.
Half Time – Aston Villa 0-0 Arsenal
Villa continued the second half as they did the first, but this time they had the reward within 90 seconds of the restart. Albrighton’s cross from the wing was stabbed at Mannone by Weimann, the stopper fumbled onto the post and Delfouneso cracked home the re-bound. 1-0 Aston Villa.
Aneke and Nacer Barazite then came alive and forced fine saves as Banfield pressed his charges forward. On the hour Benik Afobe came on and the momentum of the game changed. Sead Hajrovic then replaced Freeman in a strange but solid change.
The Gunners poured forward in their drones in the final stages and were crucially rewarded. Roarie Deacon’s run down the wing caused issues, he then cut it back for the brilliant Barazite who smashed home the equaliser.
Some late chances for Barazite via free-kick and Özyakup from a corner caused danger, but neither side could find the killer goal. It finished 1-1 leaving Arsenal’s chances of winning the title all but over, with Aston Villa set to win their third title in a row.
Impressive result given our young team and Villa’s strong line up.
Good result. Looking forward to seeing Barazite in the 1st team squad next season. One disappointment today is that Bartley seems to have lost his starting place for Sheff U. Was hoping to see him live on sky.
Bartley came in for their injured CB didn’t he so you can’t expect him to start every match if the guy comes back from injury
One thing i want to ask. Having not seen Afobe play (but heard lots).. What type of striker is he? Physically big/small, skillful dribbler or more of a poacher etc etc
He’s a big, bulky, powerful and quick striker. I compared him to a young Andy Cole in terms of style a year or so ago. I stand by that now.
yeah he’s the carlton cole and darren bent type striker but he’s definitely one for the future.
we still shud not be sad about it.. we were way off our first-choice reserves team.. AV have a baby squad ragging same players in all matches be it their first team.. and their tired legs have long begun their show….
That means the 2 extra covering players for this 18 man matchday squad are Henderson & Frimpong as they didnt feature against Villa reserves.
nah Henderson was with Republic of Ireland u19s, and Frimpong has a slight knock. I see Rosicky is now rated 50-50 for Barca….this is beyond ridiculous.
Hiya Jay,
After seeing John Spicer score today, i was wondering maybe you could do a feature maybe once a week, on ex Arsenal youngsters. It would be great to see where some of them have ended up and wether they have made a career for themselves. I was thinking along the lines of Ryan Garry, Ryan Smith, etc etc..
Sure, it sounds like a good idea man. I’ll give it some thought and you’ll see something soon. Had a few shouts for this, I think I’ll give it ago.
I really think Barazite should be given a run in the first team for the remaining PL games I bet he do better than Eduardo and Vela?
Just win AFC!
JS do you think Benik afobe is a better talent than conor wickham? I got to say wickham has impressed for a 6ft 3 guy he reminds me of a young bendtner breaking through very mobile, scores goals, comfortable with the ball at his feet
Personally, and people may say I’m biased, I think Afobe is the better talent. At Under 17 level they play together and Benik always out shines Wickham and he scores alot more. I think Wickham’s body is maybe a little more developed but in terms of talent, Benik is much better for me.
It feels a bit weird this year – both the reserves and the first team are so in the mix right close to the end of the season that said end of season is going to feel abrupt!
wow miquel got the captain’s armband how old is this kid and I am sure Barazite will be in our first team next season but I think he will still be loaned to a EPL team or maybe to a top championship team
I was looking at our last years youth team and that has to be one of the most talented team any club has produced in years probably only second to the 2001 Barca team that produced the likes of Cesc, Pique and Messi
our last years youth team has one talented player in almost every position
CB – Bartley, Miquel, Ayling
LB – Cruise
DM – Coquelin, Eastmond
CM – Lansbury, Wilshere, Frimpong
Wingers – Sunu, Watt
ST- Freeman, Afobe
Love Gooner14’s idea!
the team that won the youth cup has so much potential its very exciting for the future. they will have to still work hard though and get their heads right.
I think a loan to a premiership side is the next step for barazite. im still not totally convinced that he is a 1st team player and i still think he might not make it…
Barazite has had too many injuries this season but I think he’s ready to promoted to arsenal first team maybe not play for arsenal week in and week out but he should definitely be moved into the first team and then send him out on loan to a championship or EPL team.
But the real news is that Arsenal are in negotiations with Wigan for the transfer of Hugo Rodallega for a fee of around 10 million and have already complete the signing of Chamak that means we will have 6 strikers next season but I think if Rodallega comes then Eduardo is sure to leave. I just can’t see Wenger keeping him for another season. He’s not the player he used to be and he has to be sold. I am sure that clubs in Italy and Spain will love to sign him but the EPL is just to rough for him.
HERE’S THE LINK
http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/820480-hugo-rodallega-and-marouane-chamakh-close-to-arsenal-moves
if the article had said that arsenal were looking at him then I would have said that its just a paper trying to fabricate a story but it says “negotiations are already underway” which means we are definitely interest and are more likely to get him then not.
I highly, highly doubt we’ll go after Rodallega. For me, he isn’t Arsenal quality. He’s 24 and is scoring 1 in 4 matches. He’s very inconsistent with very long stretches of no goals and poor play. Its just silly transfer talk.
I strongly feel that Wenger will give Eduardo another season to come good. My gut tells me that Wenger feels he owes it to him. The only way Eduardo moves this summer is if he’s the one that asks for it. Not saying I don’t agree that Eduardo isn’t the same player, he isn’t, but Wenger will give him another season I feel. Plus, he was given a new deal in November.
Vela is another story. He didn’t make the traveling squad for the trip to Barcelona with Merida being favored. That’s a clear signal that Wenger is losing faith in him, though he also got a new contract in December. If he doesn’t push himself into Wenger’s thinking by the end of the season, I could see him put on loan for next season.
I think Wenger gave Eduardo a chance
Eduardo has had a full season but he really hasn’t performed except for in the West Ham cup game and Vela on the other hand has just turned 21. He’s a born finisher but he hasn’t kicked off after his display in cup games last year so I am not too worried about him.
I have seen enough of him in the cup games and in his national team to know that this guy will become a great finisher maybe not the next David Villa but he will surely be a world class finisher.
And if anyone who saw Rodallega play will know that he is a very good player and probably the only reason wigan is still avoiding relelgation so If wenger choose him then I am happy to have him but I want him to focus more on the defensive side of our team.
Bring in some CB’s and a take a real hard look on our GK situation. Manuel Neur is being linked with us and if we get him then I am sure our Gk problems are solved in a instant.
Its not what you think Andrew, its what Wenger thinks. While we might think that Eduardo won’t recover his ability, I think Wenger does. He’s said so often, saying that he’s nearing a his pre-injury form and giving him a new contract. Wenger is quite compassionate for a manager and its very clear that he’s very sympathetic to what happened to Eduardo. He brings it up all the time. The new contract is evidence of this. I hold that he’s going to be given another year. Arsenal can afford to pay his salary waiting for him to come good, just like Man Utd can pay Hargreaves.
I don’t agree at all with Rodallega. I’ve watched Wigan and he has his good games and far too many where he’s invisible. We already have Eduardo for that. He’s prone to slumps. He went 9 EPL matches without a goal earlier this season. So much so that Martinez moved him over to the left wing. If I had to judge a top performer for Wigan this year, it’d probably be N’Zogbia – and he isn’t Arsenal quality either. Both have found their level.
I guess you’re right about Eduardo and I hope he’s given another chance if a person breaks a leg for us then he at least deserves a chance to prove himself but I have seen Eduardo get scared in front of goal if he thinks there’s a challenge coming in and that’s not a good sign for any striker. I think it more of a mental block than anything but will he really get playing time to get over his mental block with Van Perise, Bendtner and now Chamak in front of him.
Rodallega can play in the wings as well and I think if wenger likes him then he must be good
I don’t know if he’ll get playing time, but we do suffer, unfortunately, injuries in bunches, so there’s a good shot. Yes, it does seem like a mental block and he does look afraid. I think its also worth stating that he’s suffered from the formation change as well. I don’t think he’s suited to being a lone central striker. I think he’s better at having another striker hold up the ball while he runs through channels. Same goes for Vela in that regard, as well.
where is lupoli nowadays, scoring many goals ?
Serie B in Italy, shame I had high hopes for him.
Miquel is 17 btw.
I guess people from Bolton are really taking a liking to our wonderkid
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/kellyseye/7985202.Jack_s_the_lad_with_a_big_future/
i like hugo rodallega. i think he’s very good and arsenal quality. with chamak too next season our strike force could be:
RVP, Bendtner, Chamak, Rodallega, (Eduardo?) – thats good.
Im worried about Eduardo..he hasnt scored for ages and Im just hoping his form recovers but I think the injury has made him a bit worse and just losing that 10% or 20% at this level really shows.
I wouldnt worry about Vela, he’s only 21. Probably needs a bit more time to work on the physical side of his game cos the technique is there. Being naturally small I guess its just going to take him a bit more time to make centre forward his position.
Strikers for the future- Murphy, Freeman, Watt, Sunu, Afobe. LAUGHING!! HAHA!! GOOD TIMES
Well if the Rodallega rumours are true then I won’t complain – everyone was moaning how we needed more reinforcements up front and now we might get them. Rodallega’s shown some very good finishing and one or two screamers, but he is incosistent, but then again, so are most of Arsenal’s players.
Eduardo and Vela seem nothing like the players they were 2 years ago and maybe the hype for Carlos was just pointless. Other than his Carling Cup exploits against Sheffield United and Wigan, I can’t think of a single match where he has shined. As for Eduardo, he’s lost it in my opinion.
Rodallega and Chamakh are two very good moves.
Outpass your opposition, flood one side of pitch with most of your players to help this possession and overload the far post for any crosses. Simple.