Arsenal play host to Nottingham Forest later today in the Premier Academy League Final, with Steve Bould’s Under 18’s looking to retain the crown they won with victory over Tottenham Hotspur last year.
The Gunners cruised through Group A while Forest claimed the Group D gong, but places in the final for both teams were hard fought. A 1-1 draw meant Arsenal needed penalties to dispatch of Manchester United, and there was an equally enthralling fixture in the other game. Nottingham also won on spot kicks after tieing 1-1 with Leicester City in normal time.
Bould admitted his current crop aren’t quite on the level that won the League and Cup double last year, but their spirit and resolve will stand them in good stead in what’s expected to be a tight encounter. Dutchman Oğuzhan Özyakup scored with his first touch against United, but he’s likely to be named on the bench again. Swiss duo Martin Angha and Sead Hajrovic are back from international duty and will compete with Nicholas Yennaris for the right back slot. James Shea is expected to continue between the sticks.
Predicted Starting XI
Shea
Yennaris – Boateng – Miquel – Evina
Aneke – Frimpong – Henderson
Deacon – Afobe – Freeman
Subs: McDermott, Angha, Özyakup, Edge, Meade.
Kick off is at 2pm UK time at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium. Tickets are free but if you can’t get to the game, Arsenal TV Online are broadcasting the fixture live from 1.55pm. Young Guns will have a full Match Report and reaction shortly after the full time whistle.
JS i have been really disappointed with sean Mcdermott. How much did he cost? I know hes a cocky lad and thinks he can be arsenal number 1 but from what i have seen he really looks poor in terms of decision making.
James Shea is really good goalkeeper just a bit short but i really like him. If he was taller he would be competing with szcensy to be arsenal number 1
John – he’s not really cocky, he’s just ambitious and wants to be first-choice. I agree though that he hasn’t really done very well this season, which is a let down. However, we’ve seen Eastmond and Ayling coming off the ‘scrapheap’ to make careers for themselves.
I don’t think Shea’s got a chance of making it. He’s a decent shot stopper but a bit too small and not good enough on crosses.
J. (…or anyone who knows the answer)
Can you tell me what the cut-off age is for playing as a u-18. I’ve heard that a youth is eligible as long as their 18th birthday is prior to August 1 of the coming seaosn. is this true…?
Thanks in advance for anyone who can help with this.
Yeah they have to 18 at the end of the season (which is why Sunu, Lansbury etc couldn’t play earlier in the year even when they were 18, as they are now 19).
Should be a good game this afternoon, because i do not know anything about the young Nottingham Forrest football players, so it will be very intresting to see how good they really are IMO.
I will miss d game but i’ll appreciate a live updates
can someone plzzzz give a link to watch the game..
hugely appreciated.. thx…
I wanted to go to this game until they announced the absurd kick off time of 2pm on a Tuesday afternoon. If it was an early evening or a weekend they would of got 3 times the crowd than will be there today. The vast majority of people are at work/school/college at this time of day. Never mind. Hope the boys win!!
Juventus in Arsenal talks over Buffon sale
Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon is being lined up for a move to Arsenal.
Tuttosport says Juventus are keen to cash in on the Italy No1 and talks have opened with Arsenal about a move to London.
The stumbling block is concerns Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has over Buffon’s troublesome back and also the Italian’s hopes for one massive final pay-day.
Buffon has also been linked with Manchester City and Bayern Munich
this might just be paper talk but if its true then I couldnt agree more with this signing
If an Arsenal Fan had a wish list then he would be the first one on it
Buffon is not just a great keeper but he is an icon somone our team will look upto and I want him even if he plays only 20-30 games a season. This man is a winner and even at 32-33 he is 10x times better than Almunia and Fabianski
He will play another 3-4 years maybe more and by then Szschensy will be ready to take over
This man is a winner and to win the PL we need more winner in our side the only problem I see will be his wage bill. If he ask for extraodinary amount of money then obviously we wont buy and shouldnt buy because then everybody will want a wage hike and we cant afford it.
Transfer fees wont be the stumbing block and Wenger might even include Sagna to sweeten the deal the problem will be the wage bill hopefully someone we can afford.
Silvestre, Sendros and Gallas are gonna leave that will free some money in the wage bill maybe sell Eduardo and a Gk too.
why eduardo he is defo not bk 2 his old self but im sure he will be bk next season he will get 1 more year if hes bad sell him. he is a great finisher and i fill wenger doesnt play him right in games this season hes a 442 man he needs 2 link with strikers thats my only worry the 442 is gone from r game…………….
its not his finishing that’s being missing this season but his get stuck in mentality I am not sure if it was the stoke game but he had a clear shot on goal and he saw a challenge coming and he got scared and shot the goal wide. And you could see that he got scared and lost his concentration.
Also in the 4-3-3 formation he cant play as a CF as he’s not tall enough and CHamak and Bendtner will be prefered. He can play on the left because we already have Arshavin, Nasri, Rosicky and Vela for the LW.
no links to the game???
The game is live on Arsenal TV Online. http://tv.arsenal.com
can non-subscribers view the game on arsenaltv
YOU KNOW THE NEW SIGNING PHIL ROBERTS ,IS HE GOING TO BE PLAYING FOR THE U18S NEXT SEASON?