Arsenal’s Premier Reserve League campaign got off to a flying start this evening with a 5-0 win over Bolton Wanderers at the Lancashire County Ground. Braces from Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Chuks Aneke saw off an experienced Bolton side. Nacer Barazite grabbed one too.
Neil Banfield named one of his strongest Reserve lineups ever. Vito Mannone was given special permission by Arsene Wenger to play while Havard Nordtveit, Craig Eastmond and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas were all drafted in. Chuks Aneke and Benik Afobe are Reserve regulars for the first-time this season, they started, and Ignasi Miquel took the armband.
Mannone
Nordtveit – Hoyte – Miquel – Cruise
Randall – Eastmond – Aneke
Barazite – Afobe – Emmanuel-Thomas
Subs: Shea, Yennaris, Evina Deacon.
Bolton began well and settled to their plan quickly. Tamir Cohen was causing the Arsenal defence problems as the Trotters won a selection of early corners, but Miquel and Nordtveit did their part to see out the danger.
The visitors then found their passing game and Chuks Aneke had a fantastic chance to open the scoring, but despite working the angle to shoot, Rob Lainton in the Bolton goal made a fine save. Danny Shittu, who played for Nigeria at the World Cup, was forced to charge Emmanuel-Thomas off the ball after Randall slipped him through as the Gunners stepped up the pressure.
Cruise was next to try and find the break through after skinning Joey O’Brien, but Shittu was there again to beat Emmanuel-Thomas to the header. Arsenal were pushing but Bolton were holding firm. With the half hour mark approaching, Nacer Barazite had two similar chances after cutting in from the wing but they both went wide. Barazite and JET had swapped flanks consistently and The Wanderers were struggling to keep them in check.
Benik Afobe was caught offside twice and Craig Eastmond had a wild shot, but the game lacked a real spark. Mannone saved a low drive from Tom Eaves but just as Bolton thought they might nick a goal, the Gunners struck. Emmanuel-Thomas took the ball on the right of the box and jinked inside before lashing home into the corner of the net. A superb strike and the much needed opener. 1-0.
It was the final action of the first half.
Banfield sent his charges out for the second half fired up, but his plans had to change within 60 seconds. Gavin Hoyte was pulled off with a suspected knee complaint and Nico Yennaris came on. He switched to right back allowing Nordtveit to come inside.
It may have been a personnel change, but Arsenal continued their assault. Shittu was forced to make a last ditch tackle to deny Aneke racing away after Randall’s ball, and then Shittu had to block Emmanuel-Thomas’ drive from a similar position that he scored from.
On 63 minutes, the pressure finally tolled. A fine move involving Cruise and Emmanuel-Thomas resulted in the latter faking a shot and releasing Barazite on his left. Nacer confidently strode on the ball and clipped it beyond Lainton for number two. 2-0. Bolton did have another mini spell but confident defending from Miquel and Afobe snuffed them out, only for the Gunners to go up the end and finish the contest.
Aneke and Emmanuel-Thomas worked a lovely passing move allowing Chuks space for a shot at Lainton. The home ‘keeper saved, but Aneke was on hand to turn the re-bound into the net for 3-0.
Banfield had the luxury of bringing Roarie Deacon and Cedric Evina for the closing stages, and they helped get in on the romp. Aneke curled home another from the edge of the box, and then minutes later Emmanuel-Thomas helped himself to another with a smart turn and shot from a similar position.
It finished 5-0. Three points on day one and a silky performance saw The Gunners home. If Banfield can keep this side together, they have a real chance of being Champions come July.
Comments
Man of the match?
How was Nordtveit playing?
J it says 5-0 but it was 3-0
JET and Aneke looks like top prospects. Do you think they will get their chances for the first team this season?
Ha didnt read the post fully
barazite is back???
i’m very confused.
Back from the trial in Glasgow..
yeah, i just can’t beleve rangers declined the chance to take him. it stuns me how blind some of these supposed ‘big clubs’ are when it comes to spotting talent. rangers are absolute amateurs, and i hope celtic crush them this year.
gunner17 – you realize that Rangers brought up Danny Wilson and John Fleck from their academy, two of the best prospects in Europe?
I personally know nothing but some of my best friends are Scottish and obsess over the SPL and they say that Wilson and Flick are terrible – only there because Rangers were skint and had to play their ‘best’ yutes instead of buying anyone. I mean we could promote Randall to the first team, doesn’t mean we should.
They went with Weiss from Man city which is a very good signing. I still agree with Bazarite but it is hard to tell at this stage how good he is and the financial obligations.
“Bolton did have another mini spell but confident defending from Miquel and Afobe snuffed them out”
did u mean nordtveit and not afobe?
Nah, he meant Afobe. He tackled Riga on the edge of the box when he was about to shoot.
I wathced the live text stream from AFC.com and it was 5 nil
Nah mate. Afobe tracked back. He’s got a fantastic work rate, he can come back and defend and give you that option.
he’s a great target man aswell
I think of all the strikers right now JET and Afobe have the most chance of making it
Is ozzyakup injured
shouldn’t he be involved in the reserves as well
Did Nordevit an Miquel had a good game?
I eXpect big things from him!
As for Barazite he is back & Im also confused by this! Its better we find some club to loan him.
I rate him higher than Randall or. Eastmond.
Anyway I really hope 9/11 of tonights crop will make it in famous Red&White.
You can’t compare Bazarite to 2 central midfield players
JET and Barazite are too good for this level, both should go out on loan or get a chance in the cups
How did Nordtveit do at CB?
@Gunner17:
They havent decide yet on Barazite..
look J’s comment on twitter..
“Nacer Barazite’s trial with Rangers has ended. Gers’ are yet to announce whether they’ll try and loan him.”
oh, well, scratch everything i said then!
i just hope things work out well for the kid.
i hope barazite stays and somehow edges his way in to the first team picture…hopefully he can have a good run in the CC that makes wenger think.
Rhys Murphy wasn’t involved? Is he injured?
J, Dose Miquel have good leadership qualities and will he be the captain og the Reserves this season ?
We need to keep a lot of these players especially for the Carling Cup. They go out on loan in January if they want.
Good to see Aneke continue on with his form from last year,depending on loan deals and injuries he may well start in the Carling cup,JET now genuinely looks like our 5th choice striker and a good one at that.
jay who do you think will feature for the first carling cup team this year?
i think nordveit , eastmond and jay emmanuel thomas and vela in my view guarantee . i think miquel could feature but could u give me what u think the starting 11 could be
I think Aneke has a chance
Miguel I doubt is being send out on loan
Eastmond too is going to stay with us
JET – a lot of clubs are after his services so maybe he will go on loan hopefully to a PL side
this would be my lineup for the carling cup
—————— Mannone/Tech9
Nortvedit — Squillaci — Miguel —- Gibbs
Aneke ———- Eastmond ———– Wilshere
JET —————- Afobe ——————- Vela
JAY EMMANUEL THOMAS is a gifted asset to the club. This kid is so good it’s a little frightening. Not only is he way too good for this level, he’s also probably too good for the Championship. If he’s not given a chance with the first team, he should only be loaned out to another Prem club to hone his exceptional talent. His performances since the U-18 double winning season have been incredibly consistent and incredibly dominant. He is another massive jewel in the Arsenal crown. Two more goals and two more assists today are just the beginning of what he can do at Reserve level. It would be a waste for him to stay there all season. Let him push on and put some pressure on Bendtner and Vela. He’s good enough for the first team. Like Wilshere, he’ll make rookie mistakes, but he’s a massive, massive talent.
Same with Aneke. Another massive talent. I’ve said it for a while now and today’s performance is another example why this kid will probably push on and surpass the likes of Randall, Henderson, and Lansbury in very short order.
I agree he should get a loan move to the PL, which would complete him and make him ready for our 1st team, but hes not as good as vela, and wouldnt be in direct competition with him anyway.
Aneke could be a star, meade also looks promissing, low centre of gravity, good touch, pace, and shot but nobody here talks about him, isnt he highly rated?
On the otherhand everyone keeps raving about jet but tbh i cant see him getting in the first team, just my opinion, hes played well in youth divisions and friendlies but i dont see him having the sort of talent our first teamers have
JET is top class, needs a loan as KC stated above.
I rave about him because he delivers. His effect on the sides he plays on isn’t a mystery. It’s clear as day how effective he is. Today is just another example of it…the example’s been going on since the U-18 double winning side. Now it’s time for him to step up to the first team and prove consistent doubters like you wrong.
Im surprised and a bit disapointed Ian Holloway hasnt come in for JET on a seasons loan really.
maybe he will stay with us till January? Jet, Lansbury, Barazite, Nordveit and possibly Jack as well could benefit from loans, hopefully in the Premier League.
JET has truly found his best position, this guy will be immense.
As for Chuks Aneke – the sky is the limit: so much potential it’s frightening. Remember Wenger gave him a FIRST team trial – straight from playing Under 18s football! Echoes anyone?
Wish this team could be kept together for the Carling Cup.
Honestly, for the first time, I’m drooling at how many of these guys will eventually make it into the first team squad – I’m thinking 7 at least.
BTW – Miquel is a class defender: watch Barceloanus come few years down the line with “DNA” claims.
If they come after Miguel I might go on a shooting spree at Camp Nou
I agree for Aneke sky is the limit, he is looking to good for the reserves now at the age of 17 and there is one kid who looked this good at the age of 17 and that’s wilshere
I am suprised the media isnt hyping about this kid already as he is probably the most talented player in that lineup
Miguel would go there as he has been release by them and we got him from the lower league in spain.I ve no doubt one day he would like to play in spain against them and show the two finger for not believing in him
wouldn t
I hope JET gets loaned out this year in a “finishing school” manner to what Wilshere did last season. EPL team only. To be honest he’s just about as ready as what Wilshere is.
Wilshere’s been good in the first-team but hasn’t exactly wow’ed us. Considering JET’s heading ability and the fact Bendtner’s not back for another 5-6 weeks I wouldn’t mind throwing him on in the last 15mins a few times when we play the teams who just pump set pieces into the box against us. That’s not JET’s *only* use but if he can use that as a reason to get on the pitch and earn valuable first-team football before he goes out on loan I can only see that as a positive thing.
Just on Wilshere it will be interesting to see what happens now that our starting trio is ready to start and we have reinforcements in the backline (ie. no reshuffling with Song to CB, Diaby to DM).
Looking forward to seeing how Aneke/Afobe go in the reserves this year. I have high hopes for both of them. Hopefully Barazite goes to Rangers. While he makes our reserves look good I think his spot could be filled by an up’n'comer rather than someone whose hopes of making the first-team are diminishing. Maybe someone like Watt or Wellington next season.
I don’t even know why we even play Randall quite frankly. Trying to show him off so we can sell him? It’s not like we are gonna make a mill off him. We should just sell him for nothing with a sell-on clause and let him get on with his career in the lower divisions.
Why didn’t Lansbury play?
Wilshere hasn’t wow’d anyone in the first couple games because he has been playing a deep midfield position. How do you want him to wow you from there. Hopefully when our central midfield 3 are back in there he can compete for a more attacking position.
That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard in my life. So Cesc doesn’t wow you when he plays that position?
His passing and movement is what will wow me and to be honest he has been over-shadowed by Rosicky. I don’t need him to dribble past 3 players to be impressed but I do need his passing to be more accurate particular in the final third when things get congested. I’m sure that will improve but like I said he hasn’t wow’ed me just yet.
Plus he hasn’t been playing DM. He has been playing more box2box with Diaby sitting in front of the back four (well at least until Blackpool had a player sent off and then he went forward more). He has had the license to get forward in both games much like Nasri/Rosicky do but hasn’t been that efficient in doing so.
I couldn’t even read your whole comment because it started of stupid. Wilshere is an attacking midfielder. He is not going to wow you when asked to play a deap midfield role and make simple passes. You will always be more “wowed” by attacking midfielders. If you put Wilshere in his proper role…you will be “wowed” trust me.
lol im a consistent doubter? i dont have anything against the guy but everytime i see him i cant help think he is too good for that level but not good enough for the first team, it might actually be that i cant see where he would fit into the team arsene’s built. The wingers we play are playmakers with the exception of walcott, i dont think that suits him. In the CF role afobe and watt look like better candidates to me than jet let alone the players we have there atm, and finally in midfield due to songs age i cant see any of the current youth players getting that position in the future at arsenal, and ahead of that arsene is going mainly for quick, small, mobile cms. So please do explain where you think jet will nail down a place in our team?
The reason JET has an excellent chance is that I feel he is the first of a new breed of tall playmakers that AW is lining up for the future…and he is a playmaker, btw.
If you think about JET, Aneke, Galindo, and Ebecilio, all are very big kids who have exceptional technical ability and play the attacking mid role for the most part (and in JET’s case also the striker position). I see these big technical kids as movement on AW’s part to find this kind of player for his first team. JET is as good as any in this group with a shot at the 1st team.
JET’s versatility is often cited as a problem, but I also feel it’s actually an a great asset. With his technical ability, I feel he will be able to compete in many of the positions you think he can’t.
JET height and his goal threat makes him either a winger or a target man and I think we can use a player like JET in our first team this year
He is obviously too good for the reserves and he has proved in the championship that he can score there on a regular basis so either a prem club can come in for him or we can keep in the team this year
Bendtner has already been ruled out till Jan and RVP isnt fully fit keeping a player like JET will be a good idea
Stefan, he will either play a wide forward position or a centre forward role. Remember, JET can really pass the ball, and he can dribble. He’s not just a pure poacher like you are making him out to be.
Alright im not going to say anything more negative about him, i just hope hes as good as everyone thinks
Sounds like da kids played very well en J if u cn pliz update da player profiles.
Well done young lads can i get to see a video of it?
Subject to Loans – Carling Cup team
Mannone/Sczcesney
Nordveit Djourou Miquel Gibbs or Traore
Aneke Eastmond Randall or Lansbury
JET Afobe Vela or Barazite
subs from Shea, Hoyte, Henderson, Evina, Barazite, Murphy, Sunu, Deacon
That is some 23 man squad (All Home Grown) and does not even include U21′s like Wilshere, Walcott, Frimpong, Watt, Freeman, Coquelin, Bartley, Botelho, Galindo, Wellington, Martinez, Ozyakup
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5aRCqM7lLw Another wonderful prospect
Watt is a brilliant winger
I have been watching all their games and he is involved in everything going forward for Leeds but he’s not being selfish enough for me
even when he gets into position where he can go for goal himself he passes it someone
what are galindo and wellington like and who are they comparable to?
ive heard galindo is similar to riqueleme and wellington is like romario
I just downloaded the full games of Boliva’s u20 team in the last u20 south american championship just to see exactly how good he is.
Anyone see the 17 year old keeper for Dynamo Kiev…Maksym Koval? Amazing keeper for a 17 year old.
I know I was thinking the same when I saw him last week what an amazing keeper
if we didnt have Szczesny I would have hoped Wenger would have gone for him
He would be way to expensive anyways now that he is at a top ukraine club but still….it is pretty impressive.
less expensive than da gea
I am not sure about that. These top ukraine clubs have a lot of coin. Anyways , this kid joins that group of top young keepers along with De gee and our Schezny.
I bet a club can get him for less than 10 million euros but its pretty pointless as he wont move to a club where he cant get regular games
10 million is a lot for a 17 year old keeper mate
no not really for a player that might be your no.1 for 2 decades to come
I agree with your logic but i am simply talking about what people tend to spend on keepers.
I agree tho, thats why i sometimes wish we would just fork out the money to get a sure thing young centerback or midfielder because they will be there for 12 years rather then spending 8 million ever 4 years on a new one. The problem is people would not see it like that. All they would see is 18 million pounds and clubs would think we would be paying that for all players now. I would love to snap up Jack Rodwell but that won’t happen.
is it me or does anyone think that our U-18s would suck now.
Like afobe and Jet have left them.
even Yennaris
I personally would not say they suck because there is know guarantee that every year group at Arsenal will be as good or better than the last lot, P.S and even though we lost badly to Manchester City last weekend it is still far to early to judge them all as a group IMO.
the point for under 18s and reserve is too get a few players each year that have the potential to break into our first team
how many trophies they win along the way is a bonus
and from this years batch we have quite a few talented players
Angha
Ansah
Kyle
to name a few
I didn’t know JET was involved in the u18s last year…..
any highlights of yesterday’s game other than ATVO….
yeah it should be on ATVO in a day or two
Arsenal are trying out 20 boys from Plymouth
http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/plymstock/Arsenal-try-city-talent/article-2571298-detail/article.html
SWANSEA
CITY’S move for England Under-21 starlet Henri Lansbury has been put on hold by Arsenal’s injury woes.
Boss Brendan Rodgers is keen to add loan signing Lansbury with the young midfielder impressing during a similar spell at Watford last season.
But Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger – who must name a 25-man Premier League squad next week – is understood to be considering his options after Emmanuel Frimpong was ruled out for six to nine months after damaging cruciate knee ligaments in training.
“It’s still pending. Arsenal have had injuries and had to take a step back,” said Rodgers on the day Lansbury was named in the England Under-21 squad to face Portugal and Lithuania in the European Under-21 Championship.
“Frimpong got injured and Henri plays in that position.
“So we must await and see what Arsenal are saying.
Any possibility of a highlights video? =P
if someone can teach how to remove the DRM from the ATVO video then I can post it for you guys other than that there’s no way to get the highlights
I don’t know how but if it’s for personal but not commercial use it should be ok? Wouldn’t mind if you sent me through e-mail or upload to a file-sharing site and PM me the link?
Much appreciated if you could. Cheers mate :)
wont work as it will ask you for a username and password to open the game
If someone knows how to remove the DRM then I can upload it otherwise there’s no point since you wont be able to see it
someone on a site i use puts the MUTV things up.
the best thing about JET’s success is that how stupid that John guy is going to look rambling on day and night about how he would never make it and Lansbury is the best player ever… Lansbury will be a decent player no doubt but JET is starting to look like he could make a real impact at the club even this season
Owen Coyle was in the crowd and though he was no doubt watching his own reserves I’m sure he would have been impressed with our boys. Maybe a loan offer is on the horizon?
Yes Coyle use the excuse he is the Bolton manager to watch some maybe future loans from the other better side :D .I can imagine the Bolton youth talk before the match:
Youth player : the manager is here ,let impress him :)
Coach : he is not here for you
YP: !!!! :(
Coach: just checking on arsenal youth to get on loan for the EPL season
@ Lorg Gunner
,more like
Bolton:hey owen how did we play
coyle:STFU, i watchinh aneke not you
arsenal have signed sebastien squillaci from sevilla on a long term contract for a undisclosed fee
hey guys… want to ask u what u think if Arsenal drew Valencia,Braga and CFR ? nice draw for us ?
Well the draw we did get is pretty annoying. Travelling all the way to ukrain to play their national champions, as well as serbia, and we’ll be playing the team that finished second in portugal and beat celtic and sevilla to qualify. I dont get why we never draw french, dutch, or german teams, we always have travel halfway across europe. Im gonna check what prem games we have inbetween now, no doubt away trips up north knowing our luck.
At least chelski are off to russia :)
This is unbelievable. In between our champslg games we have sunderland away, chelsea away, man city away, aston villa away, and man u AWAY!!! What a joke
shakhtar is no joke either. Douglas Costa and all the others. My hope is that because we have a trend of signing players that played well verse us in the champs league, maybe we can snap up Costa.
I hope we can qualify for the the knock out stages of CL after 4 matches. It’d be nice to see our Carling Cup lineup get 2 matches in this competition. Excited to see the likes of JET, Lansbury (if he stays), Noordveidt, and other on the fringe to get some matches.
Moreover the story shouldn’t be some wish or unrealistic statement, fairly a fact.