Arsenal inflicted a first defeat on new manager Pep Segura as the Gunners beat Liverpool 2-1 in the Premier Reserves League this evening.
Neil Banfield layed out a plan to win the league this week, but he lost George Brislen-Hall and Chuks Aneke before kick off, with the latter failing a fitness test following a training incident with Jack Wilshere. Roarie Deacon was drafted in as a late change.
ARSENAL: Shea; Hajrovic, Boateng, Miquel, Angha; Rees, Ozyakup, Henderson; Deacon, Murphy, Freeman.
LIVERPOOL: Hansen; Mendy, Cooper, Sama, Wisdom; Thomas, Silva, Saric, Ince; Roberts, Irwin.
Arsenal elected to attack down the slope on their return to Underhill, but it was Liverpool who began the brighter, forcing Miquel to clear two dangerous Ince crosses.
The Merseysiders continued to press down the flanks, but it was Arsenal who created the first real chance, which Murphy wasted after good work from Freeman in the middle.
Liverpool then returned to their plan of retaining the ball, but it proved to be their down fall. Sloppy play at the back was taken advantage of by Deacon, he slipped in Freeman who beat one man, then smashed a powerful drive into the top corner on his weaker right foot. It was a stunning opener. 1-0.
Deacon continued his dangerous play and won a penalty nine minutes later, after Wisdom tripped him in the box. Murphy grabbed the ball and casually sent Hansen the wrong way, only to see the ball smack the post and bounce clear.
It proved to be the final real action of the first half.
Liverpool returned from the break a better team, but Shea proved to be on his guard denying Ince and then Saric from the re-bound as the play began to get stretched.
Freeman did his best to try and seal the game late on, but his volley in the box went inches over. He had another chance shortly after, when Wisdom passed the ball straight to him, but the resulting shot was easy for Hansen.
The visitors tried to grab a last ditch equaliser, but a succession of free kicks and corners came to nothing. It appeared to be a frustrating night, but Ince cropped up in the 88th minute to slide home following a save from Shea. 1-1.
The draw seemed all but certain, but Arsenal forced a late corner. Freeman pulled off his man and turned home in stoppage time for a late winner. 2-1.
The win leaves Banfield’s boys very much in the title hunt as the season enters its final stages.
what type of incident was the one between wilshere and chuks aneke?
was it a fight or just colliding into each other?
Good, quick match report. Was just wondering what happened between aneke and wilshere, when were they training with eachother?
Reserves and Youths often train with the 1st team
Great goals from Freeman, very hardworking. wins alot of 50/50s and has great strength aswell.
Watching the game i saw Freeman have several quick footed runs towards the box. Do you think he could be an asset out wide to us with players like Miyaichi coming up to the first team in the future?
It was a crap game. I dont think arsenal turned up.
Freeman scored a cracker looked dangerous but as a team it werent a great performance
Big fan of Freeman, hopefully he can go on a more successful loan spell next season and really push on.
I watched the second half. They definitely outplayed us. We made many mistakes at the back. The midfield could not string two passes together. By the end of the half we leveled the play, but then they leveled the score. Thanks to Freeman we won with the last corner.
On a side note this was the fifth time I watch Miquel and he is such a frustrating player – one moment makes a great pass to the opposite penalty box and the next moment he is mistaking a simple 10 yard pass!
Eeeeasy player hating gooners, yes it was a poor performance but let’s not forget that half of the reserve squad are out on loan.
Luke Freeman is looking good and it’s great to see Reece Murphy back again, hopefuly he can leave his injury jinx behind him and start to show the qulity that he has.
Conor Henderson and Oguzhan Ozyakup didn’t do much in central midfield, hope Emmanuel Frimpong get fit soon.
If we can have 17 players out on loan, play poorly, and still grind out a win against Liverpool, I would think that’s a pretty good result.
great site, but when you say something like ‘training incident with jack wilshere’ you really need to explain!
That’s what I found weird our central midfielders hardly touched the ball. When they had the ball they looked dangerous
I saw Henderson play for the 1st team vs Leyton Orient. Thought he had a good game, and Wenger must have been satisfied, as he gave Conor 90mins. Hope he gets more opportunities…
Good to see Freeman finding some form again, he’s certainly had a mixed season.
Is there a way to watch arsenal reserve games online?
You can watch it on Sopcast
he was online last night check My p2p,you have sometime reserve match
If they didnt play so well & they won its not a bad habit to have in a team.The first team has been lacking this all along, u dont need to be outstanding to win matches all the time sometimes when tins are not going ur way u just have to force it cos u dont wanna lose that’s why man u is at d top of d league
No one from that starting arsenal 11 will make it at our club
monty; which club is that? Coz it definitely aint Arsenal. You spud suckin tit
Arsenal still in fact have the best youth team in the business and it is nice to see them still going strong.
why was a player injured in a training session a few hours before a reserve game. seems a bit crazy ?
midfield had too much sideways passing eg Denilson maybe Wenger likes this type of midfield player more than a Lansbury who passes forward and makes shit happen. Bizarre. Sold to newcastle or norwich for 1-2 million. Mad waste.
@Becker, Lansbury wasnt sold u chop hes on loan at norwich til the end of season. thereafter will be drafted into the 1st team.
agrre with wrenny dont forget that most of our reserve player are actually on loan elsewhere
so the fact we are actually managing to fight for the reserve title is quiet an achievement in itself
Our best crop of youngsters were the ones in the fa youth cup.
Think most of them will break through.
From this crop its hard to see.
Rubbish. Two or three, if it’s a good crop.
Where was Cruise last night?
Freeman is going to make Jamie Sanderson change his mind one of these days…
I have always rated luke freeman.
Hes got the technical skills and hes got the work rate.
Hes got great feet, seems to be in goal scoring positions.
He does remind me of a young michael owen.
Quick change of direction and hes in goal
I really have high hopes for Luke.., i think hes a great talent..!!
But so was barazite, and he was sensational last season…but we all know wat happened next..!!
Freeman deserves a chance in the cups next season or a good championship club loan..
I have got to say Freeman scores very
“FREELY” indeed.
John?? Is there anyone you don’t rate??! Oh yes..how can i forget…Afobe! lol
Hi jamie. How good is Freeman? I’ve been hearing of him for a while now, as a great talent, but i havent seen him in action at all. Is he a serious prospect for the first team? Also what about Conor Henderson? He was talked up a lot around his first team debut against orient. some articles referred to him as “the next Wilshere”, which was a bit hard to digest.