Arsenal play their final home game of the Premier Reserve League season against Sunderland tomorrow evening, and while the title looks all but out of reach, Neil Banfield will be able to call on some experienced heads for the fixture.
Jens Lehmann will make his second consecutive appearance for the second string, as he continues to build up his fitness. The German played the full 90 minutes against Wigan Athletic last time out, although endured an error riddled return to action. Jérémie Aliadière is also set to continue, while Emmanuel Frimpong has been penciled in to make his long awaited return from anterior cruciate ligament damage.
Banfield will also be able to call upon Oğuzhan Özyakup, who returns after international duty. The Dutch Under 19 midfielder could be making his last appearance in the Red and White, as talks over a new contract have stalled. Oğuzhan’s current deal expires in July.
Kick off at Underhill is at 7pm. You can follow live text updates on our Twitter feed.
Is Ozyakup likely to be offered an improved deal, Jamie? And what do you think of him?
He told the Dutch media a few months ago Arsenal had offered him a new three year deal, but he said he had some things to iron out, and the club and him are struggling to agree.
I love Frimpong.He is one of the few that actually has the winning mentality that Wenger talks about. He will make it here.
http://bit.ly/gOrspp Watch the video, it’s a Japanese Messi, you’ll see what I mean once your 10 seconds in!
agree about frimpong. he is an ox. love him
i,m really happy to hear that frimpong is back hope you are going to have a good game.
Frimpong is better that Coquelin but doubt he has future in Arsenal.
Not true. Ask Jamie, Coquelin is a better player and has been great for Lorient this year, we don’t really know how good Frimpong is yet as he hasn’t much practise.
Personally I prefer Coquelin because he shares that same tough tackling attribute as Frimpong but is better technically and generally offers more all round.
Plus Frimpong has spent the last two seasons on the treatment table which could really hamper his development while Coquelin has been able to gain valuable first team experience with FC Lorient.
Great for Lorient? He hasn’t actually played so much, not so many 90 minutes after all, rather been in bench, so is that great, i think that’s a way little overdone don’t you chris. I rated Coq, but i’m little disappointed about his season, i thought he would be a regular starter in Lorient team, so i’m not so convinced about him. Yes, Frimpong’s got to get himself shape again and we shall see how long he needs, is the pre-season enough or do he need more time to get fully fit, and what is his level when he get there, he missed a whole season, so it’s useless to hype about him before he showes something to hype about again, and same goes for Coquelin too, we shall see how far they are capable to go
well maybe he has not play in the first part of thr season (selection injury)but he is been use quiet few time since and play quiet well with his coach Gourcuff giving praising him few time
frimpong ramsey wilshere
the future midfield
I really like Ozyakup and hope we can keep him…he is very cesc like in his play..always has time on the ball…sign of a fine player.
As for Frimpong…whilst I think he isn’t as good as Coquelin (technically) I defo agree with phv and Wenger about his winning mentality…I watched a few of our pre-season games again the other day and he is one determined mofo…him and wilshere bring bucket loads of strong mentality and will to win which we are soo short of now.
J…when is the next Q&A session with you mate??
Ozyakup is a weird one.
Hes hugely talented but we have got ramsey, wilshere who do the same job but better.
Henderson, lansbury are more versatile and have more of an effect in games.
Ie goal scoring and creating chances.
I just feel ozakup is one of those players who great at keeping the ball, passing it but not really influencing games.
Hes a great talent but we have similar players to him.
JS just wondering do you think letting Havard nordvteit go was a mistake?
Hes exactly what we need in the first team can play right back, defensive midfield or centre half.
We should have let him go in the summer
Great news to have Frimpong back. He looked promising in pre-season. Plays hard, is tough, and has surprising skill for such an aggressive player. Also, based on some his tweets, a little crazy — which I think helps this Arsenal team.
aliadiere playing again,certainely makes you think and begs the question has he something on the professor?
frimpong is next to wilshere
Frimpong is going to be the new fabrice muamba.
Coqulin is a better footballer than frimpong and he wont be going to the african nations cup would be more beneficial to our squad.
I believe it was this website who reported that Frimpong was set to join the first team before getting injured this summer. Wenger before the season started rated him the same as Jack Wilshere.
Coquelin is sent out on loan and Frimpong is kept for the first team. How can there even be a question of who is the more talented player?
Coquelin is one year older if that makes any difference.
And that japanese messi kid is a legend but let’s keep kids under ten out of the recruiting chat.
Hi Jamie – thanks for the great info. What’s the attendance usually like for the reserve games? Thinking of coming down later this evening.
Frimpong needs 2 consecutive seasons of regular football before we can judge.
He looked decent pre season but when the ante was raised he was found wanting.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see aliadiere signed for next season as back up such is the demise of wenger. There must be some other youngsters who are in more of a need of a run out.
Good news to hear that frimpong is back i hope to see him improve and come back to where he was, because he was playing well in the preseason emirate cup so i was looking forward to see him in the first team as a back up for song but his injury has delay his progress, i hope he improves and replace diaby next season when he is sold please sell diaby wenger. As for the comparism of frimpong vs coquelin is that coquelin is better than frimpong technically because he has vision, good passer of the ball, he defend well, not only can he play in the midfield he can play as right back while frimpong is a songs type of player with more power and strenght when defending in midfield that is why he should be the best back up for song and not diaby.
Dont know why u guys think coquelin can play right back cos d only time i have seen him play was against stoke, yes he did his all but frm dat game d position doesnt suit him but i know u guys have seen him alot more times than i have
Nice to see frimpong back, i hope he doesn’t suffer a relapse of the injury.
The Frimster is a beast and brings what Wilshere has a dogged commitment, tackling and a desire to work hard and win no matter how easy the match and thats what we need, we have Wilshere doing it and with the Verminator back next season and throw the Frimster into the mix thats the dogs of war we need, some times technical ability is not enough…..you also need passion that seems to lack in Denilson, Bentdner, Eboue who to be honest we need to sell while they are worth something and get rid of Rosicky and cash in on Arshavin as well although Arshavin ahs put the effort in the last few games he just inst there enough in all the matches……anyway I have gone of the mark….good look to the frinster and hopefully he can push for 1st team the last few games of the season
I couldn’t agree more. Although i will be selling a few more players
They where just the players of the top of my head, Randall, Hoyte, Murphy and a few other players as well.
is aneke playing or is he injured?
??
Does anyone have a game against Sunderland broad castTVontheInternet?Not from ARSENALTv
Does anyone have the game broadcast online?
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i’ve been looking around for a stream, can’t find one though.
It is obvious that Diaby and Denilson are not good enough. Wenger should cash in on those two, Bendtner and Squillaci. Buy a worldclass CB and perhaps another winger like Hazard. Then you bring back Vela, Coquelin and Frimpong. Start rotating the squad more early in the season to prevent burnout and we have a deep talented team with experience, youth and talent.
Wenger needs to also cut some of the young guys who will never play for us so we can get them off the books (Randall, Hoyte, Sanchez Watt, Mannone, Eastmond, etc….) That way our wages can be used to keep Nasri, Fab, Song, Van Persie, Djourou, Vermaelen, Sagna, etc…
Randall and Hoyte yes, but Mannone, no way, i think he could compete with Chesney and Fabianski, he ‘s never let us down nor Hull City either, we need him to be in squad and should be given some gametime next season