Arsenal continued their excellent start to the Premier Reserve League season with a smash and grab 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers this evening. Sanchez Watt struck the winner, converting Oğuzhan Özyakup’s pass.
Neil Banfield had to make do without several first-team youngsters, but was allowed to keep Ryo Miyaichi, with the Japanese youngster still short of full fitness. Carling Cup debutant’s Oğuzhan Özyakup and Chuks Aneke started, while Ignasi Miquel was injured in the warm up, and replaced by the returning Sead Hajrovic.
ARSENAL: Martínez; Angha, Boateng, Hajrovic, Meade; Yennaris, Özyakup; Miyaichi, Aneke, Freeman; Watt.
Banfield re-lived last season seven goal thriller before kick off, and told Arsenal.com he hoped Blackburn would bring another experienced side to the capital, with his exciting young charges prepared to ‘have a real go’.
Rovers boss Gary Bowyer kept his side of the bargain, starting first-teamers Grant Hanley, Herold Goulon, Bruno Ribeiro, Jordan Slew and Simon Vukčević, and as the game began, Banfield’s boys did their bit. Arsenal snapped out of the traps and penned the visitors into their own half, creating shoot chances for Özyakup and then Freeman in quick succession.
Freeman then helped carve Blackburn open, feeding Miyaichi who in turn found Watt, but the lone striker could only roll his shot against the post. Up the other end, Meade was on hand to head Hanley’s header off the line, in a rare attack by the visitors.
The half time break came and went, with few chances to speak of. A tired looking Miyaichi was replaced on the hour mark, and as the game showed signs of slowing down, Arsenal struck. The efficient Özyakup fed hungry Watt, who lashed the Gunners in front. 1-0.
Vukčević and Hanley were both proving useful in the box in the final stages, but Martin Angha, fresh from training with the first-team this week, was on hand on several occasions to block and clear. The Gunners weather some late pressure, with after Martínez tipped over Slew’s free-kick in stoppage, the win was secured.
All in all, a gritty victory, in front of the watching and supporting Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
It’s good to read that Alex was there. Great guy.
Angha, Martinez are certainly worth keeping an eye on for our defense
angha came in as a central defender.so is he being converted to right back or he is just learning the position for his all round development. can somebody tell?
reserve defense*
watt failed his loan at leeds, but he is working hard, and he should be given another chance to impress on loan, than maybe he could get a chance in the first team… as for ozyakup, he can be a great player, has lots of assists, he should also go on loan in a championship team… will be interesting to see what happens to freeman, has lots of potential, but had a lot of injuries, a loan as well maybe…
Good for Ryo. Got some important minutes under his belt.
how did ryo miyaichi play today? hope he did good
I don’t believe Watt failed at Leeds, he was injured for a while, but was always a presence when he played. Very similar to Lansbury’s effect at Norwich I think.
well yeah but had more injuries than lansbury… when played was excellent, but just couldn’t stay fit…
A very strong Blackburn team and Arsenal reserve stood up to them, very impressive.
Hope Sanchez Watt find his foot in the team, think Arsenal release players too early.
where is the duo catalan play in arsenal?are they in youth level?
Yep, they are in the U18 squad.
I was just wondering what level people think ozzy will end up playing? Where could his potential take him?
I like what i’ve seen but only seen a handful of games, but from what I hear(mostly on here :) ) he has a lot of admirers! Could we have a top, top player here?
Any opinions?
ozyakup seems to be a good long range passer seen a few clip of him but he rarely gets on the score sheet like wilshere he’ll have to improve on that aspect of his game.but a first team assist on his debut denotes that he certainly is a good prospect.but i certainly disagree with loaning our best reservers to the championship why not loan them to a preamier league club i.e wilshere,sturrige,cleverly,welback,walkerin recent times.i have thus far not witnessed a positive in loaning our players to the championship except them being released prematurely but since non of them has made headlines since i not bothered
It’s doubtful that any PL team could guarantee Ozyakup even the smallest amounts of playing time. Far better to play regularly in the Championship than sit around doing nothing at a PL club.
Beckham to Preston, A. Cole to Palace, Gibbs to Norwich, Lampard to Swansea, Ferdinand to Bournemouth, Cleverly to Watford are just some examples that come to mind of successful loans to lower-league clubs.
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Defoe to Bournemouth was probably the most successful loan move