Month: October 2011

Jack Wilshere, Joel Campbell and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain among Europe’s elite

Jack Wilshere, Joel Campbell and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain among Europe’s elite

Staff Writer

He may be out injured, but Jack Wilshere is among three Arsenal players short listed for Tuttosport’s annual ‘Golden Boy’ award – the unofficial version of FIFA’s World Player of the Year crown.

Wilshere, who finished second behind Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli last year, is joined by Gunners team-mates Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lorient loanee Joel Campbell. The trio will face stern competition for the overall title though, with Eden Hazard, Mario Gotze, Xherdan Shaqiri, Thiago, and Phil Jones all expected to boast big totals.

You can cast your vote here.

Experience bails out youth as Arsenal edge Bolton 2-1

Experience bails out youth as Arsenal edge Bolton 2-1

Staff Writer

After admitting he’s still haunted by the result of Arsenal’s last Carling Cup run, Arsène Wenger watched his side continue their passage through this years competition, after edging Bolton 2-1 at the Emirates.

Ozyakup

In a tournament that Wenger still regards as some what of a play ground for young talent, it required his experienced heads to help guide the Gunners into the last eight, for the ninth consecutive time. As I wrote last night, Łukasz Fabiański, Thomas Vermaelen, Sébastien Squillaci, Yossi Benayoun, Andrey Arshavin and Park Chu-Young all started, and all proved their worth, against a Bolton side who were difficult to kill off.

Nico Yennaris slotted in at right back, and despite some early nerves, looked assured, composed and his usual aggressive self, turning in an almost faultless performance. The same couldn’t have been said for third round stars Francis Coquelin and Emmanuel Frimpong, who were only good in patches, and were at the heart of a mix up which saw Fabrice Muamba thump home the opener.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Man of the Match against Shrewsbury, turned in a notably poor performance, so it was left to Arshavin and the always dangerous Chu-Young, to grab the goals to win the tie. At the other end, Vermaelen was the pick of a solid defensive display, while Miquel seemed comfortable at left back, but was rarely directly troubled.

After the experience had turned around the scoreline, Wenger handed another début out, this time to defender Danny Boateng, while Ryo Miyaichi and Oğuzhan Özyakup also joined the party. The latter two showed drive, energy and some glorious touches going forward, but tempered that with good tracking back and defending.

So, a place in the quarter finals. Arsenal will now almost certainly look to get all of tonight’s bench out on loan, with a more experienced focus set to come back for the latter stages.

Still, it’s been fun, and an introduction for many prospects. Now, they must prove they deserve more chances.

Arsène Wenger poised to hand Nico Yennaris a dream début

Arsène Wenger poised to hand Nico Yennaris a dream début

Staff Writer

Arsène Wenger may have altered a number of his long standing philosophies in recent years, but the Frenchman will once again return to his youth orientated Carling Cup roots, by handing Nico Yennaris an Arsenal début against Bolton Wanderers this evening.

The fourth round clash comes at a time when Wenger’s new-look side have found some form, with six wins from the last seven games, including a 3-1 win over Shrewsbury Town, which set up tonight’s fourth round clash. A similar result would see the Gunners into the last eight for the ninth consecutive year.

As such, Wenger has included a few experience faces. Łukasz Fabiański, Sébastien Squillaci, Yossi Benayoun and Park Chu-Young are all in need of minutes, and are all set to start. As is vice-captain Thomas Vermaelen, who only re-joined full training on Friday.

That experience helps, but youngsters fill the key gaps. The versatile Yennaris, a rugged, aggressive and tenacious holding midfielder, will act as a make-shift right back, having been used there on a handful of occasions for the Reserves, while Ignasi Miquel is poised to occupy the other full back berth.

Third round stars Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Emmanuel Frimpong and Francis Coquelin should return to boss the midfield, against a Bolton side who maybe be down on confidence, but not threat.

The bench is again made up of Reserves. The fit again Vito Mannone and the newly re-signed Sanchez Watt will be joined by Daniel Boateng and Shrewsbury débutants Oğuzhan Özyakup and Chuks Aneke. Jernade Meade and Ryo Miyaichi are also poised to be involved.

All in all, its a solid Arsenal squad, for a game that always boasts a party atmosphere.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlan hits superb England hat-trick

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlan hits superb England hat-trick

Staff Writer

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain just gets better and better. The 18-year-old, who was left out of the squad for Sunday’s North London derby with Tottenham, scored all three goals as England Under-21’s beat Iceland Under-21’s 3-0 in Reykjavik this evening.

Oxlade-Chamberlain’s two goals in two first half minutes helped settle Stuart Pearce’s shaky looking young Lions in the opening stages, before capping off a superb display with an excellent third, beating four players in the build up.

It means the former Southampton prospect, an initial £7 million buy from Southampton in the summer, has five goals in his last three games for club and country. Arsenal may well have to pay out the remaining £5 million in bonuses sooner than they thought.

Feed the Ox, and he will score.

Want to find out all of the latest Gunners scores as they happen? Come to www.footballscores.com to recieve live updates on scores from not just the Gunners, but games being played all over the globe. Come now!

Wojciech Szczęsny targets the Arsenal captaincy after meteoric rise

Wojciech Szczęsny targets the Arsenal captaincy after meteoric rise

Staff Writer

His rise to the Arsenal first-team has been meteoric enough, but goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny is not stopping there. The 21-year-old, who admits he’s already starting to become a leader at the club, is targeting the captaincy.

Szczęsny’s starring performances have been a rare highlight in an otherwise frustrating start to the season, but it wasn’t all plaudits when he first arrived in England. Adapting to a new country, new language, new club and new ways of doing things was daunting enough, but he told the Polish media this week he doesn’t regret a thing.

“It’s the best decision I could make. This is where I really grew up. I am here since I was practically a kid. If I didn’t come here as a teenager, I wouldn’t be able to play at such a high level.”

He goes on to say Arsenal is now his ‘second home,’ before adding some credence to the mischievous rumour this week that Barcelona might be interested, by adding:

“I can’t declare that I will spend my entire career here, but if I leave I will have a very important reason or I will go to Barcelona.”

However true speculation of a move away might be, Szczęsny’s focus is clearly on Arsenal. His role as a key communicator at the back has blossomed, to the point now where the former Brentford loanee feels like a leader.

“I feel that when I say something, everyone listens to me. More so on the field than in the dressing room, but that’s more important I think. In the national team as well as at the club, teammates respect me. I’m not saying I’m the only leader, but I feel I am one of them.”

The level-headed and very likeable youngster is as ambitious as he talented, and while Robin van Persie might be captain at present, Szczęsny has his eyes on leading the team who gave him his big break.

“I want to be the captain of the team. I feel that I am able to take on that responsibility. I always wanted to be captain and if I ever get that honour, I will gladly put on the armband.”

The Poland international is currently nursing a back injury, and while Arsenal fans sweat over the fitness of Thomas Vermaelen, Jack Wilshere and the newly stricken Bacary Sagna, they know the fitness of the inspired Szczęsny is most crucial, with a long season of battles ahead.

Translations via Bartosz Ciurski

Arsenal 2-2 Swansea: Aneke Stars In Draw

Arsenal 2-2 Swansea: Aneke Stars In Draw

Staff Writer

Arsenal’s unbeaten start to the Premier Reserve League season continued this evening, but goals from Luke Freeman and Chuks Aneke were not enough to secure all three points in a 2-2 draw with Swansea City

Neil Banfield warned against Swansea’s flowing football before kick off, but the divison’s newest entrants had shipped eight goals in two games on the road, and were naturally cautious in the opening stages.

Yet it was the visitors carved out the only real chance of the opening exchanges, only for Gwion Edwards to flick Stephen Dobbie’s cross over the bar. However, proceedings exploded into life on the 15 minute mark, when Ryo Miyaichi beat two players out wide, before his cross was turned home by Luke Freeman. 1-0.

It was an goal from nowhere, and with Miyaichi, Chuks Aneke and Sanchez Watt all coming close to a second, the Gunners were not resting on their lead. But as unlikely as Arsenal’s goal was, Swansea matched it with one of their own. Kurtis March got it, lashing in another Dobbie cross for 1-1, as the game approached half time.

Far from being frustrated, Banfield’s young charges appeared energised by the Swansea goal, and were promptly back in front when Oguzhan Özyakup’s corner was met by a flick header from Aneke. 2-1, and much deserved.

The game struggled to get going after the restart, with Dobbie’s drilled free-kick being blocked by Martin Angha and a powerful Zak Ansah drive being turned over by Gerhard Tremmel the only real chances.

Swansea threatened a late push, but after Edwards was withdrawn through injury, any late threat seemed to be lost. However, Dobbie produced a superb last ditch equaliser in the 90th minute, slamming a in a free kick for 2-2.

And that’s how it finished. No three points, but with excellent performances from Aneke and Özyakup among others, Banfield’s boys can be happy with their evening’s work.

Loanees: Bendtner & Campbell On Target

Staff Writer

Welcome to this weekends loanees watch – Young Guns’ analysis, reports and updates on the progress of the young starlets currently plying their trade away from the Emirates Stadium. You can read all the latest reports below.

Nicklas Bendtner played the full 90 minutes as Sunderland drew 2-2 with West Brom. Bendtner proved integral in rescuing a point after Sunderland went 2-0 down within the first five minutes. The Danish striker lashed home from just inside the box for 2-1, before his left wing cross was headed home by Ahmed Elmohamady to make it 2-2.

Kyle Bartley missed Rangers’ 1-0 win over Hibernian as he continues to receive treatment on a long standing groin problem

Henri Lansbury played the full 90 minutes as West Ham drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace. Fellow Arsenal loanee Manuel Almunia also started, and was forced to pick the ball out of his net within eight minutes. Lansbury turned in a combative display in midfield, and could have scored on several occasions, including two close range headers.

James Shea was not included in the Dagenham & Redbridge squad that beat Crewe 2-1.

Joel Campbell played the full 90 minutes as Lorient beat Valenciennes 2-0. Campbell, on his first start for the club, bagged the opener in the 22nd minute, turning home from close range. Joel was also involved in the build up to Lorient’s second goal, scored by Yann Jouffre.

Carlos Vela was not included in the Real Sociedad squad that lost 2-1 with Athletic Bilbao.

Wellington Silva was not included in the Levante squad that faced Real Betis.

Pedro Botelho played the full 90 minutes as Rayo Vallecano drew 1-1 with Racing Santander. The Brazilian turned in a good shift out wide, but was lucky to remain on the pitch after a dangerous tackle with 10 minutes remaining.

Samuel Galindo came off the bench to play the final 16 minutes of Gimnàstic’s 3-2 defeat to Villarreal B. Galindo, who picked up an injury last week, was thrown on in an attempt to grab an equaliser, but struggled to get involved.