Author: Staff Writer

Arsenal’s fruitless Reserves are back in action this evening, as they take on Chelsea at Griffin Park looking for their first win since the turn of the year.

Neil Banfield’s options have been severely depleted with injuries mounting up and the already sizable list of loanees growing since January – but it has presented the manager with the opportunity to blood through some members of the impressive F.A Cup Youth side. However, as you would expect with extremely young players, form has been a big problem.

Arsenal’s lofty position of 2nd seems a distant memory now, as the Gunners languish in 5th, but they do have two games in hand over the clubs above them. Chelsea have also had a mixed campaign, and are currently 7th with a point less than their visitors this evening, yet they’ve played a fixture more. Last time out Arsenal were humbled by West Ham, whilst the Blues were smacked by Tottenham in a pulsating London derby.

The same names that helped turn the Semi-Final tie with Manchester City on its head feature tonight, but at Reserves level goal scoring has been a significant problem. That issue isn’t helped tonight as Banfield doesn’t have an out and out striker in the squad. On the plus side, Champions League winning centre back Mikael Silvestre continues his return from injury with a surprise start, whilst Amaury Bischoff will operate just off live-wire Sanchez Watt.

Wojciech Szczesny replaces the stricken Vito Mannone between the sticks, and the Polish stopper will no doubt be tested by a Chelsea team packed with recognized stars. Notably French winger Florent Malouda, but also leggy marksman Franco Di Santo, and Arsenal’s former Brazilian trialist Minerio.

Szczesny
Eastmond – Bartley – Silvestre – Cruise
Randall – Frimpong – Thomas – Merida
Bischoff
Watt

Subs – Shea – Ayling – Evina – Dunne – Deacon

Prediction – Arsenal 0-3 Chelsea

Kick off is at 7pm UK time at Brentford’s Griffin Park stadium. Tickets are still available, but should you not manage to get to the fixture, both Arsenal TV and Arsenal TV Online are broadcasting proceedings. A usual in depth Match Report will be published right on the full time whistle – so there’s no reason why you can’t keep up to date with all the action.

Article By – J.Sanderson

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.

Arsenal currently have thirteen Reserve team players gaining experience elsewhere. Armand Traoré and Jay Simpson remain in the top flight with Portsmouth and West Brom respectively, whilst Gavin Hoyte, Nacer Barazite and Rui Fonte are playing Championship football for Watford, Derby County and Crystal Palace.

Further down the divisions, League One sides Leicester City, Northampton Town and Scunthorpe United have Kerrea Gilbert, Paul Rodgers and Henri Lansbury, while fellow defenders Abu Ogogo and Rene Steer will ply their trade with League Two Barnet and Gillingham. Two prospects are cutting their teeth aboard – Vincent van den Berg at Dutch minnows FC Zwolle, and Pedro Botelho with Spanish link club UD Salamanca.

In this update you can read about the following players in the following games.

Reports:

Håvard Nordtveit – Lillestrøm 1-1 Viking – (90 Minutes)
Henri Lansbury – Scunthorpe 2-0 Brighton – (67 Minutes)
Pedro Botelho – UD Salamanca 1-2 Tenerife – (90 Minutes)
Kerrea Gilbert – Leicester City 1-1 Colchester – (90 Minutes)
Jay Simpson – West Brom 1-1 Bolton – (57 Minutes)
Paul Rodgers – Northampton 4-0 Stockport – (45 Minutes)
Rui Fonte – Crystal Palace  0-0 Reading – (2 Minutes)
Gavin Hoyte – Watford 0-0 Ipswich – (40 Minutes)
Nacer Barazite – Derby 0-0 Barnsley – (45 Minutes)

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Arsenal’s Under 18’s edged out their Watford counterparts this afternoon, to secure the final three points needed to wrap up the Academy League Group A title.

Roarie Deacon’s winner meant the Gunners are 22 points clear of closest challengers Southampton, with just 18 points left to play for.

Shea
Obed – Boateng – Miquel-Pons – Evina
Carruthers – Yennaris – Aneke – Rasmussen
Deacon – Neita

International duty robbed Steve Bould of Luke Freeman and Benik Afobe, so Nigel Neita and Roarie Deacon were presented with the task of leading the line.

Neita and Ozyakup both had early opportunities to put the visitors into the lead, but Watford set out their stall to spoil the party.

Shea’s reflexes were tested on 3 separate occasions in the first period, but both sides went down the tunnel level at half time.

The second half was a much more controlled and professional affair by Arsenal. They eventually got their reward when Roarie Deacon finished confidently to provide the game with its concluding strike. It was the scholar’s 5th of the campaign.

With the League now retained, Bould’s boys can turn their attention to the Youth Cup, safe in the knowledge that their play-0ff place is now secure.

Article By – J.Sanderson

Young Arsenal stopper Yilmas Aksoy has been called up by Türkey to play for their Under 17’s, meaning a decision looks like it’s been reached on which country he’ll represent long term.

Aksoy was born in London, but has strong Turkish roots through his parents. Defender Danny Boateng was in a similar situation last year, and also opted to play for his family’s home land rather than the country of his birth – England. Yilmas has represented the Türks at lower youth level, yet being selected for the Under 17’s at just 15-years-old is quite an achivement for the stopper – especially as he’s based in the UK.

At 6ft tall, he is a typically dominat goalkeeper. Yilmas will look to improve his long range kicking when he takes over from Luke Chambers as Arsenal Under 16’s number one next season, but the early signs look promising. Whilst comparisions are not helpful for young players, his stature and athletic style make him very similar to Bolton and Oman ‘keeper Ali Al Habsi.

There is currently a mass of talented goalkeepers coming through the ranks, and Liam Brady knows he’ll have to make some tough decisions when it comes to awarding contracts in the summer. But you can confidently say that Aksoy has a big chance of remaining with the Gunners for a few years yet.

Article By – J.Sanderson

The 1988 – 1989 season was one of the greatest campaigns in the history of the Premier League, and of course Arsenal. For those who are not familiar with what went on – (shame on you) – the Gunners beat Liverpool at Anfield on the final day of the season to snatch the trophy away from the Merseysiders.

Arsenal needed to win by two clear goals, but as time ticked on, they had once netted once. However, athletic midfield powerhouse Micky Thomas changed the course of history when he bulldozed his way through the hosts’ backline and clipped the ball home for the deciding goal. It was a special victory, and one which will never be forgotten. Subsequently, the club marked the 20th anniversary by replicating the kit worn that evening for this year’s away shirt.

It may be on a very different level, but Arsenal’s Under 18’s are also on the road to glory. They know that if they can hold off Manchester City at Emirates Stadium in April, there reward looks set to be a two-legged F.A Youth Cup final against Liverpool. The second and deceive leg will be at Anfield, 10 years almost to the day of that fateful night.

Micky Thomas may now be well into his retirement, but there is a new Thomas who possesses similar attributes and has the potential to be just as decisive should the Gunners make it to Anfield. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas epitomises the art of a true captain. He wears his heart on his sleeve; he organises well and leads by example. Jay’s bullet header levelled proceedings yesterday evening, and his rampant form makes him prime candidate to decide the outcome of the Cup should destiny continue on its current course.

The first-team may not have lived up to the Arsenal slogan ‘become legends’, but the youngsters are certainly well on course to bring some silverware back to North London come the close of the season.

Article By – J.Sanderson

After coming from a goal down to edge out Manchester City in the first leg of the F.A Youth Cup Semi-Final at the City of Manchester Stadium, coach Steve Bould and midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong have both had their say on the win.

Bould was critical of the first half performance, but after a little bit of tinkering at the break, the Arsenal stalwart feels his young charges turned up the tempo effectively.

“I have to tell you, after the first half, I didn’t think we’d get this result. But at half-time I moved Jack behind the front two, and he looked very dangerous. Sanchez went out wide, and we needed some more urgency.”

When quizzed about how far the Gunners can go in the competition, Bould seemed bullish yet confident in his analysis.

“They’ve got some arrogance about them, which is sometimes a bit too much, but there’s a lot of character here. We’ve got lots of great attacking players, Sometimes defensively we’re not great, but we’re getting there.”

“Let’s hope we don’t get carried away and think it’s won, because it (the tie) is far from over.”

Emmanuel Frimpong put in another all action display in the centre of midfield, and whilst he didn’t have the best of games, the England Youth International knows the responsibility that comes with his position.

“I enjoy making tackles, its part of the game, you have to do it. The responsibly is down to me and Francis to get the ball back.”

“Most of us have been playing together since we were 9-years-old, so we all know about each others qualities.”

The 17-year-old finished with his analysis of the fixture.

“It shows the character of the team. In the first half I would have settled for a 2-0 defeat, but Steve talked to us at half time and explained where we were going wrong.”

“I think there was a lack of attitude in the first half, but they knew exactly how we were going to play.”

No confirmed date for the second leg has been set, although the 22nd of April has provisionally been penciled in.

*All quotes courtesy of Arsenal TV Online*

Article By – J.Sanderson

Arsenal’s Under 18’s took on Manchester City’s Under 18’s in the first leg of the F.A Youth Cup Semi-Final this evening, with both sides looking to establish a firm advantage ahead of the second leg at Emirates Stadium.

Steve Bould’s young charges knew they faced a massive task ahead of kick off, with City being unbeaten in their last 21 youth games, and being the current Cup holders. An exciting evening of football was certainly on the cards.

Arsenal Starting XI

Shea
Eastmond – Ayling – Bartley – Cruise
Coquelin – Frimpong
Wilshere – Thomas – Watt
Sunu

Subs – Mann – Evina – Freeman – Deacon – Afobe

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The majority of football clubs are considered lucky to be in the latter stages of the Cup once a season, never mind having two exciting Cup clashes in two consecutive evenings. However, that’s what Arsenal fans can look forward to as Steve Bould’s Under 18’s take on Manchester City in the F.A Youth Cup tonight.

The fixture comes just 24 hours after the first-team edged past Hull and into the semi-finals of the F.A Cup. Bould’s boys are already at that stage, and know a similar result against City would stand them in good stead ahead of the return leg at Emirates Stadium.

There has almost been the feeling around the young Gunners that this is really their year. However, Manchester City will have good right to believe the same, after showing similar form to that which saw them beat Chelsea in last seasons final. Man for man, or should I say boy for boy, neither side really has an XI filled with well known prospects, but both teams have been in fantastic form in the last 12 months.

Arsenal and City have been almost unstoppable in the League this season, but that will surely count for nothing tonight.

In terms of team news, Bould should continue with the squad that has served him so well in the earlier rounds, and they’ll be no excuses after being rested from League duty in recent weeks. The major loss is of course striker Rhys Murphy, who’s been ruled out for 4 weeks after limping out of the Reserves’ defeat to West Ham last Monday.

Shea
Eastmond – Ayling – Bartley – Cruise
Coquelin – Frimpong
Wilshere – Thomas – Watt
Sunu

Subs – Mann – Evina – Freeman – Deacon – Afobe

Match Prediction – Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City

Kick off is at 7pm at the City of Manchester Stadium. Please note that this fixture is only the first leg – details of the second will follow shortly. Live audio commentary will be available via Arsenal TV Online (outside of the UK & Ireland only). If you cannot watch/listen the game for any reason, a full Match Report will be available shortly after full time.

Article By – J.Sanderson

After marking his home debut for Steve Bould’s Under 18’s with a goal against Fulham, young striker Nigel Nieta has gone from a relative unknown, to one of the most talked about players in the Academy. Yet he majority of fans have little or no information about him. Therefore, Young Guns aims to shed some light with a Player Profile.

Nigel, who is of Jamaican descent, only joined the Gunners recently after spells with Millwall and Manchester United. He made his name mainly on the wing for the Lions, before spending a short and varied spell with United. Neita is a leggy and powerful forward who can operate on either flank or as a striker. He’s expected to claim international recognition in the coming months after finally finding his feet in North London following a difficult few months.

He is eligible for to represent either Jamaica and England.

Both Manchester United and Chelsea trailed the starlet after he impressed playing for Millwall. The former eventually won the battle for his signature, but he didn’t last long in the North. After failing to settle, he quit the Red Devils and was quickly snapped up by Arsenal. Two goals in as many games for the Under 16’s soon saw the 15-year-old propelled through the ranks.

Neita’s big break came two weeks ago, when Liam Brady took charge for the Under 18’s clash with Chelsea at Cobham, and handed the quick-silver starlet a place among the substitutes. He replaced Rhys Murphy late on, and clipped an injury time header inches wide. Steve Bould was obviously impressed – a second start from the bench followed last weekend – and after replacing BenikAfobe in the 50th minute, it wasn’t long before Nigel was in the goals.

He added the icing to the proverbial cake just before the full time whistle, slamming home his first Academy League goal of the campaign.

Neita should go on and sign scholarship terms in the summer, now he finally looks like he’s settled down and enjoying his football again.

Article By – J.Sanderson