Author: Staff Writer

Steve Bould’s Under 18’s kicked off their pre-season preparations with a 2-0 win over Watford this morning.

Bould, who heads into the new season with one of his biggest squads yet, will use a selection of behind closed doors fixtures to decide who will play an integral part, and who may be forced to leave the club.

The first of those was today against Watford. The Gunners played some good football and won the game 2-0, thanks to goals from the lethal Zak Ansah, plus a debut strike from winger Héctor Bellerín.

More to follow.

Arsenal’s Reserve and Youth players continued their pre-season preparations with a 9-0 win over Hastings United this evening. A Jay Emmanuel-Thomas hat-trick, a brace from Luke Freeman and one each from Chuks Aneke, Oguzhan Ozyakup, Jernade Meade and Sanchez Watt sealed a comfortable win.

Banfield made four changes from the side that beat Woking 3-0 last week, with Shea, Hajrovic, Meade and Afobe all dropping out. There were first starts at this level for Charles-Cook and Galindo, while Yennaris and Freeman also came in.

ARSENAL: Charles-Cook; Yennaris, Bartley, Boateng, Henderson; Aneke, Özyakup, Galindo; JET, Watt, Freeman.

Arsenal started brightly against the Isthmian Division outfit, and could have taken the lead with just five minutes on the clock, when Freeman found Aneke in space, but the 18-year-old could only shoot at the ‘keeper.

The gulf in class was obvious right from the off, and when Freeman combined with Özyakup, Arsenal had their lead, and wouldn’t look back. Emmanuel-Thomas then wasted two superb chances after some quick foot work, before lashing a 35 yard effort miles over. However, he would make up for it in the closing stages of the half.

An excellent dribble around the Hasting’s defence allowed him to walk in goal number two. Jay got himself a second shortly after, with a well hit drive. 3-0 and total control.

Aneke should have made it four straight from the kick off, but his chip went over the bar. Yet the prospect would finish the half with a goal, when he lashed home in style.

Banfield switched things around at half time, bringing on Rhys Murphy for Boateng. The changes threatened to disrupt the flow, but Arsenal kicked on in their search for more goals.

Murphy hit the post, then Hastings thought they’d denied Emmanuel-Thomas a hat-trick with a brilliant last ditch tackle. However, the leggy forward would grab his third shortly after, smashing home an effort from the edge of the box. A truly superb effort.

There was no time to celebrate the goal, as Arsenal continued their hunt for more. They didn’t have to wait long, as Banfield’s boys grabbed two more in quick succession. First, Watt grabbed number six following a spilled Meade shot, then Özyakup unlocked the Hastings back four for Freeman. He made it seven with ease.

Second half sub Meade got goal number eight from Henderson’s corner, before Hastings almost embarrassed Charles-Cook on his debut. The rookie stopper managed to scramble the ball away, having had little to do all game. The ball was soon back up the other end, and was soon back in the Hastings net. Freeman with his brace. 9-0.

Despite a real desire to grab the 10th, it finished 9-0. All in all, an enjoyable work out.

An Arsenal Reserve XI beat Woking FC 3-0 this evening, as the club’s second string youngsters played their first game of pre-season. An early own goal set the tone, before Chuks Aneke doubled the lead just before half time. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas wrapped the win up in the second half.

Henri Lansbury, Craig Eastmond and Gavin Hoyte all missed out through a lack of fitness, but Bolivian Samuel Galindo was included for the first time after moving from Real America last summer. He was joined on the bench by 41-year-old goalkeeper coach Tony Roberts, who was a late inclusion as James Shea’s back up.

ARSENAL: Shea; Hajrovic, Bartley, Boateng, Meade; Özyakup, Aneke, Henderson; Emmanuel-Thomas, Afobe, Watt.

Woking set about their task well in the opening stages, showing just why many tip them to win promotion from Blue Square South next season.

A selection of threatening long balls tested the mettle of the Arsenal defence, before the back pedalling Shea was forced to tip a dipping shot over the bar. Woking were having the better of it, but it was Arsenal who snatched the lead, when Emmanuel-Thomas’ corner was turned in for an own goal, despite Afobe trying to claim it as his own. 1-0.

The game lost its way towards half time, but the Afobe-Aneke combination that worked so many times for the Under 18’s, worked again. Benik played Chuks in on the edge of the box, and the powerful midfielder turned sharply and lashed the ball in to the corner. A brilliant move and an excellent goal. 2-0.

It was the final meaningful action of the half.

The second period saw Brislen-Hall, Yennaris, Murphy, Freeman and Galindo all come on, the latter for his Arsenal debut. Mass changes usually disrupt the flow, but Arsenal kicked on. Emmanuel-Thomas and Murphy both had shots saved, before Galindo’s mazy run resulted in a superb ball for Freeman, but he only found the ‘keepers chest despite being through one-on-one.

Woking threatened briefly late on, but the Cards folded when Emmanuel-Thomas finished where Freeman hadn’t to make it 3-0.

The full time whistle brought to an end a comfortable victory. Many of these players are expected to go on loan, but should he require them, Arsène Wenger has some good prospects in reserve.