Arsenal came away with all three points after edging out Norwich City in the Premier Academy League this morning.
Steve Bould’s side have had a mixed start to the campaign but goals from Nigel Neita, Josh Rees and summer signing Kyle Ebecilio did the damage.
More to follow.
Arsenal’s Premier Academy League campaign really got going this morning as they edged out a talented Sunderland side 2-1 at London Colney. Goals from Elton Monteiro and Philip Roberts helped banish the memories of last weekends 5-2 hammering on opening day by Manchester City.
Steve Bould was without injured striker Zak Ansah and Martin Angha due to international duty, but he was able to call on second year scholars Daniel Boateng and George Brislen-Hall. The duo went straight into the back four while Ben Glasgow slotted in at right back.
More to follow.
Arsenal’s Premier Reserve League campaign got off to a flying start this evening with a 5-0 win over Bolton Wanderers at the Lancashire County Ground. Braces from Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Chuks Aneke saw off an experienced Bolton side. Nacer Barazite grabbed one too.
Neil Banfield named one of his strongest Reserve lineups ever. Vito Mannone was given special permission by Arsene Wenger to play while Havard Nordtveit, Craig Eastmond and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas were all drafted in. Chuks Aneke and Benik Afobe are Reserve regulars for the first-time this season, they started, and Ignasi Miquel took the armband.
Mannone
Nordtveit – Hoyte – Miquel – Cruise
Randall – Eastmond – Aneke
Barazite – Afobe – Emmanuel-Thomas
Subs: Shea, Yennaris, Evina Deacon.
Bolton began well and settled to their plan quickly. Tamir Cohen was causing the Arsenal defence problems as the Trotters won a selection of early corners, but Miquel and Nordtveit did their part to see out the danger.
The visitors then found their passing game and Chuks Aneke had a fantastic chance to open the scoring, but despite working the angle to shoot, Rob Lainton in the Bolton goal made a fine save. Danny Shittu, who played for Nigeria at the World Cup, was forced to charge Emmanuel-Thomas off the ball after Randall slipped him through as the Gunners stepped up the pressure.
Cruise was next to try and find the break through after skinning Joey O’Brien, but Shittu was there again to beat Emmanuel-Thomas to the header. Arsenal were pushing but Bolton were holding firm. With the half hour mark approaching, Nacer Barazite had two similar chances after cutting in from the wing but they both went wide. Barazite and JET had swapped flanks consistently and The Wanderers were struggling to keep them in check.
Benik Afobe was caught offside twice and Craig Eastmond had a wild shot, but the game lacked a real spark. Mannone saved a low drive from Tom Eaves but just as Bolton thought they might nick a goal, the Gunners struck. Emmanuel-Thomas took the ball on the right of the box and jinked inside before lashing home into the corner of the net. A superb strike and the much needed opener. 1-0.
It was the final action of the first half.
Banfield sent his charges out for the second half fired up, but his plans had to change within 60 seconds. Gavin Hoyte was pulled off with a suspected knee complaint and Nico Yennaris came on. He switched to right back allowing Nordtveit to come inside.
It may have been a personnel change, but Arsenal continued their assault. Shittu was forced to make a last ditch tackle to deny Aneke racing away after Randall’s ball, and then Shittu had to block Emmanuel-Thomas’ drive from a similar position that he scored from.
On 63 minutes, the pressure finally tolled. A fine move involving Cruise and Emmanuel-Thomas resulted in the latter faking a shot and releasing Barazite on his left. Nacer confidently strode on the ball and clipped it beyond Lainton for number two. 2-0. Bolton did have another mini spell but confident defending from Miquel and Afobe snuffed them out, only for the Gunners to go up the end and finish the contest.
Aneke and Emmanuel-Thomas worked a lovely passing move allowing Chuks space for a shot at Lainton. The home ‘keeper saved, but Aneke was on hand to turn the re-bound into the net for 3-0.
Banfield had the luxury of bringing Roarie Deacon and Cedric Evina for the closing stages, and they helped get in on the romp. Aneke curled home another from the edge of the box, and then minutes later Emmanuel-Thomas helped himself to another with a smart turn and shot from a similar position.
It finished 5-0. Three points on day one and a silky performance saw The Gunners home. If Banfield can keep this side together, they have a real chance of being Champions come July.
Arsenal were trashed 5-2 by Manchester City on the opening morning of the new Premier Academy League season. The back-to-back title holders were out played by City who did the main damage in the first half. Martin Angha and Jeffrey Monakana hit late strikes, but it wasn’t enough.
City exploded out of the blocks and the new look Under 18’s were stunned. The Sky Blues were 3-0 up by half time with Harry Bunn bagging a brace and Alex Henshall chipping in with one. Steve Bould gave his side a dressing down at the break, but his infamous half time team talk failed. Bunn wrapped up his hat-trick before Emerick Hippias netted.
A combination of Martin Angha and Callum Webb managed to force the ball home following a scramble in the City backline, and pacy Jeffrey Monakana continued his superb form with another for Arsenal, but it was too little, too late.
Elsewhere, Steve Gatting’s Under 16’s drew 1-1 with their City counterparts. Winger Anthony Jeffrey bagged the Arsenal goal.
More to follow.
Arsenal’s Reserves and Youth have kicked off their pre-season with a 2-2 draw against Conference outfit Crawley Town. After falling behind inside the opening minute, two goals in four minutes from Rhys Murphy put the Gunners in front. Jamie Cook salvaged a draw in the second half.
Gavin Hoyte and Sanchez Watt made their first appearances after loan spells last season, while Mark Randall and Rhys Murphy were other senior names who started. Ignasi Miquel, Nacer Barazite and Jay Simpson all missed out on the trip to Austria and instead featured tonight.
Shea
Hoyte – Boateng – Miquel – Evina
Özyakup – Randall – Barazite
Murphy – Simpson – Watt
Subs: Sean McDermott, Martin Angha, Jernade Meade, Chuks Aneke, Benik Afobe.
The fixture was barely 60 seconds old when Crawley stunned the Gunners by taking a shock lead. Glenn Wilson was on hand to put the Red Devils in front, leaving the back four stunned.
However, lethal front-man Rhys Murphy had began in menacing fashion, and just 180 seconds after going behind, Murphy had struck to level the scores. That wouldn’t be the end of his antics, as three minutes later Rhys had completed the comeback. Three goals in four minutes was just an example of the potential he’s frequently showed, before being hampered by injury.
Arsenal pressed for a third before the break, but resilient non-league Crawley proved physical and solid opposition. The half time whistle brought the end of an entertaining half.
Town made a selection of changes at half time, but their ethics and work rate continued. Chuks Aneke and Benik Afobe replaced Oğuzhan Özyakup and goal hero Murphy, but just as they were settling in, Jamie Cook had fired in the equaliser.
The Gunners pressed for the winner, even introducing Jernade Meade in place of Mark Randall, but the game finished as a draw.
Arsenal’s Under 18’s have retained the Premier Academy League Trophy after beating Nottingham Forest 5-3 in a thrilling final at Emirates Stadium. Steve Bould’s boys had to do it the hard way, coming from behind before eventually shaking off Forest. Benik Afobe bagged a hat-trick, including one from the spot while he made two goals for Luke Freeman, one of which was a penalty kick.
Bould made one change to his side which edged Manchester United in the semi-finals, bringing in goalscorer Oğuzhan Özyakup for Roarie Deacon on the wing. On the bench, out went Martin Angha and Jamie Edge in favour of an ‘insurance policy’ in Championship loanees Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Kyle Bartley.
Shea
Yennaris – Boateng – Miquel – Evina
Özyakup – Frimpong – Henderson
Aneke – Afobe – Freeman
Subs: McDermott, Bartley, Meade, Emmanuel-Thomas, Deacon.
Nottingham Forest kicked the 2010 Premier Academy League Final off, and it was they who settled to the task quicker. After both sides exchanged passes, top scorer Tom Mullen burst inside Daniel Boateng from the left and smashed the ball off the inside of the post. It was a real warning of their intent.
Arsenal hit back when Oğuzhan Özyakup’s direct, long diagonal picked out the rampaging Benik Afobe through the middle. He managed to hold off Kieron Freeman but after losing his footing, Forest were able to clear. They immediately exploded up the field with the tricky Matt Sykes. The dangerous wasn’t read and his excellent cross was steered into the net by Danny Elliot from close range. Forest 1-0.
Steve Bould reacted to the goal by barking orders from the touchline to the Gunners’ twitchy defence. Henderson and Afobe both had shots blocked in some fluid forward play, yet the visitors with Mullen were dangerous on the break.
The Gunners grew in confidence and began to dictate at the half way point of the first period. Superb 10-15 pass combinations were slick and included Miquel and Boateng from the back, but the lack of penetration was frustrating. Frimpong and Henderson were guilty of wasting good free-kick opportunities before the latter finally found the combination to unlock Nottingham.
Henderson’s ball over the top found Afobe, he bulldozed his way into the box yet Mytides denied him with a reflex save. The arriving Freeman stumbled but clipped the re-bound back to Benik who slammed Arsenal level. 1-1.
With the half time whistle approaching, Arsenal stepped it up and made sure they would go into the break ahead. Özyakup thought he would be the hero yet Mytides saved again, but Afobe would spare his blushes. Aneke’s slid pass was collected and then dispatched into the Forest goal with style by Benik, his 20th of a break through season. 2-1.
Steve Gatting handed out chewing gum to the coaching staff as the second half kicked off, a sign of how relaxed they were after a dominant finish to the first period. More of the same guaranteed the retention of the trophy.
Bould’s boys mirrored their earlier performance. The total domination of possession and the play continued although chances were few and far between. Despite a one goal difference, Miquel was far too casual when caught up field and after losing the ball to Tom Mullen, it was all hands on deck to stop the attack. Frimpong tried to force the forward wide but he skipped beyond the Ghanaian and crossed for George Thomson to level from close range. 2-2.
Far from being ‘shell-shocked’, Arsenal immediately began work on getting their lead back. Özyakup twisted and turned in the area on a rare foray into the box, he rolled in Afobe who was clipped down for a penalty. Benik gathered his composure and sent Mytides the wrong way to complete his hat-trick. 3-2.
Within minutes of re-gaining the lead, it was extended in similar circumstances. Afobe powered down the left and was hacked down for a second spot kick. A very easy decision in the end. Benik stepped aside and allowed Luke Freeman to convert. He did, slamming home inside the post. 4-2.
Nottingham Forest then pulled one back, 90 seconds later. The terrific Mullen taking Bamford’s pass and finishing. An exciting finish to the game was a certainty. 4-3. The visitors were buoyant but the scoreline was not an accurate reflection. Miquel should have put it beyond doubt when he had an effort cleared off the line but eventually, Afobe rolled in Freeman who side-footed his second and Arsenal’s 5th. 5-3.
The final minutes were rather quiet in relation to the previous 23 minutes, which brought five goals. The four minutes of injury time were coasted through by the Gunners, making sure they claimed their deserved prize. The full time whistle ended the contest and the celebrations began. Arsenal are the Premier Academy League Champions for the second year in a row.