Arsenal’s Under 18’s edged past their Ipswich Town counterparts this afternoon – but only after skipper Jay Emmanuel-Thomas came from the bench to secure the first three points of 2009.
Like Young Guns told you yesterday, Steve Bould rotated his side after Youth Cup commitments, but made a couple of surprise adjustments. In came Under 16 starlets Daniel Boateng at centre back, and leggy midfielder Chuks Aneke in the middle.
Oğuzhan Özyakup started in an advanced role behind lone striker Benik Afobe, but with Sanchez Watt and Luke Freeman on either flank, the Gunners possessed plenty of fire power.
Mann
Obed – Blackwood – Boateng – Evina
Byles – Aneke
Watt (c) – Özyakup – Freeman
Afobe
Subs – Ayling, Thomas, Frimpong, Sunu, Deacon
It was a typical January Saturday morning at London Colney – blustery and icy conditions greeted both sides ahead of the first Academy League fixture of the New Year.
Bould’s boys began a little tentative, but the stylish Özyakup soon shot into life, smashing a powerful effort inches wide.
Rhema Obed’s drilled cross was then clipped off the Colney cross bar by Luke Freeman, before the left footed winger lashed over after some wizardry from the aforementioned Özyakup.
Both sides would then go onto exchange goalscoring opportunities – Arsenal through Watt and Afobe, and Ipswich via Wickham and little live-wire Lambe. In truth the hosts were lucky to be level going into the break, as Anton Blackwood was caught cold yet again this campaign – only Wickham’s lazy finish prevented the opener.
Chuks Aneke looked composed and elegant on his debut, the midfielder even went to bed especially early to prepare for this one. His efforts could have been rewarded when Afobe’s shot was swiped off the line, and the rebound fell straight to the powerhouse, but he failed to snaffle the ball home.
Deacon and Emmanuel-Thomas were summoned off the bench to add the killer instinct – it proved to be a master stroke. Late on Özyakup’s perfect corner fell kindly for Thomas who smashed home to claim all three points.
Article By – J.Sanderson
Do u think Afobe could be given a start for the reserves or be on the bench for the reserves at some point soon JS?
Jay Thomas really looks like a winner. He captains the side, can play at almost every positions, fights hard, and scores a lot. :D
Why did jay not start today does anybody know. I think we have quite a lot of good young cb’s coming through and some are quite tall!!!
JET and Ozzie seem destined for stardom. I just hope they continue to progress.
JET scored again it was not the first when he saved the team. and Jamie do you know anything about Tóth? I heard we are competing with Tottenham to sign him Ł2m…
I know off topic (but I don’t know where else to put this), according to arseblog (one of the the only trustworthy blogs) we’ve signed wellington. I don’t suppose you know any more about this J?
Does wellington + bendtner = pink wellies?
JS any news on arsenal buying mate toth and mate kiss apparently hes highly rated as well. Heard hes a quick tricky winger
Update on Wellington –
http://youngguns.wordpress.com/2009/01/18/arsenal-yet-to-make-decision-on-trialist-wellington/
About Afobe playing for the reserves. He’s got to clock up some u18 experience first.
it was a good game, kinda chilly though, they all played really well though