Arsenal’s table topping Under 18’s return to League action tomorrow morning following the winter break.
Third place Ipswich Town are the opponents at London Colney, as the Gunners look to start the New Year in style against the hard working and well organised Tractor Boys.
It’s been well over a month since Bould’s youngsters last had a League game, and after the manager rotated due to Cup commitments, subsequently Arsenal ended 2008 with a set back at the hands of Norwich City.
That defeat brought to an end a 7 game unbeaten run – which included a 2-0 win over Ipswich at the start of November. Rhys Murphy was the hero that morning, but following a serious knee injury sustained in midweek, Steve Bould has lost the services of his leading scorer for what looks like quite a while.
Indeed, injuries have torn a huge hole in the squad this campaign, but slowly but surely they are returning to action. Just Wojciech Szczęsny (Broken Arms), Conor Henderson and Ignasi Miquel (Knees) are left on the sidelines, and of course striker Rhys Murphy.
With the Youth Cup win on Tuesday, and a Reserves fixture coming up on Wednesday, the rotation policy should be adapted, meaning it will be the first action in over a month for many of the boys.
Predicted Starting XI
Mann
Obed – Bartley – Blackwood – Evina
Rasmussen – Özyakup – Watt
Deacon – Afobe – Freeman
Ipswich are considered a dangerous force in this League, and currently sit in a respectable 3rd place in Group A. 7 wins and 6 defeats means they’re not exactly a form side, but tomorrow’s visitors will still be a tough proposition for Arsenal’s young team.
Prediction – Arsenal 1-1 Ipswich Town
Article By – J.Sanderson
i predict 2:0 with Afobe and watt each getting a goal in the 2nd half.
J hows the trialist doing and is there any sign of anymore trialist’s?
i know this is totally off topic but whats your veiw on the kaka move to man city?
JS do think Luke Ayling is a better CB than Havard Nordveit? Also whats the news on mate toth have we signed him
J,have you changed your MSN mate?
(I know it’s off-topic but…)
Goonerguy – Good call,
There is always players on trial here, but most of the time they are not known about. Currently we just have Máté Tóth here to my knowledge, and I’ll always keep you guys updated if I hear anything else.
john – Not yet he isn’t, but maybe in the future yes.
SweGoo – No I haven’t mate, I don’t have much time for MSN anymore, but if you have a problem then email me at –
youngguns.wordpress@googlemail.com
Can you tell us a little bit more about Miguel’s injury. Is it serious. It must be quite worrisome as knee injuries are often very recurring and terrible to deal with.
J do you think any of the young goalkeepers at arsenal could ever actually become number 1 and i know this is a sin :) but i was on the spurs website and noticed lee bucther plays for them, when did that happen?
He picked the injury up during training on his return from Christmas. It’s probably just a niggle like Eduardo got when he had not played for a little while.
I think Wojciech Szczęsny has a big chance Goonerguy, if he can get back fit and keep developing.
Lee was released quite a while ago. He had a trial at Leeds and Wycombe, neither of them wanted him. Then from nowhere he joined Tottenham and has been out on loan a couple of times.
I remember him telling Jay Simpson a few weeks after joining Tottenham that their pre-season training was quite easy compared to Arsenal’s.
J do you have any news on james dunnes loan. And is ogogo staying at arsenal or going back out on loan after his injury
J whats the deal with underhill i remeber hearing it want ment to be being re-devloped by barnet or they were building a new stadium is thier any news about that as we need a better place for our reserves to play also do we pay barnet anything to play there?
Intresting you think Luke Ayling could be a better prospect than Havard Nordveit? I think hes a better defender than gavin hoyte and kyle bartley. But in sayin that to me Kyle Bartley has all the attributes to be the best defender in the world
Every time I come to this blog, I feel I’m returning to sanity. Good interesting reporting with none of the hype. Well done JS.
Just for fun, here’s a little clip of Jonas Rasmussen strutting his stuff!
http://www.442.dk/index.php/tv/clip_id=15596
J, Its Matt, need to speak to u Asap, mail me safe
John, like i have previously stated, there is nothing in Nordtveit’s defending that makes me think future arsenal CB, he is always out of position thus always looking for recovery tackle instead of being proactive, only his distribution impresses me. Ayling’s reading of the game has impressed me no end since the start of the season plus he is very strong in aerial duels, 50-50s, quick, agility, composed and good use of the ball [sessions with Bouldy has turned the player we saw last year favourably.
Back to the topic, Ipswich’s FA youth cup match is next week so some of their regular U18 players might be rested with some of their U16s getting chances.
ipswich 6 nil. shud b easy for our lads against a poor arsenal side. uo the town !
Ignasi miquel’s problem is a back one mate…i don’t doubt your knowledge or sources or nothing i just thought i would tell you all….its just i spoke 2 him the other day and he said its his back…but luckily he reckons he will be back in action in 2-3 weeks :) great post as usual though mate!
Good old jay soon to be the heart and soul of arsenal
j i heard that wellington scored twice for the u16’s today. does that mean we have actually signed him?
It will be quite interesting time for youth football in the latter part of the year. First the European U-21 Championship in June, then the U-20 World Cup in Sept-Oct and finally the U-17 World Cup in Oct-Nov.
I’m looking forward to seeing how many Arsenal players will play in those. The U-21 is pretty fucked up as players born 1986 or later can participate. So we might not see Lansbury there, but he will surely play in the U-20 WC along with Murphy and Hoyte.
J! Do you know anything new about Máté Tóth?
Hasn’t Rhys Murphy just come back from long term injury?
I’m pretty sure we will see quite a few players being linked with us from the u17 championship. No doubt we will be in for a few players though.
Jay Emmanuel Thomas looks like a player that can make an impact in a Championship team right now. He’s physically ready for top flight football…and I think he can first get the experience in the Championship. Perhaps we are just waiting until the FA youth cup run is over ( or we win).