After a couple of weeks of intense training, the pre-season fixtures are now coming thick and fast for Arsenal players at all levels, and several youngsters in particular have done their future prospects no harm at all with their showings thus far.
The build-up to Arsenal’s retreat to Asia for a three-stop tour was somewhat overshadowed by the on-going Robin van Persie saga, but the absence of several key members of the squad has enabled a clutch of youngsters to experience life in a first-team environment. Six members of the Reserve squad have made the trip, and two of them were on the scoresheet earlier this week as the Gunners scraped a 2-1 victory over a Malaysian XI.
Thomas Eisfeld, who was only on the trip at all because of a late injury to Henri Lansbury, equalised shortly after coming on before a deflected effort from Chuks Aneke gave Arsenal victory. Aneke impressed with his all-round display, operating in a deeper role than usual, and playing some sublime passes.
Benik Afobe was presented with two decent shooting opportunities but couldn’t take either, whilst Craig Eastmond found himself operating in the unfamiliar position of centre-back alongside the newly-promoted Kyle Bartley. Full-backs Nico Yennaris and Ignasi Miquel, meanwhile, provided an attacking threat, as evidenced by the fact that they both had a part to play in one of the goals.
All of the youngsters are likely to be involved again today against Manchester City in China, although they could see their playing time reduced as Arsene Wenger seeks to give his more regular squad members an extended run-out.
Back in England, Terry Burton’s first game in charge of the Reserves was a success as he guided them to a 3-1 win over Boreham Wood at Meadow Park. Arsenal were slow to get going and fell behind early on, but penalties from Sanchez Watt and Chuba Akpom changed the face of the game before Swedish midfielder Kris Olsson, who a week prior had featured for the first-team in the Markus Liebherr Cup, drove through the Wood defence before finishing with aplomb.
The second-string take on Stevenage tomorrow in their second friendly, where they’ll come up against former Arsenal youngsters Luke Freeman and James Dunne, although Gunners goalkeeper James Shea won’t be involved as he is currently training with Preston North End with a view to a permanent move.
Meanwhile, it is set to be announced next week that the Premier League will bring forward its proposed restructuring of the Reserve and under-18 leagues in time for the new campaign, with the format to be replaced by knockout-style competitions at under-21 and under-18 level, according to a report in today’s Times. More details are expected to be announced following a meeting at Emirates Stadium on Thursday.
Knockout style competitions? So if a team gets knocked out early, what does it do for the rest of the season? Friendlies?
it hasn’t been confirmed yet, but i think there will be another competition for those sides that get knocked out early.
Yeah Aneke! That kid got some vision in his plays.
Thomas eisfeld and kris olsson scored through.fantastic chips in both their games. Whatever they’re doing in trainning, keep at it.
Eisfield is going to be a star. Mark my words.
Nice run into the box and a good finish. I hope you are right!
Woot! Keep bringing in more Germans! The youth prospects coming out of Germany right now are incredible.
It’s the same level as the group that came out of France that we cherry picked during the years leading up to the invincibles xD.
Some of the boys look great, however, Eastmond has not the level required to climb into first team, Aneke and Afobe both have chances if they keep in mind that before looking for glory, they have to look for team play.
Olsson and Eisfeld both look promising
Hope Lansbury get well quick and also hop that Wenger will give him some trust
I really hope we can spank Man City, even if this is just a friendly. I want us to rip their heads off and shit down their necks.
Sorry. Been watching horror films lately.
I don’t think there’s a horror movie where they shit down people’s necks though. Or maybe I’m not watching enough of those. 😐
it’s in the making… tonight.
Um sorry merlin, looks like your ain’t just gonna happen today. Hope we remake it in the premier league though.
Oh well, at least it doesn’t count for anything anyway. Would prefer it to happen in a game that actually matters 🙂
Birds nest!, what a great stadium that is. Perfect ground for ripping apart shiteh. Good ground for our kind of football so I expect ‘an emirates’ kinda feeling by the lads.
lets give city a run for their money with our youngsters, I’m afraid that Mancini will be scouting our youth!!!!!!!!
I know it’s only preseason but I really want to beat Citeh!
Mancini and his whining about their lack of spending this summer… cunt! Maybe because Citeh went crazy spending for 2 seasons and now have a bunch of overpayed players nobody can afford to take off your hands like Adebayor!
Maybe you’ve miseed it, but Moneybayor moved to the Spuds on a permanent deal a few weeks ago.
maybe you’ve missed out an s. and no
FUCK MALAGA!! €25m!!!!! i wouldn’t care about cazorla with that price tag!
Thamos esfied is going to be a great hit at arsenal quote me anywhere,also aneke can come out good for arsenal vry soon.gunners for life, please any good news concerning carzola.
Thamos esfied? Who’s he then? I can’t place him…
oh and CaZORLa.
ARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHH!!!
You are rude
Not really. He isn’t rude. It’s actually rude to spell people’s names wrong. It doesn’t matter what language you use, a name is a name and should be spelt properly.
Thumbs up to Uchenna umeokana for the thoughts, though.
Terrific and important news, if true. I’ve been ranting for years about season-long loans to lower-league and struggling clubs not necessarily being the best thing for our best kids – partly because of the style favoured by Allardyce-type managers and partly because the kids too often don’t get many games. Now with two properly competitive, hopefully televised, academy leagues, plus the toddlers’ CL, plus the Carling, there’ll be more than enough serious games for the big clubs to keep hold of their kids and nurture them in the right style. Sure, loan deals can work for a few and they’re… Read more »
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