Arsenal U18s have played three games so far this season and have won all of them, with their latest victory coming yesterday as the prevailed past Liverpool in their first Premier League Cup group game.
Jack Wilshere’s side have beaten West Ham United and Chelsea in the league and have looked sharp in front of goal despite the high-profile departure of Chido Martin Obi, who is expected to join Manchester United.
As has been documented, new signing Ceadach O’Neill has made a major impact out wide, while Andre Annous has also been in fine form whether deployed up front or as a winger.
Dan Casey, another versatile player who can operate effectively as a striker or an attacking midfielder, has also caught the eye, with schoolboys Max Dowman and Brando Bailey-Joseph performing to a very high standard.
Wilshere will be aware that there are still aspects of the game for his team to work on and he will be looking for Arsenal to keep a clean sheet when they return to league action away to West Bromwich Albion this weekend.
However, there is much to like about this team, especially in an attacking sense and there could be more to come as it also needs to be taken into consideration that winger Louis Zecevic John, one of the standout members of the new scholarship intake, has yet to feature this season due to injury.
Wilshere will be hoping that his team can maintain their momentum and enjoy a successful campaign, with the coach having so far been rewarded for being unafraid to give chances to younger prospects over older ones.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
Conceded 3 but…
One penalty
One header which came back off the bar
One deflected past keeper
Andre Annous can turn out to be quite the pain in the arse for opponents.
I’ll get my coat.
I heard he get really get in behind
*he can really get in behind.
I sure made poopoo out of that one.
How amazing is it for Max – Arsenal (youth’s) number 10 – to be coached by someone like Jack Wilshere – Arsenal’s (previous) number 10.
The pitfalls, the importance of protecting your body, the ascent to fame and affluence, dealing with the pressure of expectation…
You just couldn’t ask for a better mentor than a man like Jack.
He’s not even 15 until the end of the year (literally as his birthday is New Year’s Eve) and is starting for the U18s – I imagine jack wilshire is about as positive role model as you will find when it comes to everything you have outlined above
I know exactly how that is.
When I was 12 I played in the school’s brass ensemble which was technically only for year 9’s and above.
So yeah. I know how crazy that shit can get.
Same. When I was 16 got a part time job for 6hrs a week @ £2.12 an hour, so I can relate to the pressures of pulling in big money as a youth
My first job was for £2 an hour. Working in a Chinese takeaway.
Mr Chung always made me sweet and sour chicken cantonese style with egg fried rice at the end of the shift. I probably would’ve done it just for that.
What was your first job?
I was at a supermarket collecting trolleys in the car park – looking back it was awesome as I got paid wondering around listening to blur or oasis whilst doing very little – but I still managed to get sacked as I got greedy and used to leap the fence and go hang out with nearby mates whilst I should be working – Sainsbury’s didn’t buy my excuse that I went rogue to go and help an old lady who told me that her trolley had fallen into a brook and I heroically stepped in
Haha!
That’s beautiful man.