Young Guns Denied Final Chance But Have Learned A Lot
Apr 4th, 2016 by 'holic
The Arsenal U18’s went into the second-leg of their FA Youth Cup semi-final against Manchester City needing to turn over a 1-2 deficit from the first leg. It took them just five minutes to level the aggregate score when Chris Willock evaded a couple of defenders to curl a right-footed effort into the corner from the edge of the box.
Sadly parity was short-lived. Ten minutes later, completely against the run of play, Diaz was on hand to head home a parried clearance by the Gunners goalkeeper, Hugo Keto. Kaylen Hinds, released by Jeff Reine-Adelaide went close to restoring the Gunners advantage on the night but fired into the side netting. Willock, impressing with his skill and work ethic, also went close as the Gunners sought to drive the visitors back.
Just past the half-hour Garcia’s quick free-kick caught the Gunners back four napping and Congolo finished assuredly. Two goals down on aggregate was hardly deservedΒ and Steve Gatting had the job of lifting his young charges for one last push.
Although the early attacks were suffocated by City’s blanket defence two timely substitutions on the hour meant that the deadlock was broken a minute later when Donyell Malen found himself surprisingly unmarked at the far post and headed home.
With fifteen minutes left Bola slipped as he went into a challenge and the referee deemed his clumsy, but possibly unintentional challenge worthy of a straight red. It was the moment that handed the visitors an opportunity to retake a degree of control, although the ten men showed considerable spirit and countered at every opportunity.
On one such foray in theΒ five added minutes came the defining moment of the tie. City goalkeeper Grimshaw picked the ball up outside the area, thereby denying us an opportunity of an attempt at an unguarded goal, but he was only booked. The ensuing free-kick from Ben Sheaf was brilliantly saved by the carded player. As City had already used up their substitutions it would have been an outfield player in goal had the referee shown a red card to the culprit.
The final whistle saw players from both sides sink to the turf exhausted. They had given their all and goodness knows how many would have survived the extra half an hour had we found the equaliser. With such good fortune City should do well in the Final and who would begrudge a young side their moment?
As for Arsenal it is clear we have a couple of exciting prospects at this level. The journey from U18’s to fully-fledged pro is a tough one however. Let’s hope they will look back on tonight as a step forward, experience gained, and a lesson learned.
Let’s hope we see more of them too. Thank you ITV4 for giving us an opportunity to catch up with two of the best academy teams in the country.
60 Responses to “Young Guns Denied Final Chance But Have Learned A Lot”
Good write up, Mr ‘H.
Was a fun tie to watch and some promising talent on show, particularly enjoyed Willock’s performance 1st half and Bielek in general.
Can’t say to much about the ref, obviously, but we’ll ‘have a chat’ when I see him next.
This season seems cursed in so many ways.
Women, U18s… do they still have Masters football in the summer, H? π
Cheers H!
Cheers nacanfpb π
Morning Ned.
It’s all content Mr new acronym π
Yo Esso π
Once a Master… always a Master.
In random Arsenal news, the Kenny Sansom stuff is sad but does anyone else think all these photos that pop up of him being found drunk look really staged and faked? No doubt his illness is real and I wish him well in his recovery, but the “drunk in an alley” stuff? Not buying it, sorry.
AND
Nice advert, but there’s too much of this stuff from out lot. Football first please, next season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZpK9WLVB98
Morning, Guv’nor and other early morning arivals.
Is content the new C-word?
Interesting stuff Guvna. Hard luck for the young ‘ins but hopefully an educational experience for them.
#believe
Hopefully educational in a positive way and not in the usual Arsenal way, which is to know what you’re doing wrong only so you can do it even more wrong the next time π
Had the referee done his job and carded their goalkeeper in the first half for time wasting of Schmeichel (Jr) proportions it wouldn’t have mattered that he got the decision only to card the keeper for the handball wrong….
He wouldn’t have given him a second yellow under those circumstances. He would have bottled it entirely.
Bath knows.
Silly me. For a minute I forgot the rules….must apologise.
Great match review ‘holic π
Hehe! Nice one, Rider. π
Man $ity got the best of the refereeing decisions ?
I thought they were supposed to go to the big club π
Our lads did very well and clearly competed unlike last season where Chelsea outclassed them at the same stage. Dead right about the goalie Holic that was a monumental gaffe by the ref.
In other news a couple of younger clubbers of my acquaintance tell me the Cafe de Paris is ‘ well down market’ . Imagine my surprise to read that a bottle of Grey Goose Vodka is Β£300 there. Imagine if it was a classy place?!
Young Jack seems a thoroughly objectionable young man who needs a kick up the Arsenal from the manager. He must be worried this might put him out for six months.
That wasn’t the best work Arsene ever did in tying down all our British core to long- term expensive contracts. There is a reasonable case for getting rid of them all with the exception of Danny Welbeck!
What?
He’s a very, very silly boy, TTG.
Perhaps we can sell them as a job lot to the Spammers. However I would be inclined to keep Rambo, Ox and Gibbs.
thunder T
paltrow – a passing fancy
i suspect i woulda hadda set the earnest setting
on me mincer
to – Considerably
and
ye can’t get the parts nowadays
nor indeed can she
but m’lud my god what a terrific pair of legs !
her too ?
.
and cheers steve T
a good slap on the bonce
i needed
otherwise
i’d still be here
bullshitificatin’
?
yer gonna have to take a run up the next time
but cheers fer the effort chief
it’s in everyone’s interest ?
.
howdy
UP THE ARSENAL !
is 14 wind , wind ?
the real one ?
loved the matchday epics
twas like mid may tv fa cup day
Ah, a cba fuelled evening on the drinks.
We are blessed.
?
https://youtube.com/watch?v=m6dTDiW0ckQ
Greg Louganis finally gets his picture onto a box of Wheaties cereal.
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/04/05/473107455/better-late-than-never-olympic-champion-greg-louganis-gets-his-wheaties-box
Good for Wheaties and congratulations to Louganis. π π
*huffs in the corner*
.
*has something in his eye*
*makes appointment to get silver gooner tattoo removed*
only joking ‘hol
yer still a good fella
i will take no offence
.
*glares*
our Bridie
said the other kids
made fun of her tattoo anyway
so as Errol said
“Everyone’s a winner”
.
.
.
.
*re-GLARES*
“an that’s no li-ie”
#fuzztone guitar#
diddle iddle iddle
il do doo da doo doo
though
when i hold
a broken hearted child aloft
at the edge of the tollie
her back-street tattoo removal wounds
still oozing
as she pines for the silver gooner
lost from her forearm
just remember to complement her
on the anchor on her other arm
(her design)
it’s the least you could do
little Ramona had no such concerns
with her fifth birthday present
the greatest band of all time
know how to treat a fan !
.
*composes heartfelt letter to the daily mail*
Great report Holic. Jeff Reine Adelaide is 18months younger than Iwobi, hopefully on the same fast track.
Speaking of prospects I’m curious to see if one Apkom, Toral and/or Zelalem will make the cut next season. Probably a bit early still.
https://youtube.com/#/watch?v=RFJi3l1DPWk
have a big picture of that on a wall in me house
saves using two mirrors to see ma best side
Dutchman Donnell Malen is another great prospect. Just 17 years old he already plays for Arsenal U21. Hope he turns out to be just as good as Van Pursie, if not better.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3343137/Arsenal-teenage-star-Dutch-wonderkid-Donyell-Malen-announces-solo-stunner-U21-debut.html
Vlad Dragomir is another bright young prospect.
Today I learnt the difference between Slimline and Easyplumb shower trays, as well as how to fit Speedifit inserts into 15m plastic piping. Tomorrow 22m Cooper pipes for the main gas supply beckon.
Its a long and rocky mountainous road of Joe Walsh proportions this renovations business. Will it all be worth it?
It fucking better be!
fair play to ye big man
did it meself
wi a load a favours called in
i was more or less labourer no 1
endless fuckin sheets of plasterfuckinboard and ply were the fuckin worst
here’s to ye sittin havin a beer
watching the mighty Arsenal
in a cracker place
slainte
jeez
i remember i had to shoulder a length of sewer pipe
15 odd foot
no weight to it but i had to cross a main road
negotiate round loadsa narrow street corners
in the city centre
at fuckin lunchtime
cos they left it outta the load
delivered at 8 that morning
and couldn’t get closer to the house cos of parked cars
there’s a reason builder’s merchants deliver early
cos i was a fuckin danger to shipping
toting that bastardin thing from the wagon
thank fuck i didn’t do someone a mischief?
Per Mertesacker’s appearance in the March 8 FA Cup tie against Hull City was the last time we have seen him so Arsene Wenger may have decided to go with Gabriel from here on to the end of the season but a little known fact about Per’s appearance that day, if Wikipedia is to be believed, is that it was his 147th in an Arsenal shirt, and allowed him to surpass his total appearances for his previous club, Werder Bremen.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Per_Mertesacker
I’ll do electric. Not that gas shit. Two top fellas, ye are. π
ye do electric ?
where ye a spark way back ?
me da was a spark
brilliant fella
long dead but instilled in me the fear of leccy
stood me in good stead
i have yet to be zapped
had a few mates who were
i blame the parents ?
did without lights in the top floors
cos of one arsehole
luckily the bog was on a different circuit
so we didn’t have to jiggle up and down
holding it in as he regaled us with
“The tale of ”
“it felt like getting kicked in the chest by a bull”
.
yup
parents !
anyhoo
just met a drunk fella
who doesn’t know when to shut up
imagine that
in this day an age
UNFUCKINBELIEVABLE !
.
.
.
.
.
[i know a story about that]
my wife went to the zoo the other day
they only had one dog
how did it smell ?
jamaica
there or thereabouts
fussy fuckers
bt8b@38: That 146 games number looks to be for league games only. In all competitions, Per has played 204 times for Arsenal vs 215 for Werder Bremen. You are right about the transition from him to Gabriel. In each of the previous three seasons Per had more than 3,000 playing minutes in the Premiership. So far this season he has barely 1,800.
Eagle eye, NBN. π
His current bench sitting is a personal disappointment for him I am sure but I qm equally sure of his professionalism and that he will be working hard in training to earn back his place.
Per is 31 now and has a year and change left on his contract, so I would guess that next season will be his last with us and the club is sensibly managing the transition.
Apologies all, meant to post last night but got waylaid and this evening I’m recording the ABW podcast.
Back with a preview tomorrow night.
Trust it was a bottle of a decent vintage that waylaid you, ‘Holic.
Cheers cba!
Back on the Kango today – inside of the last stubborn fireplace to come out. Back to me normal graft on Monday. Never has a desk and a computer looked more inviting.
Ned knows π
Morning Esso, hope you have got done all you needed to?
Sounds like an unchanged team for the West Ham game, though I wonder if Cech will replace Ospina.
Wenger says Wilshere is “dedicated”
He’s now almost up to two packs a day π
C_A_G_I_F_S@52: Is that ice packs on his ankle?
Anyone watching the Under-21 game?
If not, you may be missing out!
Rosicky is on fuckin’ fire !!!!
i don’t envy you esso
fireplaces – a dangerous bollix
had to knock out part of one brick by brick
we got the beam in then stopped sweating
mind you
i had been on me arse all day with the same bolster and lump hammer
lifting tiles which had clearly been welded down by a belt and braces cunt
when i took the safety goggles off
similar to a posh skier’s less painful predicament
outside the track of the glasses
i looked like i’d been half-heartedly pebble dashed
in 1970s shite brown tiles
still
all worth it though
and let’s not forget
the five layers of lino in the kitchen
each one gaudier than the next
if the tasteless lazy bastards had lived there
for another few decades they woulda haddy
duck down to get in to admire the shithole
but
enough rambling
.
UP THE ARSENAL !
but now that i am rambling
?
going to the scrap dealers
was the oul riddle of
you , a boat , a chicken and a fox etc blaaa
big jim knew the order to drive on off unload on off again
getting the van weighed
pat yer head and rub yer belly
to sell the different metal
pat the head mighta been the owner though
now that i think on it ?
and
any links between
me and
rub yer belly
are entirely innocent
i merely stopped to ask her for directions
GKS – ” Rosicky is on fire”
That’s great news – and Jack Wilshere is smoking !!
Now to read the main post –
which appears to be cba @55. ?
And very good @55 is too,
Not to mention @56 – which is a pity ‘cos it’s worthy of a mention but there you go …….
Can’t have it all. Unless you’re ABBA, or a winner, of course. ?
As James Brown once screamed, “I’m back!” >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>