Masterclass From The Arsenal Scholars
Nov 11th, 2008 by 'holic
Another remarkable Carling Cup night has ended with a very special group of young players producing a three goal drubbing of Premiership opposition.
An astonishing opening half set the scene. True, on half a dozen occasions the ball was surrendered cheaply in dangerous areas. That didn’t inhibit the lads in any way whatsoever. They just kept playing with a freedom that was a joy to behold, and restricted dangerous opponents to a half-chance from a throw-in and a couple of corners.
Going in the opposite direction they created havoc. Randall anchored, Merida, Ramsey, and Wilshere probed and created, Simpson muscled and Vela teased. Chris Kirkland had to be at his very best to deny Vela the opener, and then Ramsey from a superb free-kick. The bar denied Jay Simpson but his debut goal arrived when he was released by an exquisite through ball from Jack Wilshere.
One-nil to the Arsenal was a thoroughly deserved half-time scoreline. The best was yet to come, and by the close you were left questioning if a few of these players shouldn’t be given opportunities against the lesser sides who seem to cause us problems at the highest level.
Kirkland needed to be at his best to deny Gibbs, set up by a wonderful jinking run and pass from Ramsey. Just as the visitors threatened to crack the resistance of Djourou, Song , and company they were caught on the break. It was the sort of counter-attack we enjoyed in the golden days.
Fabianski punched to Ramsey. The Welsh genius freed Vela who skinned Boyce and teed up Simpson for a second senior strike. It was a goal the current first team could not score, but the best was yet to come. Vela ignored a determined Bramble challenge to chip Kirkland with the deftest of touches.
Attention turned to the other end and Fabianski, harshly treated I felt by the commentators, produced an astonishing double save to maintain the clean sheet. The final whistle blew with Arsenal again threatening at the other end.
It’s easy to get carried away with this performance, and dangerous. These eleven players would not have got the points against Manchester United on Saturday. However, if we had a few of them at Fulham and Stoke we may not have suffered unexpected and painful reverses. Oh hindsight, what a gift you are!
Anyway, even Charlie Nicholas got carried away with the moment on Sky, comparing the ball-protection of Jack Wilshere to Deco. You could see what he meant though. The broadcasters enjoyed the joke that they could not award the sixteen year old with his man-of-the-match champagne, and suggested to Arsene Wenger that he had substituted him with fifteen minutes remaining because it was past his bedtime.
It was good to see Wenger beaming at the end. In the space of four days he has well and truly turned the tables on his sternest critics. Two wins were badly needed, but the quality of the performances from his players have added to his satisfaction.
Mine too. Cheers ‘holics.
33 Responses to “Masterclass From The Arsenal Scholars”
Top top effort from a group of very talented kids.
Nice pint of Bass please……
very happy with the performance.
pot of ginger ale for me pls
Why not play this side against bottom 10 sides and leave top half teams and CL games to the ‘first eleven’. They were bloody awesome tonight against a team our first 11 might very well have struggled against.
Excellent performance. You can see there is a strong camaradarie amongst the lads – all 4 one and one 4 all.
I can see this team taking no shit from anyone in the future.
Bring on those cunts from N17.
Double JD and coke on the rocks and have one yourself ……
HOW GOOD IS THIS GUY RAMSEY. HAS IT ALL. THE NEXT SUPERSTAR
It was simply a pleasure to watch. One of those ‘this is why we watch football’ affairs.
Ramsey must be close to kicking down the door to the first team, nevermind knocking on it.
Don’t think a drink is required in these circumstances. Alright then – a double black russian.
That was amazing.After all the crap yesterday it was like being reborn.
Wilshere,Ramsey and Vela the pick but they all played well against a Wigan team I thought would give us a difficult game.
Very rarely football becomes an art form.
If saturday was fantasy football this was a whole new mythology.
Don`t really need a drink as I will be buzzing for hours but I will have a Peroni just to be sociable.
I have a very strange desire to listen to Ian Dury`s “Dance of the Screamers” and dance around the room.
Cheers.
Superb evening’s entertainment! This was a tough test against a proper Prem team. We defended well throughout – the commentators kept pointing out that Gibbs was leaving De Ridder acres of space on the right, but Gibbs was generally quick enough to get back and cover so it didn’t matter.
Djourou was excellent, although he was fortunate not to concede a penalty. Song looked comfortable too.
I’m expecting Vela to start getting a few brief sub appearances in the Prem (like Eduardo last season). Once he’s settled and got a couple of goals he’ll be a sensation.
It’s easy to predict that though, and it’s easy to see that Ramsey and Wilshere will be big stars for us. Same with Merida and Gibbs. But I think Simpson might make it too. He’s powerful and a bit more direct than our usual strikers, but I’d be really happy to see him in our first team.
Hopefully Randall will have learned that he could make an impact too, though he perhaps needs to concentrate on keeping it simple.
Good point ‘Holic about Wenger silencing his critics.
There is a danger of going overboard about Ramsey, Wiltshire, and Vela tonight. I was just as pleased with the performance of Song and Djourou. Still, let’s enjoy the moment. I hereby declare ‘happy hour’ on ‘holic!
Happy Hour? Top drawer. 2 pints of Bass please.
I agree re going overboard. But lets not forget that according to most in the media we were a club in rapid decline, had become shite overnight and Wenger was now way passed his sell by date. Since then we have witnessed a greatteam performance against the Mancs. Then tonight we have witnessed our Ubder 18s demolish establish premiership opposition.
So we remain a club that others fear and respect. There is not a club in the land that will not have watched that tonight and said “how does he do it?” I say that we raise that extra glass to one true genius. To a man that has taken our club to new heights, and will hopefully continue to do so.
Perhaps in the light of Morgan’s brutal assault at the weekend, the media will realise that Mr Wenger was right when he made the point about thugs and bullies?????
Sorry, one last point. Did anyone spot the pearler during the commentary??????
1st half, Koumas hits a cross that goes straight out for a goal kick. The line was………….
” and Koumas just curls one out”. No wonder he was shite…..
If the ‘going overboard’ comment was aimed at me, I’ll happily qualify it by saying I meant I’d be happy to see Simpson in our first team one day.
And yeah, maybe I have gone overboard. Consider it a reaction to all the doom and gloom of last week!
that third goal came from Eduardo’s left foot.
Ramsey. Delicious. Loved the second goal. Was like the Veira -> Pires -> Henry -> back of the net ballet of the yesteryears..
Song was very solid. i really love the way he plays
Those lads are the best around. Dare me if you can. As for the cup YES WE CAN. True gunner
Those lads are the best around. Dare me if you can. As for the cup YES WE CAN. -True gunner.
one great great great performance by young lads and worth to watch and haapy tht i didbt slept as match started 0100 in pakistan….
as for the cup, yes we can!!!
Absolutely scintillating stuff from the young Gooners last night. We have every right to celebrate after the slating Le Prof and the team had to endure last week.
All the players seem to be improving week by week but there is one (special player) that stands out for me. Aaron Ramsey is pure class!!!
This guy has pace, has power, is visonary in his passing, can tackle, has excellent positioning, can shoot…..he almost has it all!! Even more, he has the willingness to learn and wants to improve more and more. Already Wenger has stepped him up a notch or two and clearly it vindicates the lads decision to choose Arsenal over Manchester United!
Sure, we don’t want to get carried away. Our inconsistency has let us down, perhaps more than it has in previous. This needs to be addressed. But last night was special and I for one am proud to celebrate such an awesome display.
It will be very nice to see some of these boys strutting there stuff in the years to come.
Last night was an absolute delight.
I’ll have a sneaky London Pride please ‘holic.
I recommend the HSB from Gales, Mark. A few pints and a stumbly stumbly journey home awaits 🙂
The lads were brilliant and the goals were fabulous. Great to see that smile on Le Prof’s face. Can’t wait to see these lads take on the big boys in seasons to come.
dangleberrys
Heh, cheers dizzy.
Good to see you here again siren.
Yes, Don, inconsistency is the problem facing us right now. Difficult I know, but I can’t help but feel that a few more radical selections against the supposed lesser lights might yield benefits. How hungry and confident did those lads look last night. Compare that to some of their peers at Fulham, Sunderland, and Stoke.
Indeed.
Did anyone happen to catch that tosser Phil Tompson talking about our youth prior to the Spuds vs Mugsmashers game? He was asking where our youth players from the 6-3 drubbing of Liverpool a couple of seasons ago were now. Cheeky tw@t!
One thing I did enjoy last night was “Teenage Kicks” being played over the Grove PA at the end of the game last night. That was a quality finish!
I missed snaily!
🙁
Thompson needs to do some research:
Arsenal: Almunia, Hoyte, Toure, Djourou, Traore (Connolly 88), Walcott (Diaby 74), Fabregas, Song Billong, Denilson, Julio Baptista, Aliadiere.
Subs Not Used: Poom, Lansbury, Randall.
Hoyte and Alliadiere are at Middlesbrough now – so still in the Premiership.
Traore and Connolly are on loan at Portsmouth and Colchester respectively, Baptista as a loanee went back, but it looks like everyone else is still at the club.
So what was your point Big Nose?
i was glad to be at the emirates for both of the cup games so far, not much to say about the boys that hasn’t been said already but how great would it be to send these fearless lot out against man utd or spurs. keep it going lads, not sure at this point which would make me more proud, these kids winning the carling cup or the regular x11 winning the league or fa cup.
A little whisky for me please, ‘holic.
Just a large Jameson’s on the rocks please, ‘holic.
@Snail. Your right but Mart Poom isnt at the club anymore and Matthew Connolly was sold ( to colchestor im guessing )