Young Guns Turfed Out At The Moor
Dec 2nd, 2008 by 'holic
Turf Moor on a freezing December night is not perhaps the most attractive proposition for a group of raw, but talented, kids. As a learning experience though, it is second to none.
What we knew would be a test for the younger squad members was made a sterner challenge when Burnley grabbed the lead in only five minutes. Ironically Nicklas Bendtner had spurned a golden opportunity to give the visitors a dream start just a minute earlier when released by a shrewd Merida pass.
Barely a minute after Mcdonald had made the most of Fabianski’s rash near post challenge to open the scoring Bendtner had an almost identical opportunity to his first, and once again failed in a one-on-one with the ‘keeper.
Burnley continued to show good intent in the opening half hour, but were pegged back in the latter stages and twice Mark Randall had opportunities to level. He will particularly rue the second when put clear by a wonderful Bendtner backheel. Then Vela was put clear but once again Jensen produced the save.
At the whistle Burnley were probably just about good value for their lead, but the Gunners will have been disappointed not to have got on level terms.
The second period started with a crunching tackle that earned Mark Randall a booking, then three minutes in Fran Merida produced a magical run from the left flank that ended with him narrowly missing the target. Ten minutes later however, the dream was all but over for another year. Silvestre went to sleep at a throw, Randall missed the opportunity to clear, and Mcdonald finished superbly to double the Clarets lead.
Both goalkeepers were, not surprisingly, called upon as the game opened up even further. Fabianski stopping a point-blank header from Patterson before Jensen denied Simpson, on for Jack Wilshere, at the near post.
The final twenty minutes presented an opportunity to give summer signing Amaury Bischoff some experience. The contest remained open, and Bendtner had one last opportunity to beat Jensen, but his countryman again came out on top to clinch the man-of-the-match honours.
I have to be honest and say some of Burnley’s football was really good to watch. The Championship side became the first team from a lower level to defeat the Gunners in the Wenger years, and deserve credit for succeeding where so many have failed before.
So the Carling Cup young guns were denied a fifth semi-final appearance in six seasons, but picked up yet more admirers, and some valuable experience on the way. Let’s hope a few of them enjoy some FA Cup exposure in the new year. They deserve it.
28 Responses to “Young Guns Turfed Out At The Moor”
That’s a fast one, ‘Holic. It’s a disappointing result, but they’ve been great, the Arsenal League Cup side.
Yes the lads did OK. This would have been a good experience for them.
Good luck to Burnley.
Pint of Hobgoblin please barman.
OMG Bendtner… again – too many touches! Nice backheel tho.
I think we could have won if Song and Djourou had played. And at least there’s one youngster who will not have an Arsenal career: Paul Rodgers.
With better finishing we could have put four or five past them. But it looked like the kids believed all the hype.
two huge glasses of club to equalise for me holic
was it me or was Carlos Vela deilberately stamped on when he missed his first half chance!
i still need confrimation on this?
cheers
oh how i wish someone had tried to chip past e keeper. he seemed to go to ground quite too early and they all kept hitting em low. stil waiting barman
bruce, I think he was stamped on, but I wouldn’t say deliberately, and it didn’t appear to hamper his movement. Let’s be a little more gracious in defeat, and cut the lads some slack. You can’t praise them to the highest twice, and then slaughter them next minute…
well call bendtner any names u can find but he was one of our best on e pitch in e second half, e finishing aside. fans favourite vela had one to forget but its like when ade misses two sitters n scores one- sell him! but van the man hits a keeper in e face and we r chasing e game- no blame. people this was one of those games, first scorer dictates play. Ps that twat tried to step on bendtners face
@ Bruce Rioch
I think you’re right. I too saw that and thought it looked very naughty!!
barman its late now so u can get me some ‘waragi’
To Gooneraholic- i take all your points on board- indeed Burnley did deserve to win- they took their chances we did not.
But just after Vela misses his goal- IT APPEARS THAT HE WAS GRATUITOUSLY STAMPED ON??
DID ANYONE ELSE PICK THIS UP? Or am I wrong???
I feel disappointed to tell the truth. Perhaps because those kids have played so well in earlier rounds. I thought we played some really nice football at times. Knocked the ball about well and had good movement. We were undone by 2 poor defensive errors and some awful finishing. I know it is hindsight but I would love to have seen Jay Simpson start. I think he would have been more clinical with the one on ones. You can not have six of them, fail to score and still expect to win the game.
I do not want to single anyone out but have to mention how disappointed I was with Bendtner. Tonight was night where he could have shone. He has a great opportunity to use the experience he has gained recently and put it to good use. His finish against Fenerbache showed he can do it. But tonight I though he just did not look interested. That was the most disappointing factor for me. He showed a few nice touches but very little else.
The major positive for me was Marida. Thought he looked excellent. Great vision, some pin point passes and a great run. Looking forward to seeing how he develops.
Overall this cup run has produced numerous positives. Some great performances along with massive amounts of experience gained. All those used will benefit massively from the experience and they have been refreshing to watch.
One final word about Burnley. They were the better team tonight and deserved their victory. They worked hard, played decent football and battled to the end. Our young guns will know what it is like to have been in a game. Good luck to them. I for one will have absolutely no problem if they go on and win it.
I can`t say I`m as annoyed as I will be if we fail to beat Wigan, but missing six one-on-ones, with Bendtner the culprit was very poor. I am one of his fiercest critics, but either the guy just doesn`t have it, as I fear, or his confidence, despite that goal against Kiev, is shot to pieces. Not much better from Fabianski either, and man-of-the-match Burnley keeper Jenson looked a far better prospect. AW has bigged-up Fabianski this season (just as he has just done with Gallas) but I remain unconvinced. We really should grab Green in the Hammers fire sale, but I fear he is bound for the spuds. Still, we probably wern`t going to win that cup anyway, and I can`t wait for the Wigan game to see if we can push on from Sunday`s marvellous result.
bendtner’s finishing is poor when he starts games…somethings gotta be done…may be hes seeing too much of the ball…
whateva it is…its him who has denied the most talented group of youngsters some silverware…i hope he would be more clinical for the senior side…
somethings gotta give…pink booty
officially we are out of 1 of the competitions….
i hope it stops there..
Not sure if you guys believe in karma…whenever we won a carling cup game this season we returned to the PL with a defeat…
SO this time…..
i don wana jinx it
Three Landlords before the games, and several large gins during, but I’ll take a very smokey Islay number now please barman.
I’d rated Fabianski of late, but although he had a poor game at times tonight I don’t think we should write him off. I’ve rated Bendtner too, and still don’t think we should write him off. I think they are both just still on that steep learning curve.
There were many positives to take from tonight, but on reflection, my big thought is that overall we just have too many ‘in between’ players. We had some great young blood in the Carling Cup squad and we have some great ‘in between’ players like Denilson.
I can’t help but think that with Denlison, Djourou and Song helping tonight there would have been a different result. I’m not sure the former, or latter, are up to playing every top-flight game, but they’re also too big for a game like this.
Ho hum.
Bring back Eboue.
I hope you are right ‘holic about the FA cup run. Some of the lads deserve a shot at another cup run.
@A GUNNEr
I don’t think you can blame Nik for it all! Our defence was pretty lackadaisical at times, and I did get rather confused when I suddenly realised that new ‘online favourite’ Carlos Vela was actually on the pitch rather than the bench.
@4 Azurelas
I’d wondered while watching on my mate’s small telly (I shoulda dragged her to the Gunners) who the other plonker was at centre half. Until checking his details, I’d been willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for being 6, but it turns out he’s 19. Ho hum again.
@19BostonGooner
I think you’re right – some of them definitely deserve more of a run, but I think we need a bit more experience in the mix (gosh, that sounds familiar ;-).
good performance. pity about the finishing. we could have so easily put 4 or 5 past them.
take nothing away from burnley, they played some really nice football at times, and showed that they wanted it more i think.
o well, i think the most dissappointed of all of us would be those players that were on the pitch as most of them wuld now know that their first team season is over, so sad!!!
what about letting some of the kids out in the CL? or am i being a bit silly?
Mojito please barman… its a wonderfully hot day in cape town… Beach footie ne1?
Can I have a coffee please, ‘holic?
Ta.
I think the second goal was a foul throw
I am a bit concerned about Fabianski. He is very quick and a great shot stopper but his decision making is poor at the moment and good decision making is what singles out the really great goalies from the good ones! Very enjoyable game and Burnley were worth their win but is Bendtner going to make it? Nothing sticks, his first touch is poor and so is his decision making in front of goal. I hope I am wrong and he turns out to be brilliant!
The lads played well, they deserved to win that game. Anyway, Wenger is doing a great job with these kids, we are goin to win a lot of trophies in the future with this crop. Let’s hope teams like Real Madrid, Inter or Barca won’t get their filthy hands on anyone of our Young Guns!
Watching bentner squander those chances, the thought of a hungry Eduardo da Silva returning to fitness makes me very optimistic about our finishing potential after christmas. With Eduardo on the pitch we would certianly not see six one on ones with the opposition keeper and no goals. One can only hope that he can regain the conifdence that he exuded after a season in Zangreb where he scored 50+ goals for club and country. His game doesnt really rely on pace, simply bieng in the right place at the right time and clinical technicality in front of goal. Once Eduardo gets back we don’t have to worry about Mr Pink leading the line anymore. Get well soon our brazillian friend.