Youngsters Eye The Treble!
Apr 16th, 2018 by 'holic
I am truly indebted to our very own TTG for his eye witness report on the FA Youth Cup Semi-Final tonight (Monday) against Blackpool. Having drawn the first leg 2-2 away we certainly sealed the deal tonight and booked a two-legged Final with the highly rated Chelsea youngsters. Thank you so much for an excellent record of the evening, TTG.
I had a somewhat busy day sitting in on four prison adjudications , accommodating a carpet fitter and a tree surgeon and rushing to the Arsenal for this the second leg of their FA Youth Cup semi- final against Blackpool. The trip was made more pleasant by the late arrangement to meet an old friend who has seen Blackpool play on 129 different league grounds ( he has a spreadsheet to prove it) but who regularly watches Arsenal as well. In fact there were a number of Blackpool fans there tonight. 44 hardy souls left Bloomfield Road by coach this morning and won’t get back until the early hours but when your club has been through what Blackpool have been through, a semi-final is an occasion worth attending.
In fact like watching a thoroughbred in the paddock alongside selling platers you could tell at kick-off that Arsenal were immeasurably superior. Frankly the first half was a sumptuous exhibition of football from young Gunners , some of whom are supremely gifted.
As I had traversed the ground before the match I had run into Liam Brady, who the first time I saw him immediately looked a certainty to make it big. Tonight I saw someone who looked as good as Brady did back then. Emile Smith-Rowe, a Kevin de Bruyne lookalike and playalike (is that a word?) was spellbinding. Just back from a serious ligament injury he was unplayable tonight as far as Blackpool are concerned.
I was also much taken with the two centre- backs (nice to know we have some at the club) Daniel Ballard and Zach Medley, a holding midfielder of guile and steel in Robbie Burton and a silky left-sided attacker in Xavier Amaechi. The whole team played well but those lads stood out and the substitutes when they came, Bukayo Saka, Trae Coyle, and Matt Smith, slotted in seamlessly.
The game was a walkover in truth. The first goal came when Arsenal broke away from a Blackpool corner. Smith-Rowe cruised through the gears down the left-hand side, played in Amaechi and his cross was headed in by Balogun. Ballard notched the second with a header from a right-wing corner and Burton finished the third with great subterfuge with a clip into the left-hand corner.
Brave saves from the Blackpool keeper and a shot against the bar from Balogun kept the score down but then Smith-Rowe slalomed through the Blackpool team, and into the area where he was brought down by a despairing Blackpool defender. Smith-Rowe took the kick himself and fired it into the top left corner.
Rather like the first team Arsenal having scored four in the first half at the Clock End decided to ease off. (You can tell I sit in the North Upper usually!) Blackpool were game but outclassed and their cause was not aided by having one of their midfielders sent off for a second yellow card after a tug on Balogun. Arsenal made it 5-0 right at the end after another intricate move including an Ozil-like ‘no look ‘ pass from Coyle ending in a short-range finish from Smith.
Arsenal go on to meet Chelsea in the Final and our friends from the bus stop have won the trophy for the last four years. But they will have to be a very good side indeed to beat Arsenal on this evidence.
One final thought occurred to me as Arsenal effortlessly pinged the ball around. This was Wengerball at its purest and whatever we may feel about Arsene’s present inadequacies, it is he who has set a template for pass and move football which was never part of the Arsenal brand prior to his arrival. He has defined a style for this club which has probably inspired these boys from the first moment they could kick a ball. It truly was a thing of beauty tonight. How ironic that it is a style that our first team are finding it hard to replicate consistently.
If you get a chance go along and watch these boys in the Final. Some of them are really very special. In addition to reaching the FA Youth Cup Final they are also in the Final of the Premier League International Cup and if they beat the West Ham U23s on Friday will be crowned champions of Premier League 2. TTG.
72 Responses to “Youngsters Eye The Treble!”
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First….. Get bloody in.
Good stuff TTG. Sounds a fun night out.
Perhaps we need a team Holic night out for the final?
Thanks TTG, an interesting and
enjoyable read. Great to see the
kids team doing well by playing
nice football 🙂
Goonersince54,
I fully expect us to win the Europa
League! Why not? Athletico are a
good side obviously but we’ve a
good record recently against the
Chavs who play a fairly similar
style.
A dose of optimism in rare supply. Thank you, TTG. Leave it to this upcoming generation. It looks to be a good one in many ways, not just in football.
An excellent report, TTG, well done! And ‘playalike’ has now officially been added to my lexicon. As one whose passport has described me as ‘writer’ for the past 50+ years I love inventing words. And why not, it’s one way English has grown to become the wordiest of world languages. A lot of which results from taking over or adapting foreign words en masse – in much the same way the Brit Empire was acquired…
Man City win the league not with a bang but a whimper.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/premier-league
Arsenal winning the league on a Spurs loss to a relegation certainty on the other hand would make me larff.
Has it been mentioned how our Arsenal Ladies (Women?) have thrashed Everton to reach the SSE Women’s FA Cup Final where they will meet the Chavs? http://www.thefa.com/news/2018/apr/15/everton-arsenal-semi-final-150418 Well done the girls, and I hope they are, by whoever they wish. I’m available for Leah Williamson…
If so my apologies.
…my apologies for having missed anyone mentioning this before, not for the Leah comment! 🙂
They used to be Arsenal Ladies
I think Chris but now they’re Arsenal
Women – political correctness
I guess?
Apologies for the misleading link I posted in #6, above. The reference was to Man City winning the league due to rivals Man United losing to bottom club West Brom, and that after losing a comfortable lead to United the week before when they should have closed it out and gone out on a real bang. First world problems, I suppose, but they really should have done better.
I thought this was a photo of a first team game, looking at the crowd, but it’s from last night 🙂
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/04/17/00/4B3A1CC300000578-0-image-m-23_1523919690677.jpg
Thank you, TTG, for that delightful report. I only hope that the talent you detect, and results confirm, gets its chance to make it through to the first team and with its Wengerball DNA in tact.
Excellent report TTG of what sounds like an excellent evening out. I’m pleased that the beaks finally saw fit to give you an evening pass though it’s a pity it took four attempts to get the correct adjudication ?.
Hopefully these talented kids make it through the minefield to the first team in a couple of years.
I do like Steve T’s suggestion of a Holics’ outing for the final. Do we have a date yet?
I may well be up for an outing provided the Daily Mail hasn’t outed me first ?
Most membership grades could book a free ticket online and then you sat where you liked in the Lower Tier East. The crowd was about 5,000 and the bar was open although food ran out quite quickly.
Im hoping the Governor lets me out for the final. It will be on telly but again I find you see so much more there. The big lad at the back, Medley, passed with a pace and poise that reminded me of Bobby Moore. Not for him the agricultural hook upfield. The wide players were excellent at using their first touch to create an opportunity rather than just trap the ball and KDB ‘playalike’ Smith- Rowe would have been worth the admission money on his own ; that is if I’d paid anything. It lifts an old Gooner’s soul to see us developing players of his quality.
no irish no blacks no dogs
.
ye build a few countries
piss a few mattresses
.
.
.
ain’t it grand
Treble Medley?
no headlights is deadly
I wish we had more players with the first touch of Seedorf in a suit and casual dress shoes, and arms crossed. http://metro.co.uk/2018/04/17/deportivo-substitutes-produce-class-reaction-clarence-seedorfs-mind-blowing-first-touch-7473739/
ecg, I must agree with line in the article you posted, “It must be annoying, though, knowing that your manager is almost certainly a better footballer than you’ll ever be.”
But that doesn’t mean such a manager cannot be effective in the job. Zidane is proof of that, and I’m sure there are many more.
And now for a more political drink. See #15 and weep.
Can’t hide from it bt8. That was going on in the inner cities here in the late 50s and early 60s. I’d like to think we improved much quicker than other countries.
Everything crossed we don’t continuing to regress in our attitudes to other cultures.
The dates for the two Youth Cup Final legs have now been decided.
The first leg is at the Bus Stop on 27th April with the return at our place on 30th April. Both games kick off at 7.45 pm .Sadly I cannot go to the home game but I hope to be at the Porto game on May 8th.
I suspect the matches may be shown on ITV 4
TTG
Thnks for your excellent match summary of the young guns victory over Blackpool.
I think based on the quality and depth of your report,the Landlord has found a ready stand in for match reports if he ever needs one.
Interesting though on your point about the lack of interest among Holic’s followers in the Bar in the development of the youngsters through the season,as of the 20 responses so far to your report,only 6 are directly related to your missive. !!
Just an update on the under 23’s,Liverpool won their penultimate game yesterday,and have now moved above Leicester into 2nd place 2 pts behind us.
We have the better goal diff by plus 2,so a draw at West Ham may be sufficient to win the Title,although on current form we should be confident enough to go there and win in style.
Also confirming that the home leg of the Youth Cup final is on Monday 30th April.
An interesting development re the Europa league if we end up 7th and don’t win the thing this season.
We will have to enter the 2nd qualifying round,first leg scheduled for July 27th,which is smack bang in the middle of our trip to Singapore to play 2 pre season matches.
With the World Cup looming on the horizon,we will want to hope our high profile backroom recruits will be getting our potential new signings done and dusted before it commences,as there will be very little time left afterwards before the new season kicks off.
Oskamatt @3
You are an Optimist,I am a Realist.
@24, It sounds like our summer could require just as much strategic management of fixtures as our season did. Clive, is there any word on contingency plans for managing the need to play a match in Asia and another in Europe on the same day?
I would imagine the contingency plan is youngsters, bt8b — with the youngsters taking the Europa tie, given the way they have been playing.
bt8
Apparently there is some flexibility allowed on the dates by UEFA.
Although any changes would require the agreement of the team we are potentially drawn against.
Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,but the Burnley game at home early May could become a must win if we want to avoid that possibility.
GS54,
@24
Maybe so.
It was just a response to the idea
that few if any expect us to win.
Hopefully, it will turn out that I’m
the realist 🙂
27th July would be ridiculous to
start playing competitive football
again. Less than 2 weeks after the
end of the world cup.
I suppose it’s in our hands to do
something about it. But even if we
avoid that situation it’s still a
nonsense.
Anyway, I’m with the German
supporters who delayed the start
of each half recently by throwing
toilet rolls on the pitch to protest
the introduction of Monday night
football in Germany.
Excellent report, thanks TTG, and very informative.
I’m not up to date with the Youth and U23 sides, so it’s good to see that things are improving. My lack of current knowledge is not down to lack of interest – just the time to try to keep up with it all.
I was treating a 20 year old goalkeeper today, who is on the books of a Championship club, but currently on loan to a non-league side for experience. We were actually discussing young players and how they are introduced and utilised in top level, and particularly Arsenal’s, first teams.
Interestingly, he agreed with me when I said I really liked the look of Emilio Martinez – I can’t remember seeing him make a real mistake on his rare appearances for Arsenal. He’s not really a youngster any more, I suppose, but it would be good to see him back, given (not Shay) that goalkeeper is a position that is becoming an issue for us.
Does anyone know where he is currently playing – presumably on loan ?
Emi is at Getafe on loan Trev.
I thought he did fine for us when
he played too. But he hasn’t been
able to hold down a first team
place at Getafe or the 3
championship clubs we loaned him
to it seems.
Ditto #30 and #31, from the first time I saw Martinez I thought he looked like a player who could go all the way, very calm, assured and capable. As I said at the time in this bar. Frankly I had for gotten him until Trev’s post, assuming he’d moved on. Good to hear he’s still on the books.
Mind you I also thought that Callum Chamberlain could develop into another Tony Adams. Not sure that one’s working out…
Well, lots of people thought that
Chris if that’s any consolation.
I also thought Gabriel would
work out after his first few starts.
And Holding too. Surely there
couldn’t be a pattern here? 🙂
Although it isn’t really a laughing
(laughable?) matter when you
think about it. Considering Kos’s
fitness, and if we do give up on
Mus, we will need 2 centre backs
in the summer. Perhaps we’ll have
a better result buying a pair than
we have in finding a partner for
Kos over the last few years.
Martinez has always looked a decent prospect and I know was held in high regard at the club. To Trev and OM’s point, he spends a lot of time warming benches. He has been an unused sub in 27 La Liga games for Getafe this season and has had just four starts plus two in the Cup. His four starts came when the first choice, Vicente Guaita, was out injured. Martinez is 25, still young for a keeper, but needs to be playing regularly to get the game experience that any keeper needs. It does make you wonder about how loans are managed. If the purpose it to provide playing experience for those who can’t get it at the Emirates, it doesn’t seem to be working out in this, and several other cases.
Callum Chamberlain handed in his transfer request ages ago, Chris.
:-p
Your clock is out H
I said CLOCK. By an hour.
Ned,
I think one purpose is to provide
the opportunity for game time –
that’s all we can do with a loan
as it’s up to the player to get in
the side. Agree with you though
that it’s not working that well.
Hector, Ash M-N and Jack’s loans
seem to have worked out ok –
not sure about Hector’s come
to think of it.
Anyway, another purpose may be
to put the player in the shop window
like Woj, Joel and maybe Emi given
that he couldn’t break into sides in
the Championship
Et tu, H2H?
aaah 8ball sorry
i fuckin continue conversations
just had/ am having here
forgetting yer all there
?
and oblivious
.
i try and not
but i keep doing it
there’s no place for politics in football !
well there is apparently ?
and i fuckin live in it ?
.
.
anyhoo
as i say news events spark blaaaaaa
but
the main man shouldn’t have to discuss or defend
something – fuck all to do with him
.
soz ‘hol
sometimes my handsomeness messes with my wiring
?
.
.
.
here ???
.
herself’s finally forgiven me for leaving the freezer door open
it’s all water under the fridge now
?
I liked the look of Martinez too but he has wasted his time at Getafe. In fact very few of the loan moves we arranged have worked out. We have players like Asano the Japanese striker. He plays for Japan occasionally but not enough to get a work permit so ends up in limbo.Or Stuttgart- this season. And then there is Joel Campbell who has been treated rather poorly in my view.
As for the keeper situation, I think we need two new keepers although Macey may develop . Cech( who I praised earlier in the season ) has been woeful since Christmas and I’ve never rated Ospina who is close to the worst keeper on crosses I’ve ever seen. Interestingly the youth keeper Virginia is very highly rated but looks far too short for a modern goalkeeper .
I’ve heard that Leno of Cologne is the preferred keeper. Maybe give Cech the goalkeeping coach’s role and make him number two with a brief to develop Macey?
only one person been peein’ on mattresses or at least watchin’
8ball
as usual
I am misunderstood
it was what’s his name imbued me with intellectualism
long ago
.
he was right though
yer all thick
thick as fuck
*dances incredibly Shirley Temple style*
*high level Shirley Temple dancing*
*the best Shirley Temple dancing you’ve ever heard*
beep
ka…BEEP !
.
misunderstood all around, maybe
wha?
pfffttttt
.
.
here
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEyEO_LVESk
cba @41 – ?
TTG@43: Virginia is 1.91m tall, which is middle of the pack for a Premier League keeper. He is taller than de Gea and Lloris, either of whom I’d happily have between the sticks, and Leno, who is at Bayer Leverkusen these days.
aww right
I see what’s going on
started early on
low level baff
now kneecap arises
.
‘hol if you wanted to stage an intervention
d’ye honestly think
eh
these two ?
HONESTLY ?
.
.
THESE TWO
aww fuck
neds in
.
.
*puts affairs in order*
.
.
.
.
.
[interestingly affairs were first put in order in 1834 ]
.
3 !
…
it’s the water wagon for me
my liver blesses you ‘holic
.
.
?
cba@58: 🙂
Water for your water wagon can be found under your fridge, cba. Assuming herself has left it to you to clean up, as would probably happen here if I allowed a woman into my house, which I’m not in a mind to presently. Not unless she’s really cute and comes bearing HP18.
Mostly good news at the presser
today – Mkhi is back soon, though
not for West Ham, Aaron is training
and will be fine for Thursday.
A small knock for Jack at the moment,
who was also mentioned as making
his mind up on whether to sign a
new contract before the summer.
AW is mulling over whether to play
Auba or the players who will play
against Athletico.
well ye see ‘holic
there ye have it
.
and
you chris
c’mere fer a smooch
ya big ‘ol etc and so on
anyhoo
can’t hang about
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOTnkIHjqQY
Cheers TTG for a great write up, watched the stream here, enjoyed every minute. And Cheers H! as usual;
FAO Cba – might be of interest to you squire;
http://www.pinkflag.com/news.php
…in the meantime…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNVdziest58
Thanks Ned- he didn’t look that tall on Monday…but I was in the Lower Tier! And thanks Re Leno. I’ve lost track of him after he stopped doing the Late Shpw! ?
Surely a sign of how sad things are is that we are battling to finish ahead of a gormless long ball team of lumps like Burnley. Agricultural football at its worst. Chelsea needed this game like a hole in the head but were still good enough to win away with relative ease. Surely we have to finish above them now?
cba, ya bollix, so glad you’re back! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
TTG @ 70
You would hope so,but given that 3 of our last 5 games are away from home,i wouldn’t be betting on it.
We have Utd away next week,and Leicester and Huddersfield away to finish the season.
So the Burnley game at home on Sunday 6th May could well be the decider,given their other 3 games are relatively easy.
Given that that game is after the 2nd leg against Athleti in Madrid,if we have been beaten,it will certainly be a difficult game for the boys both physically and mentally.
On a brighter note,the Youth side continued on their winning ways yesterday with a tough 1 nil win away at Southampton,which all but secures 2nd place in the under 18 league behind Chelsea,and the Ladies had an impressive midweek win 3 – 1 against Reading,which means they have now gone 12 games unbeaten.
With all levels of the club still involved in the prospect of winning League/Cup Trophies,it is going to be an exciting last few weeks of the season.