Friday, March 6, 2009

Arsenal Beat Sp*rs In FA Youth Cup

Check it, you know how I be. Hello everyone. How is everyone doing today? That's fantastic I'm actually doing ok but I'm a little sick, sore throat and all that fun stuff. Not a whole lot going on in the world of Arsenal today, but I did watch the FA Youth Cup game Arsenal versus Sp*rs last night and it was great, so I figured I'll talk about that a little today.

When I turned the match on it was just about to start but I had to shower so I missed the first part. When I came back we were already 1-0 down. We settled in though and we were playing well. I thought our passing was as good as, if not better than, our first teams passing and movement. Watching Jack Wilshere among the rest of the younglings is like watching men against boys. While he isn't THAT much better than all the rest of them, every time he touches the ball I still half expect him to score.

I was talking to Joaquin throughout the match and we picked out a few players that really looked the business to us, and had a chance of making it to the big time. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas scored a great goal to give us the win in extra time, and I thought he played a great game. His versatility is astounding, as he looks comfortable really at any position on the pitch. There was no better example than in extra time in the 2nd half. He was playing up top as a third striker, brought the ball in, dodged two defenders and launched a cannon into the net to give us the lead. Next thing you know, he was back playing as a third center back to make sure Sp*rs didn't get another of their own. That doesn't even mention that he played in the midfield almost the whole game. It's fantastic and I really am looking forward to seeing what he can do in the future.

Gilles Sunu looks like he also has a great future. The guy is just electric quick and can accelerate and turn on a time. He should have had a goal probably late in the first half but he still looked very good when he was out there. I wouldn't be surprised if he maybe went on loan somewhere in the lower divisions next season.

Emmanuel Frimpong and Francis Coquelin pretty much ran the midfield along with Thomas and Wilshere and they both look pretty good too. Coquelin was the one to set up the final goal with a long ball to Rhys Murphy on a counter attack. Rhys Murphy is one of the top scorers for the youth team for the season and his finish after bringing in that long ball was out of this world. Bendtner and Adebayor could use some tutoring from Murphy on half volleys like that.

So it's on to the FA Youth Cup Semi-Finals for the youngsters. We'll face the winner of Manchester City and Norwich city, who play tomorrow. It'll be a two-legged affair, with the second leg of it being back at the Emirates. Liverpool is already into the other semi-final, and they await the winner of Birmingham City and Ipswich Town/Watford. It'd be great for our youth academy to win the whole thing. Imagine the kind of talent you can attract if you have the best youth academy in all of England, and maybe all the world judging by how they have come through in the last few years.

The matches really are enjoyable to watch and as soon as I get the date of the semi-final matches then I will get it all to you.

Tonight I have my first practice with my new team of 8 year olds, so it's time to whip them into shape. Let's go Green Monkeys!

10 comments:

JT said...

Just a question, why does it seem that on your 'My Arsenal Blogs' my blog- ArsenalNet- keeps switching places? When it started it was under Wrighty7, then the next day it was in the bottom half, and now back up to 2nd.

ArseNole said...

It shows the most recently updated ones at the top :) So it's constantly changing

JT said...

Oh, that would seem right then. Thanks

WEG said...

I wonder if Coquelin and Frimpong are the business, Wenger would be tempted to throw them in the first team next year? He hasn't really given the Academy players much of a go (Simpson, Wilshere, I don't know who else).

Lord Nacho said...

line up for sunday, my prediction:


Bendtner
Arshavin
Nasri Denilson Ramsey Theo
Gibbs Djourou Gallas Sagna
Fabianski

subs: Eduardo, Vela, Clichy, Bischoff, RvP, Mannone

JT said...

To Connoly's agent-

I don't think so, because Arsenal is such a top side, and playing in the Premier League. He could sell them to another club, or keep them in the mix for the time being. The latter more likely. We need to get ourselves out of this mess before we want to include youth players in.

And to Joaquin- Would Wenger risk Bendtner in such a big match? Sure, it's against Burnley, but would he risk it??
And also that midfield- would he bulk it up a bit?

Lord Nacho said...

GPS- He is coming off one of his best games and i dont think he wants rvp to play 90 before wednesday's game. so yea i believe he will, he has been starting every fa cup game if i am not mistaken, him and vela actually

Lord Nacho said...

maybe song or diaby, denilson has usually been rested in the fa cup games

JT said...

Great match, would you believe it when Song backheeled to Eboue- to score! Pure magic. Couldn't have done it better. Final, here we come!!

Unknown said...

I can't remember the last time we had 2 goals as pretty as Eduardo's and Vela's in a single game. Fun day. We felt like Arsenal again.