by Andrew Crawshaw
This game is today (Friday) at the Emirates and kick-off is 19:00. The game is also being shown live on Arsenal Player so no excuses not to see it.
The current PL2 Division 1 table is
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | +/- | Pts |
| 1 | Everton | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 9 |
| 2 | Southampton | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| 3 | Man City | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 5 | Sunderland | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 6 | Spurs | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 7 | Reading | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 3 |
| 8 | Man United | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 3 |
| 9 | Derby County | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 0 |
| 10 | Arsenal | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 0 |
| 11 | Leicester | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -5 | 0 |
| 12 | Liverpool | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -6 | 0 |
Arsenal in 10th and Liverpool propping up the table in 12th. Both teams so far without a win so whosoever gets the points will feel a great sense of relief.
Arsenal started with a 0 – 2 loss at home to Reading, Premier League 2 – Arsenal v Reading – The Match Report and here is a link to the video highlights on Arsenal Player Under-23s v Reading (h) (please note you may well need an Arsenal Player login to access the video – but that is free)
Last week we were away at Man City and lost 1 – 0 despite playing better overall. Again here is a link to the Arsenal Player highlights Under-23s v Manchester City (a).
Liverpool started with a 4 – 1 away loss at Southampton on 14 August Their manager Michael Beale said :-
“It’s a disappointing start to the season for us. We played well in possession and created good situations but we failed to defend big moments in the game.
“Their third goal was a big moment in the game as we had started the second half well. To concede from a set-play was so disappointing.
“We have worked hard in pre-season to improve defensively and whilst Southampton scored two outstanding goals, I am very disappointed with our general defending as a team.
“There was a big positive in the performance of Danny [Ings], who played well and scored a goal, and I must also give a special mention to Kamil on his debut, who had a good performance.”
This Monday they suffered a second 1 – 4 home loss to Chelsea. A game that came to life in the last 30 minutes when all of the goals were scored.
With Liverpool playing their second game in 5 days we should be the fresher, let’s hope we can make that count.
Arsenal team from:-
GK – Matt Macey, Hugo Keto or Deyan Iliev
RB – Chiori Johnson, Jordi Osei-Tutu
CB – Krystian Bielik, Ben Sheaf, Tolaji Bola, Kristopher da Graca
LB – Kostas Pileas, Marc Bola
Midfield – Ismael Bennacer, Gedion Zelalem, Vlad Dragomir, Aaron Eyoma, Marcus McGuane, Glen Kamara
Forwards – Yassin Fortune (if recovered from injury), Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Donyell Malen, Stephy Mavididi, Chris Willock
Liverpool Team from:-
GK – Kamil Grabara or Andrew Firth
Defenders – Sam Hart (LB), Joe Maguire (LB/CB), Tom Brewitt (CB), Jordan Williams (CB/mid), Nathan Phillips (CB), Randall, Lennon, Adam Lewis (LB/mid), Corey Wheelan, Connor Randall (RB)
Midfield – Wilson, Matthew Virtue (CM), Adam Phillips, Harry Wilson, Herbie Kane, Cameron Brannagan
Forwards – Toni Gomes, Ben Woodburn, Brooks Lennon
Over age player used to date – Danny Ings,
You can probably still get tickets for the game from Arsenal.com Ticket Info
COYYG
- Transfers: the two long awaited deals are done as we do the hi-jacking and the splurge.
- Walter’s favourites for tonight’s Champions League draw
- Referee Appointments and Results Match Day #02 with video evidence and the Alternative League Table
The Untold Preview of the Under 18, Under 19, and Under 21 squads.
- Part one – Overview and summary
- Part two – Goalkeepers and defenders
- Part three – Midfield
- Part four – Attackers
OT.
I’ve just watched the highlights of the last weekend opening Laliga match between Deportivo and Ebar. And I saw Lucas Perez scored the winner via a penalty he converted with his left foot which Deportivo won at home by 2-1.
Looking back at the penalty awarded to us against Liverpool at the Ems on the opening day of the Premier League matches which Walcott failed to convert, would the Boss now appoint Lucas as the Gunners official penalty taker after Arteta our former penalty specialist has retired from Arsenal? Lucas looked to be a penalty taker specialist as he sold the Eber’s keeper to the right and put the ball to the left with his left foot. So this Lucas may turnout to be a great signing for us.
I think the Boss is looking at the possibilities of promoting Chris Willock and Adelaide to the senior team squad this season alongside Chuba Akpom and Bielik who I believe have already been promoted there this season. More so Chuba Akpom who had a good preseason games for Arsenal but is yet to be given his chance in a competitive Arsenal game this season after Arsenal have played 2 Premier League matches.
While Adelaide and Willock should still officially remain as academy school players, but they can be selected to play for the senior team like in our ELC match away to Nottingham Forest(my God, Brian Clough), Akpom could be given a chance at the Vicarage Road tomorrow either as a starter or as a Sub to see if he can claim a starting spot or a 1st team regular Sub if he scores as Giroud is said not yet fully ready to play.
Team
Mackey, Maitland-Niles, Pileas, Bennacer(c), Da Graca, Bielik, Sheaf, Reine-Adelaide, Akpom, Dragomir, C Willock
Subs Mavididi, Keto, Johnson,, Malen and Da Silva
Half time at the Emirates and Liverpool lead 2-0. Both goals gifts from our non-existent defence
come on Akpom, 3 more please.
COYYG!
Final Score three ohne to Liverpool. All three gifts. Ist going to be a Touch Season for this Group of Players And Coaches until they learn how to defend and cut out suicide passes.
with an average starting age of just under 18 3/4 in an under 23 competition ,it’s not surprising that the team is struggling.The purpose of the league surely is to get the kids to play alongside more experienced players and it seems that we are playing people out of their standard positions . Is that because of shortages ?It would be nice to see players that are not getting starts in the first team being used to supplement this squad to help bring these players on in their development
One thing I wonder about the game, Arsenal got all the yellow cards. Is that how it should have been?