Arsenal under-18s v Chelsea- Match preview

James Dunne scores against Reading last week

MATCH BACKGROUND

Arsenal under-18s take on Chelsea at Cobham tomorrow having rediscovered their winning touch. A last minute penalty from James Dunne saw off Reading last weekend and now the young gunners look to further cement their claims for a play-off place.

THE TABLE

Table from chelseafc.com

Arsenal are currently in second place, two points behind leaders West Ham and with three games in hand. Victory tomorrow would take them top.

THE FIXTURES

Friday 21 March

Chelsea v Arsenal (11am)

Leeds United V Barnsley (11am)

THE TEAM

A lot of the older players featured for the Reserves on Wednesday, so it should be a young side. Henri Lansbury and Sanchez Watt are unlikely to feature, but Kyle Bartley is back from suspension. Luke Freeman, Emmanuel Frimpong, Oliver Nicholas and Sam Byles are all on international duty, whilst Jack Wilshere and Tom Cruise may be rested ahead of their England u-17 involvement next week.

Predicted team:

——————-Szczesny————————

-Blackwood——Bartley——–Ayling——–Evina

–Rasmussen—–Henderson—Eastmond———Thomas

———Barazite—————–Fonte

subs: Shea, Steer, Murphy, Nordtveit

THE OPPONENTS

Chelsea are currently struggling in 8th place and have been fielding a very young team this season. However, they raise their game when they face the big teams, so Arsenal should be prepared. Here are a couple of players to watch out for:

Jacob Mellis

An England u-17 international, Jacob is an attacking midfielder who signed from Sheffield United in the summer.

Nana Ofori-Twumasi

This season’s youth team captain moved to England from Africa aged 10 and spent his early teenage years on the same west London estate as former Blue Carlton Cole.

A right-back, Nana was a junior athletics champion and his pace and strength have helped win recognition at England Under 18 level for whom he takes penalties. A Chelsea Academy product, in his second full-time year, he was part of the club’s humanitarian visit to Ghana in conjunction with global charity partner Right To Play in May/June 2007.

Chelsea player profiles courtesy of www.chelseafc.com

LAST TIME THEY MET

A look back at the corresponding fixture from last season

Saturday February 10th 2007

Chelsea 2 Arsenal 2 (Murphy, Gibbs)

Arsenal: Butcher; Rodgers, Hoyte, Parisio, Thomas; van den Berg, Merida, Dunne, Gibbs; Murphy, Fonte. Subs: Simpson (for Fonte 70), Evina (for Murphy 80).

REMAINING FIXTURES

MARCH

21- Chelsea (A)

29- Cardiff City (H)

APRIL

5- MK Dons (A)

8- Millwall (A)

12- Bristol City (A)

19- Fulham (H)