Match report: Arsenal U18s 2 Chelsea U18s 0

Arsenal under-18s remain top of Premier Academy League Group A after a 2-0 victory over their London rivals Chelsea at London Colney this morning. Goals from Roarie Deacon and Luke Freeman either side of half-time gave the Gunners victory in blustery conditions.

Steve Bould made three changes from the side that saw off West Ham at Little Heath last week. Cedric Evina came in for Thomas Cruise at left-back, Jonas Rasmussen replaced Sanchez Watt, Sam Byles made his second start of the season after coming for Coquelin and Roarie Deacon partnered Freeman up front in Rhys Murphy’s absence.

——————–Shea—————–

—Obed——-Blackwood—–Ayling (c)—–Evina

—Rasmussen-Eastmond—–Byles——Sunu

—————–Deacon———Freeman———

subs: Frimpong, Bartley, Cruise, Nicholas.

As usual the Gunners started the brightest but found it difficult to impose themselves on a Chelsea side that thrashed Ipswich 7-2 last weekend. There were tough physical battles all over the pitch and there was little in the way of chances early on.

Gilles Sunu’s tame effort was the only real chance of note in the first 20 minutes but then the Gunners started to create more openings.

On 25 minutes, Craig Eastmond saw his effort strike the bar and it was eventually fumbled away by the Chelsea ‘keeper.

Jonas Rasmussen was next to come close after firing an effort just wide.

With just seven minutes remaining until the half-time break, Arsenal finally took the lead. Roarie Deacon was played through and showed good composure and strength to hold off his marker and finish for the third game in a row.

Arsenal could have scored another before the first-half was out but Luke Freeman saw his header tipped over the bar from a Deacon corner.

Half time- Arsenal 1 Chelsea 0

Just five minutes into the second-half the Gunners doubled their lead. Deacon’s corner came in from the right and Rasmussen nodded it towards goal from the near post before Freeman headed it in himself for 2-0.

Chelsea looked like a shadow of the team which acheived that win against Ipswich seven days ago and Arsenal’s domination was on show for all to see.

They could have had more. Gilles Sunu had a shot deflected over and Freeman failed to finish from a narrow angle.

Sunu then showed good awareness to peel off his marker and was unfortunate to see his shot tipped over.

Danish winger Jonas Rasmussen was having a good game and provided a decent cross into the box but Freeman couldn’t finish.

With thirteen minutes remaining, Steve Bould made his first and only change, bringing on Emmanuel Frimpong for Sam Byles in central-midfield.

The Gunners had further chances to inflict more pain on the visitors in the closing stages with Sunu hitting the side-netting and Deacon and Evina both squandering late chances but in the end it finished 2-0 and Steve Bould will no doubt be satisfied with the result and the performance.

Full time- Arsenal 2 Chelsea 0

Player ratings:

Shea 6; Obed 6, Blackwood 7, Ayling 8, Evina 7; Rasmussen 7, Eastmond 7, Byles 6, Sunu 7; Deacon 8, Freeman 8. Subs: Frimpong 6.

JEORGE BIRD’S MAN OF THE MATCH- LUKE AYLING

Captained the side well and led by example. Also produced some excellent long-balls for the attackers to run on to and has been a real model of consistency this term.