Match report- Norwich Res. 4 Arsenal Res. 2

Arsenal Reserves suffered a 4-2 defeat away to Norwich in a friendly this evening.

Banfield had lost several players to international duty, but could call on two members of the first-team squad in Jack Wilshere and Vito Mannone as well as three other players who featured against Wigan in the Carling Cup seven days ago.

—————-Mannone——————-

—Eastmond–Bartley———-Ayling—Gibbs

—Wilshere—Coquelin——–Frimpong-Thomas

——————-Bischoff—————–

——————-Simpson—————-

subs: Shea, Sunu, Steer, Cruise.

It was a bitterly cold night at Carrow Road and several fans of both sides had taken advantage of the reduced ticket prices to see what the stars of tomorrow had to offer.

The Gunners haven’t played too many games recently and don’t have another competitive game scheduled for nearly a month, so you wouldn’t have been suprised if they were a little rusty to start off with. But, to much suprise, it was Arsenal who began the game the better, playing at a quick tempo, and playing the neat, incisive passing game which is synonymous throughout the club. The hosts were becoming frustrated and a crunching challenge led to the Gunners winning a free-kick in a decent position. Several players looked interested, but Emmanuel Frimpong was having none of it. The England Youth international stood over the ball and then curled in a free-kick, via a deflection, which left Stuart Nelson stranded.

Bischoff then went close to doubling the lead soon after and from then on it seemed as if the game would be a forgone conclusion with the Gunners running out comfortable winners. But the hosts wanted to put on a show for their loyal fans. Josh Dawkin hit an effort narrowly wide for the Canaries and, soon after, Norwich drew level. Eagle played an incisive through-ball into the path of Daley, who shrugged off Kyle Bartley and sent an effort on goal. His attempt hit the post and then deflected off Mannone. The Norwich man reacted quickest to the rebound and scored the equaliser.

Norwich went ahead before the break. Mannone saved Adeymi’s effort with his legs but Kris Renton, who has played against Arsenal u-18s in the past, managed to steer the ball past the Italian. Norwich grabbed two further goals either side of the interval, including Daley’s hat-trick strike.

Arsenal’s hopes of getting anything from this game were fading fast and Jay Simpson squandered a couple of decent opportunities. Banfield cut an animated figure on the touchline and was constantly venting his frustration at the players. Just ten minutes into the second period he made a double change, bringing on Sunu and Cruise for Thomas and Ayling.

The subs seemed to add a new element of desire into Arsenal’s play and Kieran Gibbs, on his return to Carrow Road, hit a shot into the side-netting. Wilshere, who had a quiet game by his high standards, went on a mazy run in search of a consolation goal but couldn’t find the back of the net.

Amaury Bischoff, on his fourth Reserve outing, scored a goal capable of equalling his spectacular effort against Fulham a fortnight ago. The attacker scored a stunning left-footed volley from the edge of the box late on to make it 4-2, but it was too little, too late for Arsenal.