Arsenal u-18s reached the Premier Academy League play-off Final after beating Manchester City by the same scoreline as they did in the FA Youth Cup semi-final first leg.
The young Gunners had exited the competition at this stage in the previous two seasons, but took an early lead through Cedric Evina. City responded with Abdisalam Ibrahim levelling proceedings, but Rhys Murphy struck the winner 14 minutes from time on his return from injury.
Steve Bould named his Youth Cup side with two exceptions; Wojciech Szczesny replaced James Shea in goal, whilst Evina filled in for Jack Wilshere, who is away with England U17s in Germany.
————————————Szczesny—————————
—Eastmond——Bartley——————————-Ayling———–Cruise
—Thomas——–Coquelin——————————Frimpong——-Evina
———————–Sunu———————————–Watt——————-
subs: Shea, Deacon, Henderson, Murphy, Boateng.
City were without their prolific Liberian striker Nimely because of injury and his absence proved to be a vital one as the Gunners started brightly, with Evina’s low cross causing panic in the City ranks.
However, the hosts responded at a subdued City of Manchester Stadium, with Szczesny called into action for the first time when Robbie Mak fired a shot on goal.
But it was Arsenal who took the lead on 14 minutes when City ‘keeper Joe Clegg could only parry Gilles Sunu’s cross from the right. It fell to Cedric Evina who gratefully dispatched it into the net for his first goal since September 2007.
The Gunners had Szczesny to thank for a succession of superb saves which kept out Elabdellaoui and Kieran Trippier. Perhaps his best stop came soon after when he made a stunning stop from Ball.
However, despite his heroics, the Pole was unable to prevent City’s equaliser, with Ibrahim nodding home from Chris Chantler’s free-kick.
Arsenal recieved an injury blow at half-time when Tom Cruise suffered a foot injury. He was replaced by Conor Henderson, with Evina switching to left-back.
Szczesny made two more invaluble saves; first from Ball and then Chantler and was looking every inch the perfect ‘keeper.
That was until a bizzare error of judgement saw him almost caught out after a weak punch found its way to the alert Ball, who attempted to lob the pole from distance. However, Luke Ayling came to the rescue and Arsenal survived the terrifying scare.
A superb challenge by Ayling ensured that the Gunners kept things tight at the back, but going forward they still needed another goal to avoid extra time.
They got it through the prolific Rhys Murphy, who was returning from the latest in a catalogue of injuries. This time Evina turned provider and Murphy’s instinct saw him finish with aplomb and prove that class is permanent, no matter the circumstances.
A couple of late substitutes from City failed to alter proceedings and the Gunners prevailed from a tricky task, despite only having three shots on target all game.
Sunderland or Spurs await in the Final, whilst there is still business at hand in the FA Youth Cup in the form of Liverpool.
The double is still on.
Rhys murphy is a super talent. I really think when this guy is fit hes the best english striker in the country. Ever since i saw him play for england under 17 with henri lansbury i thought arsenal and england have got two of players players in european football.
Don’t like the fact that we were outplayed by City. Thought we had the best youth team in England. Maybe I was wrong.
City had a few shots but not clear cut chances due to Luke Ayling and Bartley defending well.
Did you watch the game, john?
Bartley and Ayling have improved alot this season. Looks like better prospects than Hoyte and Nordtveit, don’t you think?
would anyone agree with me if i said bartley is reserve player of the season?
I really like the look of Luke Ayling- He looks like a leader on a pitch and puts his body on the line, much like terry. Hes more of a captain that jay thomas
How about JET, Jorge? Think he’s been brilliant too.
It all sounds great; Ayling, Bartley, Murphy (all English!) and Wojcech all sound like absolute prospects.
Fuck me and we just paid Walcott 10 mill gross when Murphy is an better prospect. He should come to an English club bcos he will never play for the 1st team, he doesnt speak french
Rhys Murphy basically like wayne rooeny but scores goals and does not have temperament problem
Let’s not get carried away, John… Is Murphy an International, Jeorge? And how is he considered by others than Gooners?
Rhys Murphy played for england under 16, 17, 18,19. Hes much better than danny welbeck. Henri Lansbury is a better player than Welbeck.
Right but how do people see him? Cause he is not talked about often outside Arsenal. Will he push for first team next year, especially with Wenger saying he won’t buy a striker? Wellbeck is mediocre just like Macheda yet they get attention cause they play; will Murphy play Carling Cup, for instance?
Macheda looks a talent. Theo walcott rates Rhys Murphy very highly.
Rhys Murphy, Henri Lansbury, Jay thomas, gavin Hoyte all played together for the england under 17 and england under 19. Those four with jack wilshere and kieran gibbs can all break into the arsenal first team
Jeorge spot on mate Kyle Bartley is without a doubt the reserve player of the year.
The main objective for Murphy is to stay fit now and ease back into things gradually through more sub appearances. He keeps getting too many injuries, so the coach’s should be careful with him, e.g. not start him next game on the basis that he scored, which is what they did when he last returned.
The England U-19′s are at the Euros this summer and need him to be injury free.
Kyle Bartley and Luke Ayling are very good. Daniel Boateng is a massive talent. He looks special. Add miguel and nordveit we have got some really good young Centre halves coming through. Next season i can see bartley and ayling going on loan to league 1 clubs. Like most young centre halves, krystian pearce, steven taylor, dorian dervitte
Fully agree with your comment about Bartley being reserves player of the season. He has grown stronger as the season has progressed and is starting to look the real deal.
It is nice that we have got a monster center half coming through the ranks in Kyle Bartley because we need a John Terry type of center half here at the club, also anybody who has doubted Ryhs Murphy’s talent does not no much about football because if he can stay fit he is an outstanding prospect for both club and country in the future IMO.
too all of you comparing Murphy with Rooney, if you ask me, he reminds me more of a fowler in good shape. He knows where the goal is, and is effective. Unfortunatly he is injury plaged..
today on eurosport at 12, germany vs. FC Arsenal
Hi John
Will Jack Wilshere, Benik Afobe, Luke Freeman and Oguzhan Ozyakup be back from international duty for final against Tottenham.
Regards
Paul
Paul, they will be back for the final, tournament finishes on the 18th. Final is on the 23rd. But Jeorge can you clear this up? The youth cup final is gonna be on the 22nd and the academy final is gonna be on the 23rd so will one of them be rescheduled? Cuz we cant play 3 games all finals in 4 days!
People watch england under 17 vs germany under 17. wilshere, freeman, afobe will play i reckon. Its on at 1pm at eurosport. Should be a good game.
btw everyone here watch the England u-17s vs germany today, 12:45pm on British Eurosport.
England under 17 are very poor. I mean why the hell is frimpong not there. England are rubbish. The whole defence is rubbish as well. Why is luke ayling or kyle bartley not playin? Just crazy
England losing 3-0 so far
The cubs are getting bashed, but Wilshere is magic. Be a while before he can dominate a game though
The England defence have not played very well today
4-0 now
Wilshere is definitely the brightest englis player but hes not had much support or being given the ball. The england midfield and defenders cannot pass the ball when under pressure. The full backs hurst and garbutt are very poor. And that centre back ashodi from watford looks very dodgy. I dont understand why there are not more arsenal players there. I mean how is frimpong, bartley, ayling, cruise, henderson not there.
Bartley, Ayling and Cruise are to old. Henderson is irish.
But Frimpong should have been in Germany. Very poor midfield today.
Wilshere is 17 ayling is 17 bartley is 17 frimpong is 16 cruise is 17
totally agree with these comments. bartley has had an outstanding season and has been very consistent. first team next year?
Cruise is 18, Bartley is 18 in a few weeks. Ayling though, I see on arsenal.com has a birthday on August 25. Now shure if he’s too old..
ilegible are all players born in 1992…frimpong was on a wider list of players wanted by england U17 but didn`t make it
Just amazed how jonjo shelvey, john bostock are so highly rated. John Bostock has gone backwars so much its unbelievable. Jose baxter looks to lightwieght to play up front i think freeman and afobe can fire goals for england like they do for arsenal if they get the right support from midfield.
Bostock Wilshere Baxter and the rest are all way overrated plus the defence is shit as they cannot pass 10 yards or under the slightest of pressure. These players may look half decent in academy footbal but in a European tournament they will get found out 4nil v Germany /6-1 v Denmark (at Nordics 2008)
I dont think wilshere was bad he just did not get on the ball enough cause germany dominated the game they controlled possesion and created lots of chances. Liverpool have got a very good player in bautchman germany number 7 they got him from borussia dortmund. Liverpool scouts have done well
I wonder if Bould will play the strongest possible team for the Academy Final as well as the Youth Cup final. With players returning from loan, we could play both Ramsey and Lansbury for the youth Cup final. In the Academy League, you can play 1 U-19 Gk and 3 U-19 outfield players which mean we could play Tech9 in goal and acutally choose 3 out of these players: Merida, Gibbs, Traore, Barazite, Fonte, Randall.
So technically we could form a team for the Academy final which looked like this:
————-Sczsesny———–
Coquelin–Ayling–Bartley–Gibbs
———Lansbury–Ramsey——-
Wilshere—–Merida——–JET
————Barazite————
Subs: Shea, Frimpong, Eastmond, Afobe, Sunu
How truly amazing would it be to see a team like that play together? I would make a special trip from Iceland just to see that game if Bould would opt for the strongest possible team.