Ramsey and Traore shine in Austria; Randall for Derby, Afobe injured +U19 Euros

Aaron Ramsey and Armand Traore were among the star performers as the first-team continued their pre-season preparations with a comprehensive 7-1 victory over SC Columbia in Austria.

Ramsey scored two goals and set up another for Nicklas Bendtner, who also hit a brace. Traore, meanwhile, impressed at left-back in his first appearance since returning from his loan spell at Portsmouth. The 19-year-old caused all sorts of problems with his electric speed and his cross led to a penalty being awarded following a handball by a Columbia defender.

Jack Wilshere was also involved and nearly scored late on with an audacious effort with the outside of his boot. Wojciech Szczesny played the whole second-half in goal and kept a clean sheet.

The 2009 UEFA European u-19 Championships kicked off in Ukraine today, with four Arsenal youngsters involved at the tournament.

Henri Lansbury and Gavin Hoyte both played the full game as England suffered a late setback against Switzerland. Leicester’s Joe Mattock put the Three Lions ahead on 34 minutes, only for Sebastien Wutrich to equalise in the dying moments.

Fran Merida missed out for Spain against Turkey because of suspension.

Mark Randall started for Derby County against Yeovil as part of a three-man midfieldthis evening, ahead of a prospective loan move to the Rams.

Benik Afobe will be sidelined for a week with a calf complaint picked up in Saturday’s 6-0 win for the u-18s over Plymouth at London Colney. Luke Freeman scored four whilst Chuks Aneke contributed with a brace. Afobe is a doubt for the Toomey Tournament, which takes place at Southend’s Roots Hall this weekend.

Sprightly Sunu hits the ground running

Pre-season may have barely begun, but French attacker Gilles Sunu has already made a startling impression.

After playing a key role in the under-18s  ‘double’ winning success last season, the former Chateroux man is finally beginning to demonstrate his enormous potential following  a difficult first season at the club.

Labelled with the ‘new Henry’ tag upon his arrival two summers ago, ‘Gilou’ looked the part during his Reserves debut against Portsmouth and only a work permit problem prevented him from taking his place amongst the substitutes at the innaugral Emirates Cup.

Yet, what ensued over the coming months left a lot to be desired. He put in the hard graft, yet that yielded just one goal and many were failing to see why former Arsenal utility man Gilles Grimandi worked so hard to bring him to the club.

But that all changed last season. Steve Bould pondered all summer long about how best to use the prospect, and eventually decided to try him on the right-wing.

It worked a treat as he started the season overwashed with a blaze of determination. Goals against Wolves and Bristol City enhanced his confidence  no end, with his lively displays rubbing off on the rest of the team.

A brace against Norwich showed him at his best, but it was in the FA Youth Cup where he really shone, emerging off the Underhill bench in the Fourth Round to score a hat-trick against Wolves after Rhys Murphy was struck down by yet another injury.

He started every FA Youth Cup game after that, scoring the all important strike at the City of Manchester Stadium to give the Gunners a vital first-leg lead.

Gilles also found the net against Liverpool at Emirates in the first leg of the Final as his stock began to rise considerably following a slight dip around March which was due to injury and his international commitments with France u-18s.

He found life in the Reserves slightly tougher, but that was mainly because he was asked to plough a lone furrow on most occasions.

This summer, Gilles has returned more determined than ever and it showed against Barnet in the opening pre-season friendly on Saturday. Wearing the no.14 shirt, previously worn by the man so many have compared him to, he drove forward at every opportunity and constantly switched wings to confuse the Bees defence.

Yesterday, he scored his best goal in an Arsenal shirt to date with a wonder-strike from 20 yards out against Lincoln City at Sincil Bank as he put in another terrific display.

It may have taken time for ‘Gilou’ to get going in North London, but there’s no stopping him now.