Match report- Maidenhead United 1 Arsenal XI 7- Young Gunners run riot

An Arsenal XI annihalated Blue Square South side Maidenhead United 7-1 this evening as the young Gunners continued their build up to the new season.

Goals from Mark Randall, Sanchez Watt, Jay Simpson, Gilles Sunu, Nacer Barazite, Luke Freeman and Chuks Aneke gave a young Arsenal side victory after they had fallen behind to a Kieron St Amee strike.

Shea

Coquelin-Obed-Ayling-Cruise

Sunu-Randall-E.-Thomas-Watt

Barazite-Simpson

subs: McDermott (for Shea, 46), Miquel (for Ayling, 67), Aneke (for E.-Thomas, 78), Henderson (for Randall, 78), Freeman(for Barazite, 78).

Arsenal, as usual, started the better of the two sides and they began to carve out chances almost immediately. The lively Sunu found Simpson, but the former West Brom and Milwall loanee couldn’t direct his effort beyond a crowd of defenders.

Moments later, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas embarked on a trademark mazy run before firing an effort well off target. The Gunners had to wait until the 25th minute for their next meaningful opportunity and, once again, Emmanuel-Thomas was at the helm, this time smacking the post from 25 yards out.

In the interlude Maidenhead had some chances of their own but were unable to direct any efforts past Shea, whilst Simpson tested the woodwork’s resistance with a powerful effort.

But, somewhat suprisingly, it was the hosts who would go into the break the happier side. Aryan Tajbakhsh whipped in a free-kick and former Barnet man Kieron St Amee was on hand to chest home.

Whatever was said to the young Gunners at the break must have worked because they burst out of the traps. Coquelin found Randall, still disheartened from his Derby rejection, and the midfielder scored with a delicate lob from 20 yards, a perfect answer to his many critics.

St Amee attempted to reply, but it was all too much for Maidenhead and Arsenal were taking control of proceedings. Watt doubled the advantage with a neat finish after being played in by Emmanuel-Thomas, and then Sunu was on hand to convert the re-bound after his original effort had hit the post.

Watt turned provider for the fifth, rolling the ball to Barazite who couldn’t miss from two yards.

Two substitutes grabbed Arsenal’s final two goals. Freeman did well to control and finish neatly and then set up the powerhouse Aneke to complete the rout.

A very good workout for Arsenal’s youngsters and a chance for the likes of Aneke and Freeman to sample the atmosphere generated when playing for the reserves. Another positive was that substitute keeper Sean McDermott kept a second-half clean sheet which should bode well for the future.

The Reserves conclude their preparations with the traditional friendly at Boreham Wood next week, before the big kick off against Fulham at Underhill on August 24th.

Nordtveit links up with Nuremburg, Derby don’t want Randall

Arsenal defender Havard Nordtveit has embarked on his third loan spell since joining the club after he completed his temporary transfer to newly-promoted Bundesliga side Nuremburg. Nordtveit, who previously spent time on loan at Salamanca and subsequently Lillestrom, will wear the no.4 shirt for the German team and said:

“The talks with the officials at the club were very good, I have therefore asked Arsenal to have a loan spell with Nuremberg. I want to help Nuremburg to acheive its goals and also to reach the next step in my development.”

Another player going out on loan again in Brazilian wing-back Pedro Botelho, who joined Celta Vigo in the Spanish second division at the weekend. Botelho revealed that this will be his final loan spell before he returns to the club next summer.

Whilst two players are going out on loan, another is staying at Arsenal, for the time being at least. Midfielder Mark Randall recently spent time on trial at Derby County, but Rams manager Nigel Clough has revealed that he will not be offering the former England youth international a loan deal at Pride Park.
“We need somebody who is going to come in and really challenge the three central midfielders we already have in there. We have three very good players – Robbie Savage, Stephen Pearson and Paul Green”.

U19 Euros-Lansbury scores and sets up three as England hit seven, Mérida’s Spain crash out

Captain Henri Lansbury scored one and set up three more as England u-19s cruised into the semi-finals of the 2009 UEFA European u-19 Championships.

Following draws with Switzerland and Ukraine, Brian Eastick’s side knew they required a win against Slovenia in order to progress in the competition.

The Three Lions made light work of their task, winning 7-1, with Lansbury opening the scoring after just 10 minutes. He then provided assists for Matthew Briggs, Danny Welbeck and Nathan Delfouneso to enhance the lead.

Welbeck and Delfouneso found the net again, with Newcastle’s power-packed forward Nile Ranger sealing a comfortable victory late on.

Slovenia had earlier pulled one back through Dejan Dimitrov, but it proved to be obsolete as the game became a damaged limitaions exercise following Boban Jovič’s first-half dismissal.

Lansbury’s goal, a shot from the edge of the box which nestled sweetly in the top corner set England on their way, with the Enfield-born prospect also setting up Briggs from a well-architechted corner.

Lansbury then laid the ball on for Welbeck to score, with Delfouneso heading home from another trademark corner.

Striker Rhys Murphy also started, whilst Gavin Hoyte was brought on as a 64th minute substitute. Lansbury was withdrawn at this point as a result of the reckless challenge which saw Jovič dismissed.

There was no celebration for Arsenal’s other representative at the tournament, Fran Mérida, as his Spain side crashed out at the group stage following their 1-0 defeat to France, who will face England in the semi-finals on Thursday.

Mérida started but was unable to prevent his side from falling behind to a Yacine Brahimi strike. Fran was replaced by Dani Aquino as L’Espana went full throttle for the equaliser, but it proved to be to no avail.