Nordtveit-Hoyte-Miquel (c)-Meade
Eastmond
Lansbury-Aneke
E Thomas-Vela-Sunu
subs: Afobe (for Aneke, 65), Murphy (for Sunu, 66), Henderson (for Vela, 79).
Not used: Randall, Martinez
The Gunners very nearly got off to the best possible start in the lashing rain at London Colney, with Lansbury forcing Hammers goalkeeper Marek Stech to tip the ball over his bar following a powerful drive. Gilles Sunu, who had set up that chance for Lansbury, was then involved at the other end as he made a crucial block with Christian Montano advancing into the Arsenal box.
Lansbury, on his first Reserve appearance of the season, was truly the heartbeat of the Arsenal side in the opening stages. After Craig Eastmond fed Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, the latter very nearly played in the England under-21 international before Lansbury himself played a one-two with Emmanuel-Thomas only for the alert Stech smothered the ball before he could unleash another shot.
Vela, desperate to make an impression, embarked on a mazy run, leaving half of the West Ham defence for dead but he, too, could not get the better of Stech, who showed terrific reflexes to tip the ball round the post. Undeterred, Arsenal continued to push on in search of the opener, with Emmanuel-Thomas sauntering forward in his symbolic style but dragged his shot wide when through on goal.
The Gunners were very nearly made to pay for their profligacy soon after when Ahmed Abdulla, who left the club before he was eligible to sign scholarship terms, found Montano and the latter forced the hitherto untroubled James Shea to tip over.
Then, just when the first-half appeared to be sauntering to a rather mundane conclusion, the Gunners finally made some of their possession pay. A multi-pass move led to Emmanuel-Thomas finding space to cross on the edge of the penalty area and, when he did so, Chuks Aneke was in pole position to steal in and drill home his second goal in as many matches and his fifth of the season.
Arsenal’s attacking momentum wasn’t affected by the interval, with Eastmond testing Stech with an effort from 25 yards shortly after the restart before Emmanuel-Thomas made it 2-0 after finishing a sublime slaloming run with a clinical finish.
Arsenal were relentless in their onslaught on the Hammers’ goal. Shortly after Emmanuel-Thomas’s goal, Aneke rattled the crossbar after being teed up by Lansbury’s free-kick and then Vela curled an effort just over following a neat interchange between Aneke and Lansbury.
Vela tried his luck again from a similar angle shortly afterwards, but was then replaced by Conor Henderson. The Irish midfielder could hardly have made a more instant impact, being hauled down by James Tomkins for a penalty which Emmanuel-Thomas duly converted to make it three.
Five minutes later, the irrepressible Emmanuel-Thomas completed his hat-trick with yet another innuendo run and finish to make it eight goals in five games at this level this season. Surely now a loan spell at a Premier League club beckons for the Forest Gate born youngster, who also hit a hat-trick against the same opponents at Upton Park last season.
There was still time for more drama before the final whistle. Julien Faubert, once inexplicably of Real Madrid, was sent off for an off-the-ball incident before Havard Nordtveit was adjudged to have pushed the lively substitute Daniel Subuola in the area and Abdulla stepped up to convert at his former stomping ground.
With four wins out of five and 13 goals between Emmanuel-Thomas and Aneke alone this season, Arsenal are really starting to look like Reserve league title contenders and, if they can dispatch of their next opponents, Aston Villa, in similar fashion, then silverware may just be coming the way of Neil Banfield’s side.
Jeorge Bird's Arsenal Youth 
Jeorge,
You say Aneke came off for Afobe at half time but then hits the bar after the substitution. I read the West Ham updates and it stated that he came off roughly around 60 minute mark but Arsenal.com say at half time.
is this the end of vela
if he cant beat a half fit Bendtner and an over worked chamak for the a place in the team then you have to say his days are numbered at Arsenal
JET is finally becoming an impressive winger who can play on both side of the wings
Suddenly the Lukaku reports are starting to become interesting
Agreed Andrew, especially given Arsenal’s tendency to stick with the lone striker. Vela is completely unable to play there on his own (see Spurs Carling Cup) and has been largely ineffective when brought on in the wing positions. I’m sad to say I can’t see a real future for him.
Disagree with Jeorge on the loan spell for JET though, i think he will have plenty of chances, especially if we can win & qualify tonight. He’s also virtually guaranteed a start at Newc next week given Wilshere’s suspension.
jet in bendtner out
forza out bendtner back 🙂
Where could JET go on loan to get games in the permierleague?
Liverpool need goals, and maybe there’s an opening at ManU for another striker who likes to come in from wide positions?
…..is that a serious suggestion?
I think Arsene will not have to buy a striker for another 4-5 season because we would have NikkyB,Theo,Vela,JET and Afobe.Now isn’t it outstanding
Vela chance arent looking good
JET and Theo are wingers more than strikers
and Afobe needs atleast two loans before he can make his mark in the first team
still we have chamak, RVP and B52 for the next 4-5 years
ouh really afobe need two loans b4 he can make his mark
wah u really cn predict player future eh.why dun u predict all the young player future.
Vela was only played to give him some sharpness.JET still has the same problem though!He needs to find a position and play in it all of the time.
wing is jets position
and if vela cant play now then it will never be his time
JET nees to be on lone at a premier league team, it did WIlshere the world of good. Vela needs a run of games, go out on lone or learn to play left wing. Come on the mighty gunners tonight
Arsenal have wasted Barazite
we are wasting Nordviet
I don`t want JET wasted
Barashite was not up to standard……..he had to many injuries and only looked an average player in the championship with derby where as JET stood out a mile on loan at Blackpool and Doncaster ans Wilshere stood out at Bolton.
I want to see jet play in the first team !!!
The sad thing for young gunners is that you are not able find your original place(s) once you have a long term injury. Barazite is a case, perhaps Frimpong is the next one.
I still believe Vela can make it at Arsenal despite of his involvement in tonight’s reserves action given that he plays as many minutes as Theo played during his early career with Arsenal.
That’s one awesome line-up, nice to see Shea doing well! JET is ready for 1st team should definitely stay. I would like to see Sunu given a chance in 1st team split some time with Arshavin, Sunu plays both sides of the pitch? AFC!!!
Sunu?! Play Sunu in the first team?! Are you new to football little lad?
he will be better than walcott for sure.
How much have you seen him play Holohoax. Player is talent is lighting quick w/ skill and plays defense? Take a look back @ reserve highlights(past seasons) when he played complete player! and one of the only players that show true commitment. I honestly think he could surprise you coming in for Arshavin? I not new I been following all aspects of the club for 8 years now..
With his record in the reserves, JET must get more first team appearances in the near future
it was only a matter of time.
Fantastic result again for the young lads + a great report also we now look to have a true reserve team that can actually put pressure on the first 11 on a regular basis, lets hope this is go’s on & on.
But my only gripe is why we are not getting to see this team LIVE as we have been able to up to this season, just about sums it up really for years I have trudged up to Underhill to cheer the boys-on, & watch the next generation blossom & now we have the best reserve team in living memory we can no longer watch them.
I can understand we have more control on fixtures this way, but fxxk me it’s disappointing. Or is this not the reason @ all, anyone know the actual reason for the behind closed doors matches?
8 goals from 5 matches, that’s some record. But how many assists has JET notched in those games? I’m sure it’s quite a few, at least 4 by my count.
Aston Villa will be a big test, they’ve won the Reserve South three years running now. If we can beat them I think we will be in pole position to take the title.
Jeorge, do you think James Shea will start on the bench at Newcastle? Surely Chesney will start in which case – on him being picked for this game – James is ahead of McDermott for the second spot? And am I right that would be his first involvement in a competitive game for the first team, or was he on the bench for one of the European group stage trips?
JET is simply amazing at this level. It’s getting to the point where it’s almost a waste of precious developmental time not to have him in amongst the very best. 8 goals and 4 assists in 5 matches…?!!!! Come on…!!! It’s time to move him up to the highest level.
Chuks Aneke is 17 years old. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has something like 5 goals and 3 or 4 assists in 5 matches…also OUTRAGEOUS production for a player at any age, but for a 17 year old…???!!! Your kidding me, right?!!!. Throw him into the first team as well. Let’s see what these kids can do when they are amongst the best. They make minced meat of the 2nd best!
The future is bright! Thanks AW for developing young talent of this magnitude!
Outstanding!!!
Aneke is nowhere near ready. No matter how good he looks, he does not deserve a spot over any of the players currently in midfield. He may be read in 2 years, but does he reallly deserve a spot over Diaby, Denilson, Wilshere, Fabregas, Song etc.? No.
Jet, on the other hand, should be at least making sub appearances in easier games (If Arsenal have one soon…..) to get him ready for the Premier League and put him in the shop window for a Premier League team to take him on loan in the winter.
Scott,
I beg to differ my friend. I Josh (I wish I was Wilshere) McEchran can find time on the pitch for Chelsea. Aneke certainly could be used at times for us.
I’m just going by the fact that in my opinion Aneke is a far better player than McEchran. He’s the best in the country for his age group so why should a player who’s at best barely as good as Aneke be given a few run-outs and Aneke not…?
today walcott played as a lone striker… wtf……! JET is the man who should be playing when he has done so great in the reserves. let walcott play in that position in the reserves and see how good he will be. he was bad today again. I dont care if hes been out for some time he was shit. the same mistake as the last time. he doesn’t know when to relies the ball and when to go for it. and it seems like he think he can do those special things all the time.
theo play to gain match fitness.We were winning easily so i dont see the problem.And we all know that theo futur is cf not winger
JET is ready, but Aneke?
He’s had 2 months of Reserve football, that’s it. He’s nowhere near ready – not physically, not tactically, and probably not mentally. Give the kid some time.
WOW…..Vela in the reserves! I hope Wenger sells Vela ASAP. Being a fan of his i want to see him play every week. Even if he plays for West Ham or the other lower tier teams. Vela doesn’t deserve the treatment he gets at Arsenal…PLease Wenger sell him!!!
Looking @ the fixture list we are defo going to need them all for the CC game coming up soon, cos we have hard games either side of that game.
That will be a proper test for them so we will know more after that game if they hold their own against good prem opposition?
Just shut up about walcott the kid played for 18minute after six weeks out you want him to score an hat trick get real!!!!
Vela to Man U in p/ex for Rooney. Vela can then link up with his pal Hernandez.
Seriously though JET has got to get some game time soon or he could be another Simpson. We have so much young talent now and whilst they are all still young they must be looking at Wilshere and thinking why not me? How are we going to keep all this lot happy over the next season or two? Fabregas, Wilshere, Song, Diaby, Denilson, Nasri, Arshavin, Walcott, Rosicky, JET, Lansbury, Vela, Frimpong, RVP, Chamakh, Bendtner, Afobe, Murphy, Ramsey, Aneke, Henderson, Eastmond, Coquelin, Sunu, Randall, Deacon, Ozyakup, Yennaris, Edge, Wellington, Galindo, Barazite, Evina, Freeman, Watt, Botelho, Traore. That is 37 players contesting 6 positions in midfield and up front and that is just the full time pros!! What if some of the scholars start making fast progress?? The likes of Webb, Rees, Ebecilio, Bhimoutine, Bunjaku, Roberts, Neita, Ansah, Monakana, Meade. These are mad times on the Arsenal Development front. It is just a shame that left back apart we do not seem to be producing the defensive talent.
Fabregas, Will likely go in the summer.
Wilshere, the buisness, nailed down a starting place in the first team now.
Song, Will play as only DM at club
Diaby and Denilson squad players now, wont be missed if sold.
Nasri and Arshavin will start more often than not.
Walcott impact sub at minute and squad player, his level right now.
Rosicky, Squad player, no big deal if leaves
JET, top class prospect as a forward or on the flanks up front in our formation. should be 4th choice frontman now.
Lansbury, we must hold on to him, more important in the future than Denilson and Dibay Vela, Hasn’t improved enough, should be sold in the summer to make room for JET.
Frimpong, may never recover from injury, set back a year at least in development.
RVP, will mis around half a season through injury, cant be counted on.
Chamakh, first choice.
Bendtner, a very good young player.
Afobe, needs a couple of loan moves.
Ramsey, wont do anything this year, hopefully back to best next year.
Aneke, great young player but two years at least away from the first team squad.
Eastmond and Coquelin, hopefully one becomes good enough to fight with Song for a starting place, judge after the end of season.
Yennaris, probably needs a couple of loan moves.
Wellington and Galindo, look good young players, especially Gilando.
Freeman and Watt, need to do far more while on laon than they have already.
Botelho and Traore, decent players but probably no future.
The midfield and forwards starting X1 right now.
Wilshere———Song———–Fabregas
Nasri——–Chamack——–Arshavin
Murphy, Henderson, Sunu, Randall, Deacon, Ozyakup, Edge, , Barazite, Evina nothing players all wont make it at Arsenal.
That is 37 players contesting 6 positions in midfield and up front and that is just the full time pros!! What if some of the scholars start making fast progress?? The likes of Webb, Rees, Ebecilio, Bhimoutine, Bunjaku, Roberts, Neita, Ansah, Monakana, Meade. These are mad times on the Arsenal Development front. It is just a shame that left back apart we do not seem to be producing the defensive talent.
TheD,
Agree with a lot of it, but your horribly wrong about Henderson and Ozyakup being “nothing players”.
You are also horribly wrong with this nonsense about Aneke being two seasons away from the first team. That made me LMAO!!! If Josh McEchran can play for Chelsea then Aneke can play for us. Aneke is better than MecEchran.
He is also the reason you are 100% wrong about us keeping Lansbury. He’ll never make it at the club in midfield. Just doesn’t possess anything approaching Arsenal quality. He’ll be converted to a more suitable position or sold. He’s not in the same league as Diaby, but that’s beside the point really because as Aneke develops, he will take Diaby’s place and make Lansbury a vague memories at the club.
Fabregas, Will likely go in the summer.
Wilshere, the buisness, nailed down a starting place in the first team now.
Song, Will play as only DM at club
Diaby and Denilson squad players now, wont be missed if sold.
Nasri and Arshavin will start more often than not.
Walcott impact sub at minute and squad player, his level right now.
Rosicky, Squad player, no big deal if leaves
JET, top class prospect as a forward or on the flanks up front in our formation. should be 4th choice frontman now.
Lansbury, we must hold on to him, more important in the future than Denilson and Dibay Vela, Hasn’t improved enough, should be sold in the summer to make room for JET.
Frimpong, may never recover from injury, set back a year at least in development.
RVP, will mis around half a season through injury, cant be counted on.
Chamakh, first choice.
Bendtner, a very good young player.
Afobe, needs a couple of loan moves.
Ramsey, wont do anything this year, hopefully back to best next year.
Aneke, great young player but two years at least away from the first team squad.
Eastmond and Coquelin, hopefully one becomes good enough to fight with Song for a starting place, judge after the end of season.
Yennaris, probably needs a couple of loan moves.
Wellington and Galindo, look good young players, especially Gilando.
Freeman and Watt, need to do far more while on laon than they have already.
Botelho and Traore, decent players but probably no future.
Murphy, Henderson, Sunu, Randall, Deacon, Ozyakup, Edge, , Barazite, Evina nothing players all wont make it at Arsenal.
The midfield and forwards starting X1 right now.
Wilshere———Song———–Fabregas
Nasri——–Chamack——–Arshavin
@KC
Agree with a lot of it, but your horribly wrong about Henderson and Ozyakup being “nothing players”.
TO MUCH COMPETITION AND AREN’T BETTER THAN PLAYERS WE ALREADY HAVE IN THE RESERVES.
You are also horribly wrong with this nonsense about Aneke being two seasons away from the first team. That made me LMAO!!! If Josh McEchran can play for Chelsea then Aneke can play for us. Aneke is better than MecEchran.
WHY? WILSHERE LOOKED TOP CLASS AS A 16 YEAR OLD AND ONLY NOW 2 YEARS LATTER IS HE A FIRST TEAM PLAYER, I DON’T COUNT PLAYING A COUPLE OF GAMES IN THE CARLING UP AS A FIRST TEAM PLAYER, I JUDGE PLAYERS WHO ARE REGULARLY BE ON THE BENCH AT LEAST TO BE FIRST TEAM.
He is also the reason you are 100% wrong about us keeping Lansbury. He’ll never make it at the club in midfield. Just doesn’t possess anything approaching Arsenal quality. He’ll be converted to a more suitable position or sold. He’s not in the same league as Diaby, but that’s beside the point really because as Aneke develops, he will take Diaby’s place and make Lansbury a vague memories at the club.
HAS FAR MORE DISCIPLINE AND VISION THAN DIABY, IF WE DIDN’T ALREADY HAVE SO MANY PLAYERS HIS STYLE HE WOULD ALREADY BE A GREAT LITTLE SQUAD PLAYER.
Agreed about the discipline piece, but don’t think he has more vision. I think he’s over-rated in this regard from what I’ve seen.
Highlights up now, good finishes from JET. Difficult to stop him when he’s in full flow but will find it harder to get that much space at senior level, impressed with Meade aswell, maybe small but strong and aggressive.
i think the immediate fate of the two second-year scholars is pretty much sealed already. Meade should sign professional terms next summer, whilst Brislen-Hall will probably be released.
Just because another club will do doesn’t mean Arsenal should. As I said, there are players at least 2 years ahead of Aneke in development available each game day. He doesn’t deserve a spot over them. Maybe if every single midfielder got hurt he could do a respectable job, but that’s not going to happen.
No, it’s not gonig to happen. And you are right about the players ahead of him in development. But some of them (Henri Lansbury in particular) are being given a run when he has clearly not got anything resembling the tools Aneke has, eventhough he’s “at lest 2 years ahead in development”. If this is going to be Lansbury’s big year for a shot at proving himself (ala Eastmond last year), so be it. But, for me, some of Lansbury’s time playing first team football this season should be given to Aneke since his chances of one-day nailing down a spot look considerably higher.
stop comparing aneke’s situation in arsenal to mceachran’s in chelsea. have you seen chelse’s PL-squad? they MUST use mceachran since they don’t have enough cover in the offensive midfielder’s role now that lampard is injured.
arsenal on the other hand havea plethor of players who can play in midfield. we have 3 defensive minded players and losts of players who can play in wilshere’s holding role or cesc’s offensive role
Hiro,
I’m not saying our situation is the same as Chelsea. But what I’m reading is that it’s Aneke’s level of development that restricts him from playing first team football. This is the premise I reject, and this is why I make the McEchran comparison. Aneke is ahead of McEchran in terms of development, IMO, and so there’s no reason he isn’t ready to play right now.
Now the current make up of the 1st team may not allow room for him to get on the pitch, but that doesn’t negate the fact that the kid is developted enought to start being bled into the mix. That’s my point.
Talking about lansbury once wenger said “henri reminds me ray parlour……” what does it means? For me it means than lansbury will stay at arsenal but he never gonna be a starter only a player who will comes in when needed….lansbury can play almost every where in the pitch , he have already be used as a right back , holding midfielder ,attacking midfielder,box to box and winger….is a good lad ,a good player,a team player not a top one just like ginger ray……lol
Blackman is right, If Wenger kept Denilson and Diaby as squad players, I do not see why he would not keep Landsbury as one too when the likes of Aneke, Wilshere and JET will dominate the midfield. Clearly, Lansdbury is can be better than Denilson and, if he can have constancy and be an injury-free type of player, than he will be more useful than Diaby.
Plus, keeping him would only show how Arsenal can produce quality English players.
You people are mad.
“more useful than Diaby”??? “can be better than Denilson…”???
Comments like these are based in hope and fantasy, not in unbiased player-to-player analysis.
Henri Lansbury isn’t even close to Denilson’s standard of play. On top of that he’s galaxies away from being “more useful than Diaby”.
I know this kid has a lot of popular support amongst the fan base, but that support has to be tempered with reality, because his chances of surviving at the club are very, very slim. The players in front of him are better, and in the case of Ramsey, Wilsher, and Aneke, younger then him.
Don’t you all get it. This talk of him staying around as a squad player is folly. To be considered for a spot in the team as a squad player, he’ll have to beat out at least one of Cesc, Nasri, Denilson, Ramsey, Wilshere, Aneke, and Diaby. That’s just to be considered for a career as a bench scrub. Sorry, but I’d be shocked if he musters the talent in the next 18 months to beat out any of them. They’re all better players…and still improving themselves.
Lansbury has a better shot at the first team if he changes positions, ideally right back.