Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was once again the catalyst for an impressive victory for Arsenal Reserves as Neil Banfield’s side returned to winning ways with a 4-1 victory over their Everton counterparts at London Colney this afternoon.
Having severely missed his presence in last week’s defeat to Aston Villa, Emmanuel-Thomas was to the fore against the Toffees, scoring a goal in either half to take his tally for the season into double figures. Emboldening the fact that he is a cut above this level, Emmanuel-Thomas, who now has four first-team appearances to his name, was joined on the scoresheet by Chuks Aneke and, more surprisingly, defender Havard Nordtveit in the victory.
Banfield’s team selection made for interesting reading. Contrary to pre-match reports, Aaron Ramsey wasn’t quite ready to make his long-awaited recovery from injury, whilst Thomas Cruise’s loan move and the absence of Jernade Meade meant that captain Ignasi Miquel shifted to left-back, with Daniel Boateng partnering Sead Hajrovic at centre-back. Emmanuel-Thomas, meanwhile, started in the central striker role.
Shea
Nordtveit-Boateng-Hajrovic-Miquel
Eastmond-Ozyakup
Lansbury-Aneke-Sunu
E Thomas
subs: McDermott, Deacon (for Ozyakup, 65) , Yennaris (for Lansbury, 85) , Roberts (for Emmanuel-Thomas, 73) , Monakana.
Given the final result, it is somewhat bewildering to consider that Arsenal found themselves a goal down within five minutes but, when Shkodran Mustafi headed in Jose Baxter’s free-kick, that is exactly the predicament that they encountered.
Banfield was evidently disappointed at his side’s concession of yet another headed goal, but, from there on in, it was, more or less, total Arsenal dominance. First Aneke should have done better than to fire straight at Iain Turner when well placed, then Emmanuel-Thomas rattled the post after being found expertly by Craig Eastmond.
If that was a surefire warning that a goal was in the essence, then Everton did not heed it. Seconds later a similar cross from Henri Lansbury found Emmanuel-Thomas and the 19-year-old simply slotted home to equalise.
Arsenal could, and probably should, have taken the lead before the interval. Shane Duffy and Luke Garbutt made crucial interventions at key moments and Gilles Sunu had no excuse for firing well over the bar from Emmanuel-Thomas’ centre. The final effort of the first period was a spectacular one, with Aneke looking to curl the ball past Turner. Thankfully, for Everton’s sake, the veteran goalkeeper did well to tip it over.
Aneke did get the better of him, however, just two minutes after the break. Oguzhan Ozyakup, who was chosen in midfield instead of Nico Yennaris, found Aneke with a lofted ball and the England youth international rose to head home majestically to put Arsenal in front.
The game was all but over on 52 minutes, thanks to an early candidate for Reserve goal of the season. Emmanuel-Thomas is likely to have plenty of entries in that category, but this particular one was breathtaking, with a superb piece of skill to wrong-foot Garbutt preceding another consummate finish.
If that wasn’t enough misery piled on Everton, then Nordtveit rubbed even more salt in their wounds when he powered home a header from a corner to make it 4-1.
Everton, to their credit, still battled on in search of a consolation, with Baxter hitting a post, before the highly-rated striker Philip Roberts replaced Emmanuel-Thomas for his Reserve debut. The latter would have gone off to a standing ovation, except for the fact that there were barely any spectators present to witness his feat.
Everton had cause to be aggrieved when Kieran Agard, a product of the Hale End academy system, thought that his effort had crossed the line but it wasn’t awarded by the referee. Even if given, it would have made little difference to the overall game and Arsenal sought to emphasise that concept with two good efforts from Aneke that were repelled by Turner.
The day though, as it has done on so many occasions in the past, belonged to Emmanuel-Thomas.
Jeorge Bird's Arsenal Youth 
JET is definitely ready for some first team appearances…
Jey can offer much more than theo walcott.
You’re an idiot. JET has potential but Walcott has been one of our better performers this season and his goal return is testament to that. JET is utterly unproven at the top level and hasn’t really had any impact from the bench (he hasn’t been given the minutes though, which I’d like to see him get in the Carling Cup)
Can you do some player ratings for this game?
JET has earned a spot on the bench and some sub appearances. If he does well in those, THEN he could be worthy of a start. All he has at the moment is potential, Reserve football is miles away from the Premier League.
Interesting that we had two CBs in the full-back positions. How did the back-four perform?
Eastmond does well in reserves but fails to impress in first team. Probably a loan spell would do him good
i agree, a loan would be great for Eastmond but right now we need him with all the injuries. Hopefully once Ramsey and Diaby return we can afford to send him out where he can play regularly for a few months.
jet is way way better than bentner, he’s strong fast and can finish..I’d say he’s more talanted than walcott and chamak, he should 1000000 percent be on the bench for the wolves game,
Jet should start against Wigan, and I would like to see sunu, aneke on the bench and nordtveit starting
theo still looks as if he’s left he’s brain on the bus. He can play well sometimes and score desent goals and he’s defo improved this season.. But I still think he needs to work on he’s game, I think he’s alot better played as a striker and I think he should play as far up the pitch as possible and make more runs just off the oponents back four, I don’t think theo is a typical arsenal player he’s main aim in a match should be to score goals, and not just try and pass it in to the net like most arsenal
Players do, he’s fast, sharp, and can finish he must be are main striker
JET..can`t wait for him to come to the first team
JET better than Bendtner? LOL
Nicklas Bendtner at 16 was destroying reserve teams he had pace, skill, power, tricks its just such a shame arsenal tv didnt show reserve games back then.
At 17 he was on loan to Birmingham (Afobe 17 on loan to huddersfield couldnt even score against aconference team) and he got brimingham promoted.
There are not many 17 year olds who light up the championship i can only think of a few ramset, walcott, wickham, bale etc.
haha joker tell me what has connor wickham achieved with ipswich.they are not even in the running for epl.don’t bullshit ouhk.
haha joker tell me what has connor wickham achieved with ipswich.they are not even in the running for epl.don’t bullshit ouhk.you are not even a footballer then u wanna talk big.
Bendtner was 18 when he went to Birmingham.
PPl stop being deluded reserves is totally different to the premier league.
Bendtner at 16 was destroying reserves team back then reserves football was alot better as well cause 1st team players would play not like know where alot of kids play.
Everton had quite a young side today had alot of 16,17,18 in thier back four like wallace, garbutt
@ John
first time you made sense in years
but you still show ur hate for afobe
john- go and die you moron
To be honest, Everton’s team out today was weak but JET has shown his prowess everywhere he’s gone to. Holloway had quite choice words for him when he was at Blackpool and he almost revived Doncaster’s season in the Championship last season. I think he more than deserves a chance.
Nicklas bendtner at 17 got birmingham city promoted. Ask birmingham fans how much he did for them.
Jay thomas has been a bit part player for blackpool and was ok for doncaster, scored some world class goals but didnt really do much in open play.
Benik afobe sorry hes not good enough i watched the huddersfied vs cambridge (conference side btw)
He was poor, you cant see him making it through arsenal.
Where was Drogba at 17? Klose at 17? Diego Milito? Listen, i’m not sure of the answers myself and i can’t be bothered to look it up either but they weren’t saying much at those ages. The only thing you succeed in doing, time and time again, by writing these kids off and hyping others, is display what an insolent mind you have. I know you’re quite young and have much to learn (bet that hurt, innit?) AND i know you don’t come on here to wind people up – you’re just a funny guy……let’s leave it at that.
Has afobe banged your girlfriend or sister or something?
PPl are getting a bonner over jay thomas at 19 who is ripping youth players in reserves teams to shreads.
Whislt bendtner at 16 was destroying experienced international first team players who were playing in the reserves back then.
Reserves team football is nothing now compared to the lupoli, quicny, bentley, djorou, song, ryan garry, muamba era. That was real reserves team football not now.
Its full of under 19 players now
JET has humiliated a Premier League player in James Tomkins THIS season. Danny Gabbidon might have even been playing too but i can’t remember. I’m sure he’s played against other experienced players this season too so what you say about the reserve league being an under 19 thing these days is nothing but utter bollocks.
A lot of what you’re saying is true John, but being the most talented 16 year old in the world is no guarantee of being the best player in the world at 26.
Talent counts for nothing if a player doesn’t have the intelligence, the patience, the mental strength, and works very, VERY hard.
Carlos Vela was an incredibly promising 16 year old when we signed him, and now at 21 years old he has hardly progressed. Song was awful at 18 years of age and at 22 looks like a completely different player.
You cannot assume anything about how the careers of JET, or Afobe, or Bendtner will pan out. It’s ridiculous to say Afobe will not make it at Arsenal, just as it’s ridiculous to assume Aneke definitely will, because success is not determined solely by skill or technique.
Oh look!!!……someone sensible. Well said mate.
I said jay thomas would make it hes a outstandoing young player but ppl are going overboard with him and the opposition he has faced
The problem with bendtner is injuries heres a stat i found from orbinho:
Bendtner 30 starts and van Perise 39 starts out of possible 87 starts since August 2008.
We havent seen the real Nicklas Bendtner for some time now even arsene Wenger has said it.
Likwise with carlos another exciting player injuries, international call ups have disrupted him.
Bendtner, vela havent progressed because they havent developed they have missed alot of football thats why through injuries etc
Benik afobe sorry arsenal have got abundance of young strikers ie walcott, bendtner, jay thomas, vela.
Afobe isnt even on the same level as those guys. He hasnt got a chance- Hes not techncailly good enough, he has no link up play and he will look different in a side where you dont have alot of creativity like what arsenal have got.
Be intresting to see how he does
“Afobe isnt even on the same level as those guys. He hasnt got a chance- Hes not techncailly good enough, he has no link up play and he will look different in a side where you dont have alot of creativity like what arsenal have got.”
Do you know how futile this is? Fucking Lionel Messi won’t shine playing for Huddersfield. Especially the way Cambridge Utd were pumped for that game. Little Lionel would have got kicked to high heaven. Chill out.
anybody know how long it takes to cancel my arsenal tv online account
come on john we are talking about JET not afobe!!!!
Everybody watched the hud’field game , everybody saw afobe struggling , no one have said than benik was great…….but it was is FIRST you understand FIRST PROFESSIONAL GAME!
I don’t know why u hate this kid so much
Emmanuel Thomas is gonna be a star for us. He just needs an opportunity. He’d be wasted in the Championship…he’s clearly Premiership level. Even though it’s just reserve level, you can tell straight away this “kid” can adapt. The thing that he has going for him is his incredible size to go along with his technique. You saw when Vela partnered with him in the reserves…the one that clearly stood out was JET.
I hope Wenger starts him in the last two CL matches. He’s ready now.
Jernade Meade chatted me up in luton the other day 😉
Blackman i dont hate the kid.
But there have been too many idiots on here saying hes this and that. But hes nothing special.
Jay thomas is a wonderful footballer we all know that but hes playing agains teams(resrves) with 16, 17 year olds playing essentially like an under 18 match nowdays.
The hype is incredible. Ppl saying hes better than chamakh, walcott, bendtner are out of thier minds
game really interesting, very interesting for live scores and the ranking results in direct
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Didn’t JET do quite well when he was on loan last season, and that was against experienced opponants, whatever the level. Until he’s had a dozen or so chances in the first team, none of us can really be sure, and maybe not even then!
Bendtner was 18 and 7 months old when he went to Birmingham. So he was 19 when he eventually helped get Birmingham promoted. Not 17 ffs!
These blogs are starting to get annoying to read. Someone doesn’t rate Afobe or someone doesn’t rate Lansbury. Fine we get it by now. It doesn’t need to be said on nearly every page.
As for Afobe, i saw him at Dagenham in pre-season. He came on as a 2nd half sub, didn’t do much, and scored… Good habit to have don’t ya think?
That’s just him doing his usual ting.
Doop23 i am pretty sure bendtner was 17 turning 18 when he got birmingham promoted.
Wenger was going to promote him to the first team squad at 16 but we had henry, bergkamp etc.
And clubs like barcelona, ac milan, chelsea were all after him as well.
Afobe yh he scores goals but you need mor than to play for arsenal.
Afobe he doesnt really od anything else than stay in the penalty box.
No, Bendtner was 18 when he joined Birmingham and 19 when the loan finished.
Was he really? I only ask because John seemed sooooooooooo adamant.
The worst thing that could happen to JET in the next few years is for him to continue growing.
john, you’re so cynical and so fucking swaggering with your stupid smugly opinions and that’s what they are, just your ridiculous opinions, nothing more, you’re not an Arsenal fan at all, so what a fuck are you doing in here Arsenal youth site, you’re a fucking spud man, fuck off you bastard!!!
ay man u need to calm down! he is just making a point of people mustnt start over-hyping players because what they’re doing now has been done before, for example bendner. i agree with wat he says in that the premier league is a big step up from the reserves, so only once players get their chance in the prem and they can continue their reserve form in there, then we can hype them up. but i dont get whats his case about afobe, so he had a poor game against a poor team, happens. just calm down ur hatred bit there man, thats all.
We’ve got so much exciting talent coming up with Szczesny, JET, Lansbury , Eastmond, Frimpong, Nordtveit, Botelho, Coquelin, Bartley, Miquel, Afobe, Aneke and few others, that no other team got nothing like that. Off course not all of them gonna make it at Arsenal but definately some of them gonna do that, we’ll see that, but surely there are few who are close now, and JET is one of them with Lansbury and Eastmond as well, as we all know, and i like to wish all of them very best luck with their careers at Arsenal FC
john…FFS…do some research instead of making crap up. I followed Bendtner that season along with Muamba and Larsson. Trust me, he was 18 turned 19 when they were promoted. Bendtner was a constant feature but scored just about a dozen. Still good considering his age then.
But he seemed so adamant though……
Awww…poor John,
I feel bad for you man. Everytime JET delivers another remarkable performance I know how much it frustrates you, but as disgusting as it is for you to accept, JET’s a brilliant prospect. I’m sure you desperately wait for him to stop delivering goals and assists the way he does, but he just doesn’t seem to stop does he.
Personally, I don’t know if he’s going to be able to become a star in the Premier League but, based on his consistently dominant performances at reserve leve, I can’t wait to find out.
Oh yea John buddy, I have a question I’d love for you to answer for me…if the reserve league competition is so bad and it’s so easy to amass 10 goals and 5 assists in 8 reserve matches, why is JET the only one who’s done it? Shouldn’t many other strikers be putting up these kinds of numbers if the competition is essentially easy u-19 level, as you say?
“10 goals and 5 assists in 8 reserve matches”
Actually, he’s done it in just 6 matches.
Thats a simple answer the reserves league is full of youth players not first teamers. Arsenal have got alot experience guys like nordtveit, lansbury, thomas have played in the bundeliga, championship etc of course they are going to look good
Jay thomas is playing against defences that are younger than him.
As for the Bendtner yh i got that wrong.
He was 18 when he went on loan to brimingham. hes still played better than jay thomas in the championship thats for sure
But he played for arsenal in the carling cup as 17 i dont remeber jay thomas, benik afobe coming on as a 17 3 times
Anybody can look great at reserve team football, but it what you do in the first team that really matters and so far JET has not done anything.
Correct, but let’s be real……he hasn’t had much of a chance really, has he?
kentpaul- if anybody can look great in the reserves why is JET the only one with 10 goal and 5 assists in 6 games ? how much 1st team game time has JET had …… fuck all. Walcott has had 5 years and done…… fuck all and cost 20 million plus in fees and wages. What a waste of time and money for a headless chicken. Walcott is crap and once Wellington joins in January hes toast.
A lot of people here who don’t know what theyre talking about. JET has huge promise, and doesn’t have the physical limitations that hold teens back usually. Certainly he should be way ahead of Vela in the pecking order, who has always massively flattered to deceive.
Bendtner wasn’t doing much in the reserves at 16. He was very good at 17, and went to Birmingham at 18.5 years. As for “getting Birmingham promoted” – you do realise he scored 11 goals in 42 games, hardly earth shattering stuff.
I like Nik, but I really think JET could have something. His improvement has been vast & consistent, and if he can work on his right foot, pace & acceleration he could be our Drogba.
Lets face it, if he was French or from Ivory Coast he’d be a regular.
Lol @ John. You have claimed that Bendtner was 17 when he got Birmingham promoted many times in this thread, but you haven’t even bothered to check out your facts. Check out facts in wikipedia or somewhere else before you start talking shit so you wont be as embarrased the next time.
John,
You and the JET-haters are really struggling right now, aren’t you?!!! The boy scores 10 goals and notches 4 assists in just 6 matches, and the best you can do to detract and minimize his achieve is say it’s easy to score 10 goals and 4 assists in 6 matches and it doesn’t mean anything because he’s playing weak reserve competition.
Dude, you are pathetic right now! (well, honestly, you are pathetic most of the time…)
If it’s so easy to score 10 goals and 4 assists at reserve level then why is JET the only one doing it? Answer that question for me please…???
Wenger just praises him lavishly and he goes out and notches yet another double. Clearly he’s too good for reserve level, and he scored 6 goals and 6 assists in 25 matches with Blackpool and Doncaster last season in the Championship. 6 goals and 6 assists in 26 for two different teams, with whom he barely had time to develop an understanding, is an excellent return. Basically, he was either scoring or making goals in 47% of his matches in the Championship as a 19 year old.
He crushed u-18 level and he’s crushing reserve level. It’s time for the boy to get real time in the Premiership and then we’ll see if the Arsenal fans are happy and proven right when he delivers at top-level too or if you and your merry band of idiots are happy and proven right and he isn’t good enough for that level.
Whenever ET gets a chance he’s got to be up to speed straight away, fit in and show he deserves to be involved more.
Sorry, meant, “detract and minimize his achievements…”
BTW, just watched the highlights of the U-18’s on arsenal.com.
I am excited about this crop of youngsters. They’re not winning like the last two u-18 sides, but as Bould said in the post-match interview they haven’t had many older players “propping up the side” much this season.
I think their results are a function of their age and the stage of their development more than relative talent. These kids can turn into a very good crop of players.
So far, Meade and Reese are the obvious stars of the team, but Monakana, Banjaku, Angha, Webb, Roberts, Bihmoutine, and especially Nieta, all look like they have good technique and skill. Very excited to see how they develop.
I have been a little disappointed in what I’ve seen of Kyle Ebecillio. He came to the club with a lot of fan-fare and apparently his former club were furious at losing him, but I haven’t seen much yet that’s exciting. Maybe he’s still settling in and learning the basics of Arsenal football because despite supposedly being a “special” talent, he’s seems behind our players who’ve been at the club.
Roberts Rees Angha and Meade are the stand out players from this bunch. Roberts is pacey and direct and Angha is very tenacious but very classy. I also think that Bihoumtine could develop into a very good player sort of like gibbs.
There’s plenty of talent in the current U18 side, but for most of them it’s their first year at this level. Many of them will be in the U18s again next year so in my opinion this season is a learning experience for them. I don’t expect them to win the Academy league, and it’s not really that important. It would be nice to make it three in a row but the most important thing is always to develop players for the first team.
That means promoting youngsters to the next level when they’ve learnt what they can at their current level. We could have the likes of Miquel, Aneke, etc. in the U18s to fight for results, but holding them back for the sake of youth trophies is pointless.
I think Martinez, Angha and Rees are the ones with the most potential, but there’s a lot of talent there. Roberts, Ebicilio, Bihmoutine, Neita, the list goes on. It’s still too early to tell who has a real chance of making it but they look good so far, and the results will come.
Stapleton sumed it up perfectly for me. I know it’s all about opinions, but i’m amazed how some of you guys can write-off many of our kids when they are still learning their trade. I don’t agree, but i respect your right to air your view. As it is i come on here to read the views of fans like KC, That’s the kind of positive stuff i’m interested in…
To set the record straight:
1)
Bendtner was born 16.01.1988. He played for Brum from August 2006 – May 2007. In other words, he played for Brum from 18 years, 8 months to 19 years, 5 months.
2)
The age of the backlines that JET has played against in the reserves:
Bolton:
Rob Lainton (21)
Joe Riley (19)
Adam Blakeman (20)
Danny Shittu (30)
Mark Connolly (18)
Blackburn:
Jake Kean (19)
Callum O’Connor (19)
Josh Morris (19)
Matty Pearson (17)
Andy Parry (19)
Man City:
David Gonzalez (28)
Shaleum Logan (22)
Chris Chantler (19)
Scott Kay (21)
Ben Mee (21)
Blackpool:
Richard Kingson (32)
Danny Coid (29)
Dekel Keinan (26)
Chris Basham (22)
David Carney (26)
West Ham:
Marek Stech (20)
Julien Faubert (27)
Jordan Spence (20)
Jonathan Spector (24)
James Tomkins (21)
Everton:
Iain Turner (26)
Tyias Browning (16)
Luke Garbutt (17)
James Wallace (18)
Shkodran Mustafi (18)
shhh
your making too much sense for John
I bet that took you a while to check all that age out.. Aha
Sean P.,
Thanks a lto for doing this man! Facts are like cryptonite to a guy like John, so I’m sure yours is not a comment he would want to read.
By my count that means that 18 of the 30 defenders he’s faced have been older than him, and another 6 are the same age as him. I figured as much but, again, it’s really important to respect the facts and the truth with confidence tricksters like John hovering around all the time.
Thanks!
Thanks for that Sean. It wasn’t Gabbidon after all then. West Ham had Faubert and Spector as well as Tomkins, and JET still banged in a hat-trick. I knew i had very good reason to be happy after that West Ham game.
How good is angha? cant tell from aotv. Bunjaku suddenly looks a alot better btw
Arsenal fans what do you think of Juan Agudelo.
plays for New York Redbulls and just 17
i just watch MLS to see Henry and they lost in the playoffs to San Jose, but ther was this outstanding 17 year old, Agudelo for the Red Bulls, Boys is quality
Benik scores his first senior goal!
Well done Benik
I need links pls
Benik scores his second senior goal!
Weldone Benik, John must be crying u’re such a delight
2 goals and an assist for Afobe, that’s a great confidence boost for him in only his second start. He should only get better as he learns and settles into the club.
Wrenny,
Absolutely! Great performance by the youngster! He will go up from here if he just puts his head down and keeps it all about hard work.
Good Game Benik! Well done son!!!
jet will make it big time–but not at gunners–see all the scouts watching jet–like birds of prey–jet is to good for arsenal–hows that john?-he wil come to play us and take us apart–then all the whiners why did we let him go.
I have alredy made that mistake with bendtner he was 18 but he was 17 when he started playing for arsenal first team in the carling cup i think he played 4 times doncaster, reading, sunderland and i think everton as well
Good stats sean gotta give credit for that but nicklas bendtner was destroying resrves team defences at 16 i have seen him destroy experienced pros like ledly king, terry, naybet, dawson, upson as 16 turning 17 year old
Sean yh ur stats prove my point reserve teams these days are full of kids look at everton backs 4
16,17,18,18 jay thomas is older than them all likewise with blackbrun and bolton.
And we dont see arsenaltv online so its hard to judge his 90mins performances.
And games are behind closed doors you cant even go to underhil to watch games.
Only 6 of 30 defenders JET has faced have been younger than him.
6 have been the same age as him.
18 of the defenders he’s faced have been older than him.
Your dumb John.
More facts:
Bendtner came to Arsenal in summer 2004 at age 16.5
In 2004/2005, at age 16/17:
made 4(+10) appearances in the Reserves, scoring 4 goals
made 22 appearances in the U18s, scoring 14 goals
In 2005/2006, at age 17/18:
made 0(+3) appearances in the Carling Cup, scoring 0 goals
made 24(+2) appearances in the Reserves, scoring 19 goals
made 8(+2) appearances in the U18s, scoring 9 goals
stats from http://www.arseweb.com
anyone know where theres highlights for afobe?
JET’S WONDER GOAL