Talented Joe Willock looking to match his brother’s achievements at Arsenal

Joe Willock will undoubtedly have been extremely proud when his brother Chris made his competitive debut for the Arsenal first-team last week, but now the younger sibling is seeking to show that he can also be involved in the senior set-up.

A talented winger who has represented England at youth level, Joe Willock is skilful and direct while he also possesses a goal threat. His first season at U18 level was a little frustrating as, perhaps owing to the fact that he is the youngest player in his age group, he found game time limited.

Now, though, he is a fully-fledged member of Kwame Ampadu’s U18 team and has played a key part in the side’s impressive start to the season.

Although he isn’t the strongest physically, Willock is adept at beating players, while he possesses the ability to play killer passes for his team-mates to latch on to. A good crosser and a sublime dribbler, Willock is a very direct player and has been one of the standout performers for the U18s this season.

If he continues to progress at this rate then Willock should be able to earn a professional contract this season, with involvement in the UEFA Youth League and the U23s the next step in his development.

He is still some way off matching the achievements of his brother, who is on the cusp of the first-team squad, but the prospect of there being more than one Willock representing the Arsenal senior side in the future can’t be discounted.

Arsenal take former Celtic goalkeeper Alex Crean on trial

Oasis Shirley Park

Arsenal have given a trial to talented young goalkeeper Alex Crean, who previously played for Celtic and Crystal Palace.

The 16-year-old currently represents Bromley, for whom he was an unused substitute in the National League on several occasions last season.

Crean, who was born on New Years’ Day 2000, was on the bench for Arsenal U18s against Leicester at the weekend, with the Gunners set to make a decision over whether to sign him.

If he did join then Crean would provide back-up to Joao Virginia, who is Arsenal’s first-choice shot-stopper at U18 level.

 

Loan report- Chambers debuts, Wilshere hits crossbar, Nwakali and Asano feature

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Jack Wilshere played 76 minutes and hit the crossbar as Bournemouth beat Everton 1-0.

Calum Chambers made his Middlesbrough debut, playing the whole game as his loan side lost 2-1 to Tottenham Hotspur.

Wojciech Szczesny played the whole game as Roma lost 3-1 to Torino.

Takuma Asano played 74 minutes on the right wing as Stuttgart drew 1-1 with Bochum.

Kelechi Nwakali was brought on in the 77th minute as Maastricht beat Almere City. Stefan O’Connor was an un-used substitute.

Jon Toral has been included in the Granada squad for tomorrow’s game against Alaves.

Joel Campbell was an un-used substitute as Sporting Lisbon beat Estoril 4-2.

Julio Pleguezuelo was an un-used substitute as Mallorca drew 0-0 with UCAM Murcia.

Glen Kamara was an un-used substitute as Colchester United lost 2-1 to Accrington Stanley.

Ryan Huddart was an un-used substitute as Eastleigh beat Sutton United 2-1.

Tafari Moore was an un-used substitute as Utrecht beat Sparta Rotterdam 2-0.

Dan Crowley wasn’t in the squad as Oxford United drew 1-1 with Charlton Athletic.

 

Nketiah hits hat-trick as Arsenal U18s thrash Leicester

Arsenal U18s bounced back from last weekend’s defeat to Chelsea with an emphatic 5-0 victory at home to Leicester City today. 

The prolific Edward Nketiah scored a hat-trick to take his tally for the season to seven goals in five games. 

Marcus McGuane was also on the scoresheet after the ball hit him on the back and bounced in and Leicester’s  goalkeeper scored an own goal on a good day for Kwame Ampadu’s side. 

Arsenal: Virginia; Osei-Tutu, Olowu, Pileas, T. Bola; McGuane, DaSilva; J. Willock, Dragomir, Coyle; Nketiah. 

Subs: Crean, Ballard, Burton, Benson, Omole. 

Via AfcFixtureNews

Report: Arsenal U23s beat Chelsea- Mavididi the hero, Zelalem and M-Niles impress

Premier League 2

Chelsea 1 (Wakefield) Arsenal 2 (Nelson, Mavididi)

By Jeorge Bird @ Stamford Bridge

Arsenal U23s returned to winning ways in impressive fashion tonight as they overcame their Chelsea counterparts with a 2-1 victory in a hard-fought encounter at Stamford Bridge.

Stephy Mavididi was the hero, with the forward finishing well in the closing stages of the game to secure what is just Arsenal’s second win of the season as a much-changed side responded to the humiliating 5-0 defeat to Everton.

Arsenal played some slick passes at times and one such move culminated in the lively Reiss Nelson opening the scoring. The England youth international spurned an inviting opportunity to make it 2-0 in the second-half and Arsenal were punished for their lack of ruthlessness, with Chelsea substitute Charlie Wakefield equalising.

However, Mavididi, who was on the bench for the first-team against Nottingham Forest this week, proceeded to score the decisive goal of the game.

Coach Steve Gatting was able to name a significantly stronger line-up than the one he fielded against Everton on Monday, with the likes of Chris Willock, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Gedion Zelalem all returning to the fray. Ben Sheaf, meanwhile, filled in at centre-back with Kristopher Da Graca dropping to the bench.

Macey

Johnson-Bielik-Sheaf-M. Bola

Maitland Niles-Zelalem

Nelson-C. Willock-Bennacer

Mavididi

Subs: Dragomir (for Bennacer). Not used: DaSilva, Nketiah, Da Graca, Keto.

Arsenal started very brightly, with the lively Nelson coming close to scoring early on.

However, Chelsea soon provided an indication of their attacking intent, with Matt Macey having to be alert to gather the ball from a cross before Krystian Bielik did well to cut out the danger shortly afterwards.

Arsenal’s defending was woeful against Everton but they were considerably more resilient here and that provided the foundation for them to push forwards and attack when the opportunity arose.

On one such occasion they managed to take the lead. Nelson was typically operating on the right flank but at the culmination of one free-flowing passing move he ended up on the left wing and finished well to open the scoring.

Arsenal were buoyed by that goal and pushed forwards in search of a second before the break, with Zelalem and Maitland-Niles both having attempts saved.

The young Gunners could be pleased with their first-half performance, with Bielik and Sheaf having defended particularly well, lending credence to claims that Arsenal’s defence is more reliable without the error prone Da Graca.

Arsenal started the second period well with Nelson, who was at the hub of much of what was good about his side’s play, sending a free-kick over the crossbar.

Chelsea’s threat couldn’t be dismissed, however, with the Blues striking the post before a dangerous cross flashed across the face of Macey’s goal.

Arsenal had to be resilient at the back, but they still managed to create a notable opportunity when Willock, operating in the number ten position, played an inch-perfect pass into the path of Nelson, but the latter’s effort lacked conviction.

Chelsea were let off the hook and they seemed determined to make Arsenal pay for spurning that chance. Macey tried his utmost to keep the Blues at bay and he made a spectacular save to temporarily preserve Arsenal’s lead, but he was powerless to prevent Wakefield from equalising following a rapid Chelsea break downfield.

Macey then had to make several important stops to prevent the hosts from taking the lead as Chelsea started to dominate proceedings.

Arsenal remained unflustered, however, with Bielik continuing to make clearance after clearance.

Chelsea continued to pressurise Arsenal but suddenly the young Gunners found a new lease of life, with Maitland-Niles helping to drive the team forwards.

It was Mavididi, though, who was the match-winner to cap off a memorable week for him and a rather eventful five days for the academy as a whole, which, having started so miserably with that loss to Everton, have ended in euphoria.

Willock debuts whilst Akpom and Reine-Adelaide impress as Arsenal thrash Forest

Arsenal commenced their EFL Cup campaign in fine fashion as they thrashed Nottingham Forest 4-0 at the City Ground.

Granit Xhaka opened the scoring with a long range strike, with Lucas Perez hitting a brace before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain added further gloss to the scoreline. 

As far as The Gunners’ youngsters are concerned, this was a very good evening against a Forest side containing two players from Arsenal’s League Cup teams of yore in Nicklas Bendtner and Henri Lansbury. 

Ainsley Maitland-Niles coped well at right-back on his first senior start for the club and won his fair share of aerial duels, while Jeff Reine-Adelaide, who was also involved from the outset for the first time, linked play intelligently and came close to scoring what would have been a fine goal. 

Meanwhile, Chuba Akpom was excellent on the left flank and tormented the Forest defence, suggesting he may have found his best position. 

There was more good news for the Arsenal academy, with Chris Willock making his competitive senior debut late on, whilst Gedion Zelalem and Krysitan Bielik gained further experience with late run-outs. 

Stephy Mavididi and Josh DaSilva were rewarded for their progress at youth level as they made the bench for the first time, where they were joined by Matt Macey and Ben Sheaf. 

Report- Concern as depleted Arsenal U23s are thrashed 5-0 by Everton

 

Premier League 2

Arsenal U23s 0 Everton U23s 5

By Jeorge Bird @Meadow Park, Borehamwood

A heavily depleted Arsenal U23 side fell to a 5-0 defeat against a ruthless Everton team at Meadow Park tonight, with the young Gunners delivering an inept performance.

A whole host of players weren’t available to feature as they trained with the first-team today ahead of the EFL Cup fixture against Nottingham Forest, while Arsenal’s coach arrived late for the game against Everton, meaning there was limited time for a warm-up. Everton, meanwhile, have started the season extremely well and were able to call upon players such as Oumar Niasse and Tom Davies who boast Premier League experience.

Even in such circumstances, however, Arsenal’s performance was pitiful. Their defending (the hard-working Chiori Johnson aside) was woeful once again, while their approach play in midfield was non-existent, with Ismael Bennacer, one of the more experienced players in the team, struggling to keep possession.

Up front Edward Nketiah, who has been prolific for the U18s, worked hard but was starved of service, and, other than a brief period early in the second half, Arsenal posed very little threat to the Everton goal.

As noted, there were a horde of absentees, with Matt Macey, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Krystian Bielik, Chris Willock, Gedion Zelalem, Ben Sheaf, Stephy Mavididi, Marc Bola and Josh DaSilva all in contention to be involved with the first-team tomorrow night.

Steve Gatting called upon several members of the U18 squad, with Tolaji Bola, Reiss Nelson, Nketiah, Vlad Dragomir and Emile Smith-Rowe featuring, the latter becoming the first player to represent the club at this level who was born this millennium.

Gatting also gave a chance to Savvas Mourgos, while Tyrell Robinson was back on the bench after failing to secure a move away from the club during the transfer window.

Keto

Johnson-Da Graca-Pileas-T. Bola

Bennacer-Nelson

Smith Rowe-Dragomir-Mourgos

Nketiah

Subs: Eyoma, Malen, McGuane. Not used: Robinson, Virginia.

It quickly became apparent that Everton were the stronger side, with the visitors calling Arsenal goalkeeper Hugo Keto into action very early on.

Keto’s next involvement was to pick the ball out of the net as Everton opened the scoring through Kieran Dowell, who slotted in with just four minutes gone.

Arsenal attempted to respond instantly, with Dragomir sending in a free-kick that couldn’t quite locate Nketiah. However, the Romanian was still able to win a corner and from a move that emanated from the subsequent set-piece Nketiah had an effort saved.

At the other end Niasse, the most experienced player on the pitch at the age of 26, twisted and turned before shooting over, and Keto then had to be alert to make a fine save to prevent Everton from doubling their advantage.

Everton continued to dominate as the half wore on and there appeared to be no cohesion about the Arsenal team, with Gatting’s side finding themselves overrun in midfield with alarming regularity.

Arsenal just about managed to keep the score down before the break but after the interval Everton finally made it 2-0, with Liam Walsh getting the better of Keto with a sweetly struck free-kick.

Dragomir then had a weak effort saved, but Everton continued to cause problems for the Arsenal defence and even the introduction of Donyell Malen couldn’t get Gatting’s side back in the game.

Keto made another fine stop, but he could do little to prevent Niasse from making it 3-0 shortly afterwards, with the forward finishing adroitly as Arsenal’s defence was torn apart yet again.

Then it was four, with substitute Calum Dyson heading in to inflict further damage upon the young Gunners shortly after his introduction.

Everton continued to press for more goals and hit the post with one effort before Dyson score again.

Nelson hammered an effort wide in frustration in the dying moments and relegation back to the second tier is looking an increasingly realistic possibility for this Arsenal side unless matters improve dramatically.

There were certainly mitigating circumstances tonight, but some of the more experienced players involved, Bennacer in particular, were disappointing, while several of the defenders are clearly out of their depth at this level.

Tomorrow night could well turn out to be a glorious occasion for Arsenal’s academy if several youngsters make their debuts, but the events this evening suggest that problems still exist within the set-up.

The lack of a bonafide defensive midfielder across the age groups is one of the most significant problems with the Arsenal youth system, while defensive issues, which were similar to those that were in evidence in the U18s’ defeat to Chelsea, were on show again.

Next up for Arsenal U23s is a trip to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, although it remains to be seen what type of side Gatting will be able to field in that fixture.