Arsenal u18s tackle Chelmsford City academy (Photo taken by Dan Critchlow)
For Arsenal’s first fixture of pre-season, the u18s travelled to Chelmsford to tackle Chelmsford City’s academy aspect this weekend.
Dan Micciche took over the top coach job for the u18 aspect this summer season, amid a few teaching modifications that noticed Steve Bould go away the u23 job and Ken Gillard transfer from u18 coach to u23 assistant.
Micciche had technically managed one Arsenal u18 recreation already this yr, taking cost of an u18 Premier League win over Reading. But that was a particular case, with either side agreeing to basically identify u16 groups.
As a consequence, this was successfully the coach’s first correct recreation in the function.
Dan Micciche speaks to the Arsenal u18s (Photo taken by Dan Critchlow)
Micciche named completely different sides in every half, with solely Kristopher Quesada-Thorn beginning each halves – and even he got here off halfway by the second interval. At this early stage of pre-season, the precedence was clearly getting gamers minutes.
It actually kicked off like an early pre-season recreation, with a slightly scrappy opening as either side noticed promising strikes breaking down. Arsenal defender Tino Quamina needed to be alert to make a key sliding problem to cease one counter-attack.
Arsenal grew into the sport although, with a few photographs blocked and deflected away. Chelmsford’s finest probability got here when Remy Mitchell needed to beat an opposing striker to a lengthy ball with out leaving his field, which he did nicely.
In the thirty fifth minute, they’d their finest probability to open the scoring but after Kaleel Green was introduced down in the penalty space.
Green had bought forward of his man and it was all the time going to be a foul when the defender made contact. Khayon Edwards transformed emphatically with a shot into the underside nook.
Green then scored certainly one of his personal three minutes later, racing down the wing earlier than powering an effort in on the close to submit. There appeared to be little angle for him to goal for, however he discovered a excellent end to make it 2-0 on the half-time break.
After all of the mid-match modifications, the rhythm of the sport was disrupted once more, and there weren’t too many alternatives for both aspect. Jimi Gower ended up making it 3-0 when he pressed the Chelmsford goalkeeper and blocked his clearance into the online.
Gower was alive to a possibility once more in the dying minutes of the sport, capitalising on a unfastened ball in the field following optimistic work from Mauro Bandeira. Gower spun on the ball and completed for 4-0. The remaining whistle went not lengthy afterwards.
Amani Richards, Henry Timi Davies, and Reuell Walters all made optimistic impressions in the second interval, which is a testomony to Arsenal’s current youth recruitment. All three have been added to the Arsenal academy simply final season.
Arsenal u18 Lineup vs Chelmsford City Academy
First Half
Mitchell (GK), Robinson, Foran, Quamina, Quesada-Thorn, Ibrahim, Sweet, Roberts, Sagoe Jr, Edwards, Green
Second Half
Kovacevic (GK), Walters, Awe, Jeffcott, Quesada-Thorn (subbed off for Foran, 67), Bandeira, I. Oulad M’Hand, Gower, Cozier-Duberry, Richards, Davies
What’s Next?
The Arsenal u18s will journey to Devon for a coaching camp, and face Tavistock AFC on Thursday. For data on all Arsenal’s youth pre-season fixtures confirmed thus far, click on right here.
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