A look at the young guns..

This one is from Kev….

A fairly painless journey from Essex to Hertfordshire saw your very own correspondent finding a handy parking space some 5 minutes from the Borehamwood stadium which itself is situated in a local park featuring sports pitches, hordes of children playing, tennis courts and the ubiquitous swings/slides making it a very civilised destination.

£15 at the ticket office gained my admittance but sadly no programme, there was a digital one online but I used Jeorge Bird’s excellent blog to find out who I had been watching as I recognised only around a third of the players.

I took my place in the aptly named Town Council Stand and watched the warm ups.

The teams were read out over the tannoy but I only managed to note down 8 of the Gunners team and the game kicked off with Arsenal attacking the Town Council end, that gave me an opportunity to study the lads I did know.

Mooney at centre forward did the Gyokeres job and showed a lot of energy and effort. Against him the Borehamwood defenders used their experience and strength to knock him off his stride. He  came close when breaking free but the Borehamwood defender deflected his shot away when maybe taking an earlier shot might have done the job. Alongside him, O’Neill showed even more determination and effort but for little reward, but he’s promising.

The young Gunners played some really nice phases of play prior to the hydration break, you could see some promising moves which only fell down due to a final misplaced pass or loose control.

In midfield our No.6 was everywhere, winning challenges, setting up moves and using his impressive physique in an almost, well it’s not fair labelling him but he reminded me of a certain French midfielder who was originally from Senegal. Not as polished mind and this is after all preseason so it’s early days fitness and technique wise, but he looked promising. Alongside him No.10 show a penchant for getting into the tackle and linking play admirably,  I liked his style, polished, physical and always looking forward.

Ranson looked competent in the goal and I noticed Julienne making some encouraging runs into midfield and beyond, he has something and to me is worth watching. Harriman Annous on the left wing worked tirelessly but it wasn’t his day. The Arsenal defence did pretty good.

After the hydration break Borehamwood went up a gear and dominated the 2nd quarter (very American) but no goals were scored and the players trooped off on 47 minutes.

Borehamwood seemed to change a lot of players at half-time, I don’t know their strongest XI but they aren’t mugs, Arsenal changed goalkeepers only. The home team stormed into the 2nd half, going close a couple of times and hitting the bar, it was a stern examination for the young Gunners. After 15 minutes of almost constant Borehamwood pressure the Arsenal Coach made some changes and again I must thank Jeorge Bird for the following. 9 substitutions were made on the hour and after only a few more minutes the new boys gradually played their way back into the game.

On 69 minutes an incisive Borehamwood move opened us up and the home team scored. That looked like that but one more sub, Phillips came on and he hit the equaliser with just around 5 minutes to go, the Gunners tore down the left, opened up the home team like a tin of sardines and Phillips smashed his shot high into the net. The Gunners looked the more likely to get a winner but at stumps 1-1 seemed a fair result.

Of the subs I liked McCarron and Stachow, two big and dare I say old-style centre-backs who can play and fight, I liked them. Sampang looked a very interesting prospect at right-back, quick feet, fast and technical, very promising. The attack of Stevens, Frohock and Zecevic John was encouraging.

A bit of a mixed bag but given the home team looked as if they’d been preparing longer, had all the tricks and generally had the edge physically I was pleased with the young Gunners. Get Upson in there and we might have a much improved season?

Catch up in the comments.