Morning all.
Well, many of us wanted to see the younger players get their chance and that’s exactly what we got. They didn’t disappoint either, in fact it was a very good night for Arsenal.
16-year-old Jack Porter started in goal, Josh Nichols was trusted to play at right-back, Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back and Ethan Nwaneri in midfield. By the end of the game, central defender Maldini Kacurri and winger Ismeal Kabia were given minutes too.
Raheem Sterling made his first start for Arsenal with Jakub Kiwior, Jorginho, Gabriel Jesus, Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori and Bukayo Saka completing the starting eleven.
Bolton caused us a few early scares and they probably should have been awarded a penalty but with no VAR in this competition, the referees decision to play on couldn’t be overturned.
15 minutes into the game and Declan Rice gave us the lead. Nwaneri and Nichols were involved in the buildup but as Bolton cleared the latter’s cross, the ball fell to Rice who fired home from the edge of the box. On 37th minutes, Lewis-Skelly set Sterling free down our left. His cross into the box was perfect, just needing someone on the end of it and Nwaneri was the player. 2-0.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Sterling was the next to go close to making it 3-0 when his shot from distance was saved by the Bolton keeper. Jesus went close too but dragged his shot just wide. He’d done all the hard work to take the ball off the defender.
Just after the break, Rice, reading the game so well, intercepted a Bolton pass before setting Nwaneri up for his second of the night and our 3rd.
Bolton pulled a goal back after a quick counterattack but it was soon 4-1.
With around 30 minutes of game to go, Mikel Arteta replaced Rice and the injured Lewis-Skelly with Gabriel and Kai Havertz.
Sterling scored our 4th with a close range tap in. Bukayo Saka was the provider after taking his time to tee our summer signing up and then our 5th of the night came from Havertz. Jesus had done well out on our right as he shook off his man, losing his boot in the process, before crossing the ball. Sterling’s initial shot was blocked but our German was on hand to finish.
I thought the young players did really well. No one can portion blame on Porter for Bolton’s goal that’s for sure. Jorginho being our last man didn’t help the young keepers cause one bit. The fans ‘Ethan Nwaneri, he’s one of our own’ was great to hear. Nichols played a few dodgy passes but didn’t look totally out of his depth but in my opinion, it was Lewis-Skelly and especially Nwaneri who looked at home in the first team. Kacurri, what a big strong guy he looks for an 18 year old. Alongside Gabriel he looked very comfortable. Could he and Ayden Heaven be our distant future? Who knows…
The draw for the next round took place after the game was over and Preston away came out for Arsenal.
Next for Arsenal though is Leicester City at The Emirates on Saturday at 3pm.
Catch up in the comments.
I thougt Arteta got the team selection spot on and you have summed it up pretty well Rico.
Young Porter had no chance with the goal but 90% of the time he was well protected.
I think Sterling will be a huge asset as he finds his feet and the youngsters played well.
I thought Jorginho had a poor game and as I said earlier Jesus isn’t good enough . Saka and Rice really showed their class and encouraged the youngsters. Job done .
Me too Kelsey, glad a few got a rest too.
Really enjoyed watching the younger players..
As suggested on the previous post, it seems to me that Arteta has given Sterling time to adjust to his style of play/tactics. I know it was Bolton but that’s the best I’ve seen him play for a while. Loved the goal he scored because of the position he got himself into. The stylish goals are great but the close range poke ins are just as good.
Morning Rico and all. Just watched highlight on Arsenal site.
I reckon Porter learned more in that 90 minute against senior players then he will for the rest of the season,
As for the goal, it can be looked at 2 ways, (1) no defenders near him to help and guide him, (2) I think he come out a bit too far, but I will not hold them against him as he will learn from it.
Morning Geoff, I think Porter was left too exposed. Not many keepers would have done a lot better I think.
Szczesney has chosen to join Barcelona
Rico as I said the young lad done well, and it may be a bit harsh, but I reckon if he stayed closer to the goal line than run straight at the player when he got a bit closer than he might have been able to put him off.
One thing I really did like was seeing the senior players making the younger one’s welcome.
I think he was beaten whatever he did Geoff.
The draw for the next round sees a number of PL clubs play each other.
Brentford v Sheffield Wednesday
Southampton v Stoke
Tottenham v Manchester City
AFC Wimbledon or Newcastle v Chelsea
Manchester United v Leicester
Brighton v Liverpool
Preston v Arsenal
Aston Villa v Crystal Palace
Good morning Rico and all.
I’ve absolute no problem with the performance of young Porter, he was left totally exposed by the defence and did the only thing he could, advance on the attacker in the hope of pressuring him into missing his chance. Geoff, staying on his line would have made it easier to score with a tap in, advancing any further forward and he would have been chipped. Give the kid his due, apart from shanking one pass he dealt very well, and confidently, with everything thrown at him.
Jack is not quite the novice though, he has represented England at both under 16 and under 17 levels. I think he has a bright future
Good morning everyone.
Good summary of the match Rico.
I really enjoyed the match. Although Nwaneri was MOTM imo, Miles Lewis Skelly is settling in quite nicely. He is a midfielder however bedding him at LB before moving him to CDM is good process. Maybe he will even cement the position of LB as his own eventually.
I liked the look of Nichols as well. Still young and it was strange to see a very young childish face celebrating with the rest.
I am not taking anything away from Porter, I just feel he left the box a bit too early just my opinion,
I wonder if Arteta is game to pick the same team against Preston
I think that Arteta got the balance of team exactly right, allowing the young players to express themselves safe in the knowledge that there were some older heads around to guide them – it’s how the Football Combination used to work.
Bolton’s goal was because our young players were expressing themselves, namely Lewis Skelly (who I don’t blame for the goal at all) Myles was doing his trademark drag back and spin with the ball and his pass into the box got intercepted and Bolton broke really well. Jorginho as last man was exposed for pace and bingo.
This XI had never played as a team before and probably never will again so it’s understandable that there are going to be some early moments of misunderstanding before things settle. I loved the the way the senior players trusted the youngsters and how the team protected Jack Porter, a noticeable decline in back passing to the keeper!
I couldn’t fault anyone, the seniors all put in a shift and the youngsters proceeded to put their quality into the public domain. We have an amazing class of 17 year olds, of noticeably higher quality than some graduates of recent years and if the kids are good enough they will get the chance to perform.
Thanks for a great positive post Rico,
Arteta has had, unfairly in my opinion, some badly formed criticism regarding the youngsters at Arsenal in recent years. The departures of Hutchinson and Obi Martin have been blamed on Arteta when there was nothing he could do about them, both players left for financial reasons and the perception that 1st team opportunities would be greater at Chelsea and Man Utd.
A raft of academy players such as Patino, Norton Cuffy, Biereth, Balogun, Okonkwo, Cozier Duberry, Walters, Sousa, Azeez, Flores, Ballard and McGuiness have left under his watch, to name a few.
Time will tell if many or any of them have a career where critics will be able to say ‘I told you so about etc’ at a club as big as Arsenal?
Arteta doesn’t give away senior appearances in a box of cereal, you have to be at a certain level, a level that Arteta and his coaches access when they are training with the 1st team squad. We have a clutch of 17 year olds who are potentially at that level and as more of them break through and enjoy senior exposure it’ll attract the next generation to our club.
Exactly KEv. Spot on about everything.
Maybe Nwaneri was the reason that ESR was allowed to leave. tbf I never wanted ESR to leave and it was a sad day for me when he did. But seeing Nwaneri’s development made me understand why.
Morning Cicero, I’m with you re Porter..
Thank Devil, Kev.
Those who’ve left obviously didn’t meet Arteta’s expectations of them but yes, if they ran down their contract before leaving, there’s nothing the club could have done.
I haven’t been posting much for time and health reasons. Trossard ended up being sent off well. It seems to me that the criteria have not been the same for all teams (the usual). This does not imply that there are dissenting voices, particularly among the usual beneficiaries. Forward.
Important point to date: Arsenal have played 7 games in 3 competitions and have not lost any. He’s fighting for the 3 he played in. It could be better in 2 but it could also be worse.
In my opinion, Arsenal have a short and incomplete squad. This does not mean that he is a fan of an extensive squad, quite the opposite. I understand that a Club on several fronts must have 2 players per position, in which they can efficiently perform other positions. Taking into account the number of games, injuries, suspensions, drops in form and others, there must be a group of young training players at a second level who are able to join the squad when necessary. This is only possible if there is space so that in eventualities like what happened yesterday, they can appear and be seen. Otherwise, staying at the Club without ever having the chance to play for the main team, in front of full stands and in “real” games, is to condemn the players to being out for one or more seasons and ending up being released. With a squad with many players this is not possible. It’s the difference between having a Club that invests in training and another that doesn’t. Yesterday, I liked what I saw. Were there failures? there was. However, the most important thing is to rotate the team, excite and stimulate these young players. It’s my opinion. With Leicester and then PSG we returned to normality. Which I hope will be one of victories.
Afternoon all,
I’m with you 100% about last night,Arteta got the balance right. He probably wouldn’t have gone with such a young goalkeeper but was forced into it,I thought Porter did really well. The goal was a really good finish,sometimes you have to give credit to the opponent.
As Geoff says it will be interesting who plays in the next round.
My guess is only 1 or 2 youngsters for an away game. Nwaneri is not even a risk anymore.
I do not think that we will be seeing Porter so soon again, even in the CArabeo cup. He will be backup having already played however I guess that next round we will see Raya. Neither will Nichols, especially if both White and Timber and perhapsy Tommy are fit. Lewis Skelly and Nwaneri will take part I am sure of it.
It will be difficult to predict now who will play because its a long way away, however if Tommy, Timber, Zinchenko and Calafiori are fully fit expect them to be the defensive department. Midfield will be Jorginho, Rice and Nwaneri. Sterling and Jesus will surely begin the match while Saka, Martinelli, Trossard and HAvertz will take the remaining spot.
As Limey pointed out….Nwaneri will not be a risk anymore. And neither Lewis skelly. So that’s two positions which are quite safe now.
While Porter, Nichols and the other young guns gave a very good account of themselves, and played a very good part yesterday, I feel they are still a good way from being considered as viable and safe options unless there is an injury crisis.
By now, Porter must have finished his school day. I wonder how did it go for him????
Jm, I hope your health is much better now.
Perhaps if we’d not have had so many awful years before Arteta’s arrival, he’d have used a few more of the brighter looking youngsters but he was and still is under pressure to win with very good performances.
Ditto Limey, Nwaneri is a cert I think, Lewis-Skelly too as long as he’s recovered by then. I’d quite like to see more of Kaccuri too.
Thank Dev, I’m really enjoying the present class of youngsters, it reminds me of when Saka and his mates broke through and when we’ve had other bunches of quality youths develop. Good fortune with cup draws, Euro players resting during pre-season, there is always an element of luck of opportunity but in general these lads have trained with the senior group and if you have something about you the coaches will spot it. It’s why Arsenal pushed the boat out for Nwaneri and why Obi Martins transfer to United is in the hands still of the lawyers.
Btw Cozier Duberry, who Arteta got criticised for allowing him to leave for free to Brighton is now on loan at Blackburn, someone mentioned that he’d played 13 minutes for them!
Great point Limey, Preston are a good side who are much stiffer opposition than Bolton, so yeah, Nwaneri and MLS as starters with maybe a couple more on the bench?
I guess it also depends on fitness as the tie will probably be between the Liverpool (h) and Newcastle (a) PL games.
Rico, he’s quite a unit is Kancurri, I can’t see anyone bullying him…
Me neither Kev, he’s built like a rock. Would love to see him against a stronger opposition but that’s unlikely anytime soon.
two things dawned upon me right now…….
when dear old Arsene kicked a bottle he was sent off to the stands. Pep kicks a seat and then goes off to sit in it
Jack Porter….born 16 years 72 days ago. He has never seen spuds lift a trophy….16 years 214 days ago their last one.
Kacurri…..Haaland’s nemesis. Built like a rock he will teach Erling to become humble
What’s all this about built like a rock? Brick shit-house is the term you’re looking for. 😉
I’m far too polite 🤣
Was the door made out of fish boxes ?
I’m not !!
That’s gone over my head..
Old London saying that goes back to my grandfather in the 1950’s . He always referred to the outside toilet door as made out of fish boxes so the comment has stuck in our family as a brick shit hose door made out of fish boxes.
Obviously it is purely a Kentish Town thing.
Ah, I thought it must be an expression I’d never heard off. They were just outhouses in my day.. 🤣
Yeah, if you’ve never had an outside toilet you’ve never lived…
Arsenal Women through to the Women’s Champions League group stage after beating Haaken 4 – 0 at Meadow Park. 🔔🔔🔔🔔
Mead’s goal was really good. The gals did good..
We had one when I was a kid, I wish we didn’t, it was bloody freezing in the winter of 1947.
we used to have outdoor toilets in OZ and in some homes still have them, they were freezing in winter, boiling hot in summer and even in a rush you would have to stop and check it first for red back spiders,