FA Premier Reserve League (South)Weds 23 August 2000Arsenal 3 (2) Nottingham Forest 4 (2)Arsenal: Manninger; Canoville, Cole, Vivas (Halls), Weston; Vernazza, Noble, Malz (Osei-Kuffour), Volz (Pennant), Harper; Wreh Scorers: Cole 12, Noble 32, Harper 76 Forest: Roche; Cooper, Dawson, Edwards, Foy (Freeman 45); Allou, Williams, Edds, Gray (McNamara 84); Freedman, Lester (Turner 86). Scorers: Freedman 2, Freeman, Allou I rolled up at Borehamwood with my 4 year old in tow for the first reserve team game of the season, and was delighted to see that the team was made up from (predominantly) the brightest lights from our successful Youth squad. Manninger got a game in goal (although he will no doubt wish he hadn't) Canoville, Vivas, Weston and Cole were the back 4 (with Vivas playing centre-back and Canoville at full back).br> Volz, Vernazza, Malz and Harper were midfield (again Harper was wide left when I have always seen him at CM which with Malz in the team seemed odd). David Noble was floating in the Bergkamp role - although he dropped back into midfield later in the game.br> Chris Wreh was the lone frontman. I didn't know too many of the Forest boys - aside from Dougie Freedman (who scored two) and Allou - the Frenchman, who was very lively down the right flank. We started as we played - more or less in complete control, with our biggest danger coming down the right hand side where Noble and Volz were combining well. Wreh was an effective target man (no jokes!) - and has good control and vision - much more like the player that won the FA Cup semi at Villa Park. At the back Weston was a towering presence - he stands out as a player for the future. He isn't a giant of a lad - he just has presence, coupled with bags of ability - on the ball and in defence. Canoville played reasonably well at RB - he is another player with some good footballing skills, and Ashley Cole at LB was a handful every time we went forwards. It was surprising that we conceded four goals. Forest (to their credit) were quite lethal - and missed very little that was gifted them, and between Vernazza and Manninger - they were gifted all four. I have always liked Paolo Vernazza - it is a fervent wish of mine to see him in the first team - but I just don't see it at the moment. It is (I hope/suspect) a 'blip' - but he seems to have gone backwards. As a result he had a poor game, and shouldn't be looked at as cover for Paddy when he goes on his unscheduled holiday... As for Alex... If you thought Graham Poll ahd a bad day at the office the other day - be greatful you didn't see Alex's game against Forest. I was at Stevenage when I saw him make two of the best saves I have _ever_ seen. It wasn't the same Manninger that played last night. A clone? A clown? I don't know - but he can (and does) do a lot better. But back to more positives, Ashley Cole's goal was worthy of Thierry himself, he dribbled around two or three in a crowded area, composed himself and slotted it past the keeper with his'wrong' foot. He also made an unbelieveable goal-line clearance to rescue Alex from more blushes. Ashley looked good going forward - not so hot going backwards - but nothing to get worried about. Volz went off at half-time after a quiet first half by his standards, and he was replaced by Jermaine Pennant. JP has never done anything that I have seen which has got me excited. He changed that last night. He had the beating of the entire right side of the Forest team whenever he wanted to - and he put in some glorious crosses. Halls came on for Vivas midway through the second half - he is another composed character - in the future we have Halls, Upson, Weston (and Chilvers who has always looked good whenever I have seen him) - and they all look like they could be good enough. But I will tell you know - if they do all make it - there will no more 'hoof's' from the back. Halls and Weston definately have the wherewithall to play midfield - with a range of passing and control to whet your appetite. James Harper has good energy but would prefer (I suspect) the centre of midfield - he did score a superb free-kick, curling and dipping over the Forest wall to beat the keeper all ends up. Finally I come onto the player that people who know me must think I am related to - David Noble. A gem amongst gems, this willowy midfielder has some great days ahead of him. Nothing could surprise me - Arsenal, England... he has his future in the palm of his hands, or, to be more accurate, on the insteps of BOTH feet. He has composure, grace, vision, control and bucket loads of ability. Noble scored the second goal, don't ask me how he did it - we all thought he had lost control, but then 'POP' and the ball nestled in the corner of Forest's net. But the best bit of the game was a brilliant break - Cole and Wreh broke down the left, with Noble in the centre running at an angle towards the near post, whilst Pennant skipped down the right with two in tow. As Pennant danced around his markers, he pushed the ball a little too far in front of himself, but Noble, without breaking stride, ran over the ball back-heeling it backwards into Pennants path. It could not have been rehearsed, and it was such a shame that the resulting shot was stopped - it was a sight to behold. So - my ramble is over - we lost 4-3, though God knows how. Good game - and some excellent performances. Gareth Wilson Your reports
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