Arsenal reserve matchAvon Insurance Combination, 13th August 1997Arsenal 2 Charlton Athletic 1Scorers: Wreh, Black There are three words to describe Anelka - Class, Class, and Class. Although only on for the second half today, he was in a different league to the rest. Only Stephen Hughes could claim to be an equal on today's perormance. Anelka had time, vision, pace, control & a superb weighted pass to finish it off. On the wing he was what we are hoping Overmars will be; in midfield he was Gascoigne without the lard; in attack he was Shearer without the whinge. Okay, I might be getting a bit carried away, but this guy excites me. Please Arsene, Razor needs a well earned rest (running around all day is very tiring), give Anel-ka-ka-ka a run out on the right against Saints. As for the game, 2-1 to the Arsenal. Not a bad performance, but Charlton didn't have much to offer. In the first half Rankin & Wreh played up front, with a midfield of R Hughes, S Hughes, Shaw & Black. The defence was Upson, Wicks, V Gislason & Dixon, with the Clown Prince Vince in goal. With this formation we struggled to penetrate Charlton's defence; R Hughes & Black not making particular progress down the wings, Rankin doing a pretty accurate impersonation of SouperKev, only faster, and Wreh showing touches of skill and close ball control, but suffering from a lack of service. He did score the goal, but I missed how he got the ball to slot in past Salmon from the edge of the six yard box. Bartram: 6.5 Didn't do too much wrong, got down to a couple of low shots, but his clearances were woeful. Dixon: 7 A good run-out. Looked back to his old self (although slimmer), which included the classic cross from outside the penalty area to nobody in particular. Upson: 6.5 Didn't look as good as in the pre-seasons, but still showing enough to impress. Gislason: 7 A quiet. solid match which for me is how central defenders should be. Wickes: 6 The weakest of the back four. R Hughes: 6.5 A few nice touches, one series in particular in the penalty box, where he almost got himself in for a goal; one shot tipped round the corner. S Hughes: 7.5 Looking very composed; had one cracking volleyed 'saved' by a Charlton defender at point blank range, at the cost of his nose and the rest of his match. Shaw: 7 More of the Morrow than Merse I'm afraid. Black: 6.5 Doesn't seem to have the pace for a winger; looked better in a more central role in the second half. A couple of good shots and a goal made by Anelka. Rankin: 7 Much ado about nothing Wreh 7 Good touches, some mistakes, few efforts, 1 goal. I'll need to see more. Anelka: 8.5 See above report by Miguel Ferros
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