Youths - Cambridge United v Arsenal 16/08/97

Arsenal youth team match

South East Counties League, 16th August 1997

Cambridge United 1 Arsenal 1

South East Counties League                           Sat 16th Aug 1997

Cambridge United        (1) 1   Arsenal                 (1) 1

Scorers: ?                      Halls

Arsenal: David Beale; Matt? Grey, Rhys Weston, Clayden Cowell, Greg Oates;
         John Halls, James Harper, Graham Barrett, Guillaume Norbert;
         Danny Boateng, Peter Holsgrove
         Subs: David Noble (Grey 50), Joe Kuffour (Holsgrove 60)

Cambridge: ?

The team which played on Saturday seemed to consist entirely of 1st year trainees and schoolboy triallists, all of them under 17. I think Arsenal played most of the match in a sort of 4-3-3, though to be honest in the 1st half I didn't really take note of the formation. For a few minutes at the beginning of the 2nd half I think they switched to 3/5 at the back, but certainly thereafter changed back to 4-3-3. The young French lad Norbert seemed to be playing 'in the hole' behind the front two.

It was really a game of two halves, with Arsenal somewhat fortunate to go in at the break on level terms. Following a couple of substitions however, the young Gunners dominated the 2nd half though didn't really create much in the way of real chances. Cambridge started much the quicker and had the Arsenal defence under real pressure in the opening few minutes, particularly down the left where the Cambridge no. 10 was giving the Arsenal right back (or possibly right third of a back 3, unidentified) a bit of a roasting.

However, with the help of a couple of brilliant blocks by the keeper, the defence held out and Arsenal began to get back into it and had the better of the middle part of the half, a period which culminated in the opening goal. Graham Barrett went on a nice run through the middle, past a couple of opponents before being baulked by a 3rd just outside the area. The free kick was tapped to Danny Boateng, and his shot was deflected into a knot of players at the far post, among them Norbert Guillaume. He may have got a touch but I think the ball finally went in off a Cambridge defender. The local (Cambridge) paper certainly credits it as an own goal, the Islington Gazette gives it to John Halls.

For the remaining 10-15 minutes of the half Arsenal then rather ceded the initiative back to the home team, and about 5 minutes later Cambridge equalised. A shot from the edge of the box was (I think) pushed out by the keeper and following a bit of a goalmouth scramble the ball was eventually forced over the line.

At the other end the Cambridge keeper made a good save when John Halls (I think, though it may have been Boateng) cut in from the right and fired in a shot which was heading for the top corner before the keeper pushed it away. The Arsenal keeper matched that with a similar save when the Cambridge centre forward got away from the defence and finished his run with a rasping left foot shot.

Possibly in an attempt to shore up the right side of the defence, in the early minutes of the 2nd half Arsenal seemed to switch briefly to 5 at the back, with the weak link (to my untutored eye) at right back moving into the back 3 (where he did look more comfortable) and Halls dropping back right wing back.

However, after only a few minutes Banfield switched them back to 4-3-3, with Matt the unidentified right back being replaced by an unidentified midfielder, David somebody. Halls was then moved into the right back slot, the 15 year old Irish lad Barrett was pushed up front, and Boateng moved back to the right side of midfield.

Arsenal then dominated the rest of the game in terms of possession, though Cambridge possibly had the better chances on the break. The Arsenal lads seemed to be concentrating on keeping possession, and their best chances came from a series of free kicks Cambridge conceded on the edge of the box. Boateng also put over a couple of inviting crosses which only lacked someone in the right place to convert them. Arsenal's final substition saw a tiny black lad (Little Joe to his team mates) come on in attack.

It was a reasonably interesting way to spend the morning (another hot and humid one, by the way). It's hard to say whether there were any future stars on view, particularly bearing in mind that I assume that the coaches' main aim at this early stage is to teach the players some of the basics of team play, rather than to get a result in the match. The Cambridge no. 10 (whose name I also failed to catch) was possibly the man of the match, but the Arsenal players who impressed me most were John Halls (not listed in the Arsenal handbook or on AFCi so I assume he is still a triallist) and Graham Barrett, the 15 year old Irish lad.

Weston and Cowell, the 2 centre halves, also both looked fairly composed and comfortable on the ball. Weston appeared to be the one charged with organising the defence. The goalkeeper made 3 or 4 very good saves and James Harper also had a tidy game as the holding player in midfield. Danny Boateng looks quite strong with the ball at his feet and the French lad Norbert also looked to have a bit of skill and a trick or two with the ball at his feet. Brady singled him out for a chat at the end of the game while the rest were 'warming down'. Having brought him over from France I presume Arsenal have high hopes for him.

report by Derek Brownjohn