Youths - Arsenal U19 v Norwich U19 30/01/99

FA Youth Academy League, Under 19, Sat Jan 30 1999

Arsenal 4 (3) Norwich City 3 (1)

Team: Stuart Taylor: Claydon Cowell, Ashley Cole, Brian McGovern, Rhs Weston: Greg Lincoln, James Harper, Tommy Black, Jermaine Brown: Graham Barrett, Danny Boateng (Jamie Day)

Scorers: Barrett 2, Black 2

Arsenal as normal played a 4-4-2 system of sorts, though in the first half it seemed similar to, though a mirror image of the first team in that Brown took up a fairly advanced position a la Overmars, though wide on the right instead of left, Barrett and Boateng up front. Black, Lincoln and Harper formed a fairly tight trio in midfield with on of them occasionally drifting out wide left. The centre backs were McGovern and Weston, with Cowell at rightback and Cole leftback.

The game started off with a bang as Arsenal scored in the first minute. One of the midfielders (Black?) won a tackle on the halfway line which released another, Lincoln I think to break forward before chipping a lovely ball forward for Barrett to run on to. The young Irishman finished superbly from just inside the area on the right, rifling the ball home across the keeper and just inside the far post.

With a stiff and chilly breeze at their backs the young Gunners proceeded to totally dominate the rest of the half. The second goal arrived after about 20 minutes. Some slick passing on the edge of the area set up Boateng for a shot which the keeper saved well, but he could only parry it, and Black beat Harper to the rebound and slotted it home.

Barret scored Arsenal's 3rd and his 2nd about 10 minutes from half time. Black curled in a corner from the left and Barrett met it unmarked on the 6 yard line to glance a header into the corner of the net. The young Irishman went close with another header, and Arsenal very nearly scored another when Barrett played Black in on the right. His shot was firmly struck across the keeper and heading inside the far post until the keeper pulled off a brilliant save, diverting it past the post.

Just before half time Norwich gave themselves some hope by pulling a goal back from a corner. Taylor called for the ball but completely misjudged it as it sailed over him and onto the head of the big Norwich centre half, and he had a simple job of nodding it in at the far post.

Boateng had suffered what looked like an ankle injury after a heavy challenge a few minutes before half time, and though he completed the half, after the break he was replaced by Day. This left Arsenal with Barrett as the only striker, and he apparently prefers to play just behind a front two rather than as an out and out striker. Brown (in his first game for the U19s) seemed to drop a bit deeper on the right, with Black initially moving forward to support Barrett, and Arsenal went 4-1 up as he scored his second goal. It was a good one two, a drop of the shoulder taking him past a defender on the outside, and he produced a good finish hitting the ball across the keeper with his left foot from the corner of the 6yd box.

However, not long afterwards Norwich hit back, again from a corner. This time their left-footed midfielder's inswinger from the right was glanced home by the no 9 from inside the 6 yd box. Encouraged, the visitors now got right back into the match. Helped by some sloppiness from the young Gunners and perhaps also by the stiff breeze blowing straight down the pitch, they succeeded in pressing Arsenal back for much of the rest of the half. Their 3rd goal arrived about 15 minutes from time after Harper was caught in possession near the half way line. Norwich broke quickly, and one of the forwards went on a dangerous run into the area. A combination of McGovern and Cole brought him down (I think it was actually the latter coming across from left back who was adjudged the guilty party) and the ref pointed to the spot. The no 8 took a clinical penalty, giving Taylor no chance.

At the other end Arsenal could have added to their score on several occasions. Barrett should have got his hattrick, when after a quick break down the left, a ball across the 6yard box (I think by Black) reached him as he charged in just beyond the far post, but he used his right foot when the left might have been better, and put it just the wrong side of the post from about 3 yards. He also had a clever effort, spotting the keeper of his line and lobbing in a shot from about 30 yards which glanced behind off the top of the crossbar. The Norwich keeper also made another good save, from Harper I think, following another quick break.

The final few minutes were a bit panicky as Norwich threw balls & men forward. Weston made a great goal line clearance to preserve the score line when the ball reached a Norwich player at the far post after a bit of a penalty area scramble. With Taylor out of position he seemed certain to score, but Weston slid back to boot the shot clear. Norwich also hit the angle of post and crossbar in the closing minutes, and Cole I think put a clearance narrowly wide of his own goal, but Arsenal held out for the win.

What seemed in the first half likely to be a comfortable and impressive win turned into a rather nervous and narrow one, but overall I was impressed by the quality of the youngsters. They all looked competent and comfortable on the ball, but for me Tommy Black stood out, in particular with his strong running and close control on the ball. Barrett (still only 17) also impressed with a good touch, and the intelligent way he was always looking for space. At the back McGovern (a giant of a lad) was the organiser, but the others all looked tidy and competent.

Derek

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