The young Gunners enjoyed a dreamy match today at the Grove, when nearly securing the trophy against a grim and boring Liverpool side. Before this match the young Gunners enjoyed a successful run against Sunderland, Spurs and Man City respectively. Beating the likes of the previous teams, the morale could not have been higher. All that is expected is for these younglings to secure their second trophy this season to finish what could be catalogued as the greatest season in the overall history of the reserve and youth teams. With such a support from the locals it seemed rather unavoidable that these players could not have made it through as they did. With the likes of Jack Wilshere the team has secure a bright future in the arms of these youngsters.
Bould's successful lineup proved to be rather exquisite; a switching 4-4-1 to 4-2-3-1. The disposition of players in this formation gives a particular edge of midfield control, mainly relying on the two holding midfielders. Despite the glimpses of brilliancy from the young Gunners in counter attacks, Emmanuel Frimpong came off after an early injury in a clash, from which Sanchez Watt came in at the 16th minute.
Pressure piled for the Liverpudlians when Wilshere set Cruise in a pass that found Thomas, who just shot wide. A minute later the lead came from Gilles Sunu in an adventurous, yet rapid display when Wilshere's vision denied four Liverpool defenders with a through ball on Landsbury who later set Sunu to score. Possession graphics over the last five minutes before the 30th showed how busy Liverpool's keeper was; 85% for the home side.
As if the calls on door were not enough, after Emmanuel-Thomas freekick on the post, Watt chased the ball just to get tackled by the opposition's defense. Eventually Wilshere gave the Londoners the second lead from the penalty spot in the 34th minute. A minute after, as if it were a cameo of the seniors game at Anfield, Kacaniklic score an impressive and thunderous shot to top corner. Apparently Liverpool were back in the game after the electrifying volley but again the pace implied in the game by Wilshere immediately had the needed impact to wore off the effect of Liverpool's goal. With three minutes added not much happened before the half time whistle.
Entering the second part, the Liverpudlians did enough efforts to keep the Gunnner's goal at risk but obviously, the man that delivered the deadly finish, was substitute Sancez Watt on a accurate through set by who else but Jack Wilshere. Bouzanis risked himslef from a sure sentoff, after a wild Fabiasnki tackle on Watt. There was not much that Liverpool could do due to the resilient north London defending. From that point it was obvious that the game was on its way to increasse the lead from the Gunners. The momentum enjoyed by the home side was extended by the crowd at the Grove. A couple of minutes after the third goal, Emmanuel-Thomas flicked the ball after a Lansdbury delivery that ended the aspirations of the northern team.
There was not much to do for the visiting team in the remaining twenty minutes rather than chasing the ball with a couple of crosses and a handful of futile arrivals. Bould's ambitions to finish the game were obvious, when in the 74th minute subtituted Gilles Sunu with Rhys Murphy. Liverpool's center-halves could not cope with the pace provided by Wilshere's long balls and the fast, agile movements of Murphy, that could have finished in five or six the scoresheet, reaching the 84th.
Many of the Arsenal sites highlight, rather lightly due to the many games played by the first team. It is obvious that with this advantage the second leg seems more and more relaxed if not easy, but against Liverpool, even at this stage of development, one can never be sure. A solid performance is all that these young players need to secure the double that their senior counterparts would envy.
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