I can honestly say that I have never seen him have a bad game. He did give a few passes away but more than made up for it with countless interceptions and tackles

It is always good to beat those lot from down the road, first team, youth team or reserves it doesn’t matter. I watched the game much later due to other commitments, who ever created sky plus deserves a firm handshake.

The game on the whole was pretty entertaining, good football from both sides although we were clearly the better side throughout the 90 minutes. Only one of their players stood out for me and that was the left winger Townsend, his first name escapes me the rest of them looked pretty ordinary. Even that Bostock dude who everyone was raving about looked not in the same class as most of our boys.

The game finished 3-1 to the Arsenal after two late goals from Emmanuel-Thomas and Murphy. Kyle Bartley equalised after Jon Obika opened the scoring 5 minutes into the game.

The whole Arsenal team played very well but a few of them really stood out for me, I’ll just give you my view on those players.

Kyle Bartley

a big imposing central defender who dealt with most in the air as well as very good on the floor. He even has the ability to score a header whilst not knowing where the ball has gone, I tell you what, that takes some doing. Well done lad.

Emmanuel Frimpong

is a player that has intrigued me, he is in the same age bracket as Jack Wilshere and was part of the Carling Cup squad. I thought at the time that a player of that age to be involved then he must have had something about him.

I have seen bits and pieces of him from reserve games in the past but that was mainly highlights. Frimpong has a stocky build, looks to have a powerfully built frame, especially for someone of only 17 years old he looks to be technically very good and has a good range of passing. What I liked about him was his ability to run from box to box and look equally good at both ends of the pitch. If I had to compare him to another player from a first proper glance then it would be Michael Essien at Chelsea, obviously a young raw inexperienced Michael Essien.

Francis Coquelin

played alongside Frimpong in the central of the pitch and gave yet another accomplished performance. Like many of you, I first watched him playing during our pre season and I can honestly say that I have never seen him have a bad game. He did give a few passes away but more than made up for it with countless interceptions and tackles. He certainly has been going to the Gael Clichy school of intercepting. He seems to have the knack for turning up from nowhere and flicking the ball away from an oppositions foot. It is hard to imagine that Coquelin is only 17, as he churns out yet another mature performance. I have no doubts that if he was 22 years old with the same development he would be in the first team squad fighting with Denilson for a midfield role.

Coquelin is not just a holding midfielder, he drives forward and can pick out a pass. I have high hopes for him and hope he has the brain to match his ability.

The man of the match would probably have to go to one of the goal scorers, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas is a tall, powerful, graceful left footed midfielder, who looks very comfortable in possession. He seemed to have so much time on the ball because his first touch was almost spot on every time he received the ball.

He started the game from a wide position but you would imagine that his future is in the center of the pitch.

Much of the hype was about Jack Wilshere before the game and the creative talent was not quite at his best during the first half. He tried several reverse passes that didn’t come off, he couldn’t influence the half as he would have wanted. His frustration showed when he kicked the ball away and received a booking for his trouble. But what I liked from him was his character to come back and get himself into the game. Whatever Steve Bould told him during half time worked a treat because he was a different player in the second half.

He was switched from the right into a role behind the forward, a role that Arsene has said will be his best position in the future.

I looked at the quality of football on display and it occurred to me that they were without the likes of Landsbury who is on loan right now. Then you look at our bench and the likes of Ramsey, Gibbs, Merida etc are so young. Even established players like Denilson, Bendtner, Nasri, Walcott and Cesc are 21 or younger.

When I think about it, it puzzles me even further to think that some people want Arsene Wenger out of the club. If we had a squad full of over the hill players that do not have much left in the tank and we were finishing 5th then I could understand the questioning of the manager. If we finished 10th last season and then Wenger did not buy any players then I could accept the blame attached to him. Is it only me that thinks that we came without 4 points off the title after leading the way for most of the season not only that but a vast amount of our squad will get much better than they are at prese……… STOP! I am not going into this anymore, I have said it enough times. My record is well and truly broken.

I was going to have my say on the Wenger to Manchester City stories, but guess what? I decided that it would have wasted my time, so now that I have some time I will write that it is a waste of time talking about it. Wenger has a contract with Arsenal. How many times in his whole career has he broken a contract again? yup, I thought so, case well and truly closed on that one.

I spoke about the Cesc Fabregas situation, and yes I do think it is linked with Wenger. Well he surely isn’t going to stay for most of the fans out there.. I say most not all.

I don’t think Cesc has played with much of a smile so far this season, he came back into the team not in the best shape of his life and struggled for form, then trying to pull the team through matches with key midfielders absent. Put Cesc in the team with a confident inform Denilson, Arshavin and Rosicky as well as a settled in Nasri and it will be a different story.

,

Arsene Wenger wants stronger punishment for the ‘leg breakers’ and I think that is an obvious step to take in trying to eradicate it from the game. It is quite insane that Kevin Nolan will receive 3 games for it and then come back jogging and smiling on the pitch while his victim is now out for the remainder of the season. I cannot see the justice in that really.

ok, well that is that for now. Everyone cheer that it is Friday! whey hey! I didn’t hear you but I trust you did.

Back tomorrow.

p.s – I know you didn’t cheer. 🙂

Don’t forget that you can submit your own articles on the YourVision section and receive feedback from fellow Gooners. Latest article YourVision – Why lay all the blame on Wenger?…… (By Nishanth)

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