Arsenal U21 vs Reading U21

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Re: Arsenal U21 vs Reading U21

Postby Santi » Mon Apr 13, 2015 9:23 pm

Just got back from this, wasn't the most exciting trip to the Emirates ever but was good to see some of the kids + Diaby and Wilshere. Reading were average, just one ball into the box and a good header, think it was OConnor who got beat in the air and he was poor early on but def grew into the game and did well. Wilshere was the best player but Crowley was very good as well, especially on the ball rather than off it.

Anyways...

Matt Macey: 7 - doesn't look like a great player but did nothing really wrong and claimed one cross very well towards the end
Julio Pleguezuelo: 6 - average, looks like Gabriel and Bellerin but has a lot to prove compared to them, got beat a few times.
Stefan OConnor: 7 - poor start but grew into the game and actually turned my early criticism around to a pretty positive opinion on him by the end. Challenged well in the air and decent on the ball.
Krystian Bielik: 5 - played at CB which is clearly not his position, good on the ball and 1 very good pass but overall poor and crap in the air.
Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill: 6 - decent LB, next in line of the semi-black quick left backs produced by Arsenal.
Abou Diaby: 6 - good for him to get minutes, showed his class at times but still off the pace, not bad just not special.
Jack Wilshere: 8.5 - thought Jack had a really good game, got a bit lazy towards the end coming backwards but still did well going forwards, driving as we know he does. Tried to gee them up at the end and push on for the goal, good game.
Daniel Crowley: 8 - sometimes a bit slack off the ball and lacking concentration but this kid is damn good on the ball, he's also not slow and seems to have really good stamina for a CM. played LW which was weird since we had Ainsley and Gnabry also playing but did well.
Serge Gnabry: 4.5 - thought he was really poor, our most direct player and talented for sure. however, terrible shooting for the most part and pretty much out of the game in the second half. needs to be less selfish at times. think in the first team he'd pass more though.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles: 4.5 - good runner on and off the ball, forced to play CM for the second half but definitely better on the wing. decent player clearly but he had a poor game with his passing and looked tired near the end, bit of an oxlade in that he can run but final ball lacking.
Alex Iwobi: 7.5 - solid shift from this lad, looked tired at 60 mins but kept going and found some more energy, finishing needs to improve but didn't have many chances tbf. decent prospect though.

George Dobson: 7.5 - absolutely amazing crunching tackle, this kid looks weird but he won all his aerial challenges as a sub, much better than bielik in defence and had a bit of tony adams about him. not sure why he didn't start but he looked good.
Stephy Mavididi: 5.5 - decent running, poor finishing, didn't really do much bar shoot wide.
Glen Kamara: 5.5 - came on late for wilshere and had nothing to do.
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Re: Arsenal U21 vs Reading U21

Postby Danskin » Mon Apr 13, 2015 9:51 pm

Good read, mesut. ;)

I thought Maitland-Niles was quite decent in the first-half but failed to impress in the second. He's been off form as of late after a fantastic first-half of the season.

Gnabry looked energetic and sharp and he procuded some very good skills but he's still lacking end-product. Iwobi is very powerful and quick but should play out wide and not up-front.

Crowley and Wilshere were definitely our best players - I'm placing huge hope on Crowley making it here.
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Re: Arsenal U21 vs Reading U21

Postby Santi » Mon Apr 13, 2015 9:58 pm

crowley surely will make it, wouldn't be surprised if none of the others did though. some look okay and like they could do something but it'll take the right attitude as they don't immediately stand out like daniel.
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Re: Arsenal U21 vs Reading U21

Postby Danskin » Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:05 pm

What probably worries me a little bit is the lack of quality in defence. O'Connor looks alright, and so does Ormonde-Ottewill. Hayden is injury-prone, though really talented and probably our most promising defender in the academy (it's not saying much). You take those 3 away - and probably only Hayden is going to make it if he's able to shake off his injuries - and there's nothing there.
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Re: Arsenal U21 vs Reading U21

Postby Big17 » Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:16 pm

Good to hear Crowley played well.

Not fussed how Diary, Wilshere & Gnabry played really aslong as they're racking up the minutes and staying fit.

Cheers for the update Mesut!
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Re: Arsenal U21 vs Reading U21

Postby Santi » Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:55 pm

Danskin wrote:What probably worries me a little bit is the lack of quality in defence. O'Connor looks alright, and so does Ormonde-Ottewill. Hayden is injury-prone, though really talented and probably our most promising defender in the academy (it's not saying much). You take those 3 away - and probably only Hayden is going to make it if he's able to shake off his injuries - and there's nothing there.



Yeah was thinking the same, the attacking players we have more quality but in defence is lacking a bit. Only seen most of the defenders for the first time today though so hard to make clear judgements.
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