Arsenal 2 Bristol City 2 (Arsenal win on penalties) FA Youth Cup 5th Round
Fran Merida is better on the pitch than on the video.
He has most things a footballer needs to succeed. Very direct, mature for his age, a very low centre of gravity, a turn of pace, ability to change direction very quickly and beat a man, immediate close control, a hard shot, good upper body strength, great imagination and creativity, and a good decision maker – playing the simple ball when it it there and the long raking pass when an opportunity arises. He is also a purveyor of dangerous ‘whipped in’ free kicks.
Taking a ball from Lansbury in the middle of the first half, he shifted it and hit a low left foot shot from around 28 yards beating Ballard to his right, opening the scoring for Arsenal on a deceptively cold night.
Arsenal played up the Underhill slope in the first half, which some say is easier because the ball holds up. They play like a replica of the team that beat Spurs, always playing out from the back – rarely long balls upfield. It puts greater responsibility of the back four – Ogogo, Traore, Hoyte and Rodgers to be ball players – and on this showing they are all comfortable with it.
A bit like the Spurs game Arsenal play fast passing possession football but without an obvious direct cutting edge. Bristol CIty used the through ball to the nippy forwards Plummer and Jackson mostly along the ground but sometimes aerially. Arsenal were slow to pick this up.
On 25, Arsenal paid the price. Plummer was brought down in the area. Ledgister, let fly from the penalty spot to equalise.
Not to be outdone Nacer Barazite accelerated from midfield beat two players and unleashed an Exocet straight into the net. The Dutchman too has instant acceleration and for his size very nimble feet. The utter power of the shot shocked everyone in the ground.
Bristol plugged away pluckily. And from a late first half corner scrambled a goal via Will Gardner the tall centre back, who looks anything but a youth. It was a Wimbledon style goal. Arsenal’s back four aren’t the biggest, and will be vulnerable to tall centre backs running on to corners.
Arsenal play a 4-3-3, with Dunne, ironically from the Wimbledon Academy, dropping back playing a Gilberto role. He’s aggressive in the tackle – and was booked for going over the top.
Rui Fonte the Portuguese forward had an off night. Although he has similarities to Rossi, very little he did came off. He was replaced by Murphy on 75.
Arsenal forward Jay Simpson wasn’t direct enough – nearly always talking it wide instead of powering in on goal – and this invariably lead to the ball going backwards, and a consequent lack of attempts on goal.
The game ebbed and flowed. At times it looked like Bristol wanted it more. And the physical threat combined with the nippy Plummer and Jackson meant they had a chance of winning it. But every time they threatened, Rodgers (Man of the Match) with his silky interceptions and Hoyte with his speed recovery cleared the danger.
Ogogo and Rodgers burst forward from the back on solo runs to t he Bristol penalty area a couple of times – maybe borne out of frustration.
Lansbury, Merida and Bazarite combined neatly at times on the left and represented Arsenal’s greatest threat.
On a quick break from a corner, Merida and Barazite set up Lansbury who was bearing down on goal from the left wing and was clattered. After a five minute break, he went off on a stretcher – in what looked like a serious injury.
In extra time Steer made some good forays down the left, sending in one or two dangerous crosses. Arsenal carried the greater threat towards the end, with physical fitness telling. But both teams continued to cancel each other out with a lack of clear cut chances.
And so to penalties. Simpson missed the first kick, but Butcher made amends.
Merida slotted to Ballard‘s far right. Dunne aimed high into the net; Efrem (on for Rui Fonte) blasted high and wide (the fifth ball to go over the stands all evening). Slocombe, Ribiero, Wilson and Hamilton scored for City. But Walker, Wilson and Arthus missed, which left Rene Steer to step up and fire to Ballard‘s left taking Arsenal into the next round.
He did a mid-air jig as the whole the team raced to greet him.
Arsenal:Butcher, Ogogo, Traore (Steer), Dunne, Hoyte, Rodgers, Landsbury (Efrem 87), Merida Perez, Fonte (Murphy 75), Simpson, Barazite. Subs not used: Szczesny, Van Den Berg
Bristol City: Ballard, Walker, Slocombe, Ribiero, Wilson, Gardner, Parker, Arthus, Jackson (Hamilton), Plummer, Ledgister Subs not used: Carr, Golding, Rose, Marshall