AXA FA Youth Cup, 3rd roundTues 21 November 2000Arsenal 1 (0) Sunderland 0 (0)Arsenal: Craig Holloway; Israel, Moritz Volz, Ben Chorley,
Ryan Garry; Steven Sidwell, Rohan Ricketts, Jerome Thomas (Stephen
Santry 65), Jermaine Pennant; Jermaine Brown, Carlin Itonga Scorer: Brown 70 Sunderland: Craig Turns; Mark Rossiter, Craig James, Ben
Clark, Ian Davison; Steven Capper, Chris Black (Carl Galloway 75), Marc Hand,
Mark Atkinson; Carl Shippen, Chris Brown (Gerard Rowe 55)
Ref: P Griffin (Essex) Arsenal started off their defence of the FA Youth Cup at Highbury last night with a rather hard earned victory against a stubborn and well organised Sunderland side. On a wet night in front of a small crowd which I think was boosted by Arsenal distributing free tickets to local schools, the young Gunners dominated possession but struggled to create many worthwhile chances. The first half was pretty much all Arsenal, but despite having most of the game it was a while before they managed to pose a real threat to the Sunderland goal. The first chance when it came however was a good one. Itonga rolled his marker out on the left and got clear to the byline before swinging over a lovely cross with his left foot. It found Brown unmarked in the middle about 10 yards out, but he put his header straight at Turns in the Sunderland goal. Soon afterwards Thomas cut in from the left and laid the ball square for Ricketts. The midfielder jinked round one defender before stabbing a left foot shot goalwards which was deflected wide for a corner. Can't remember much else in the way of clear cut chances in the 1st half. There were a couple of scrambles in the Sunderland area following corners, and Pennant and Itonga caused problems for the visitors with their pace, but a couple of promising situations when the strikers were seemingly put through were stopped by a rather flag-happy linesman. At the other end Sunderland only infrequently threatened. One cross from the right was just missed by a striker hurtling in, and the only save I can recall Holloway having to make was from a 25 yarder which went straight at him. The second half went much the same way as the first, until Arsenal finally did get the goal midway through it. Itonga chased a long ball down the left and did well to win a corner. Pennant chipped it in to the near post where it was flicked on, I think by Chorley, and the ball reached Brown running in unmarked inside the 6yd box, and he only had to get his head to it to score. After the goal the game opened up and became much more end to end. Sunderland very nearly scored soon after the game when Capper made a great run down the right, cutting in to work some space and fire in a left foot shot which was deflected just wide of the near post and into the side netting by Chorley. Soon afterwards Israel missed an attempt to intercept a pass out to the left wing and left the Sunderland player clear. His cut back into the middle reached one of the other Sunderland players (Hand I think), but he lashed the ball over the bar from about 10 yards, and Sunderland's best chance was gone. At the other end Brown missed an equally good chance to put Arsenal 2 up. Sidwell's quick pass allowed him to beat the offside trap for once and run clear, but he hesitated and allowed a defender to get back, and then his pass to the unmarked Itonga was short.
Other incidents I can remember include: Sunderland had more of the play as they pressed for the equaliser in the final few minutes, but can't remember any serious alarms and Arsenal held on reasonably comfortably for a deserved win. All in all a reasonable evening's entertainment. My impression is that the team isn't quite as strong as last year, though I'd have said the eleven that played was more or less the strongest possible. Having said that Sunderland were well organised and defended quite well. Arsenal's attack to me lacked a bit of weight and cutting edge. Itonga has plenty of pace and showed some nice touches but I thought didn't impose himself enough. Brown also has a nice touch and held the ball up well on occasion but on others was a bit too easily knocked off it. Pennant had a reasonable game overall, and takes all the dead ball kicks with good delivery usually. He showed one amazing bit of skill where he retained possession and got away from about 3 defenders, beating each of them at least twice, but up aganst a quick leftback didn't get past him very often. Thomas I thought had a rather disappointing game, after a couple of skillful cameos last season I was expecting more from him. He was replaced midway through the 2nd half by Santry who added a bit of impetus. In midfield, Ricketts and Sidwell are both very tidy players who do well at playing the simple passes. Ricketts particularly impressed me last year playing the defensive supporting role with Noble, whereas yesterday with Sidwell (very strong and positive) he had more of a creative onus and he was trying to be too clever on occasion. In defence Chorley is a very tall archetypal centre-half, and was completely dominant in the air, and very solid and strong in the tackle too. Garry is more of a footballing type, one glorious 40 yard cross field pass stands out in the mind, but a bit hestitant on occasion defensively. Israel had a very good first half going forward and linking well with Pennant, but got a bit tired and sloppy in the 2nd half. Volz had a pretty good game overall too, playing out of position at left back, showed good awareness and made some good interceptions in the Sunderland half. The keeper Holloway was rarely tested, but apart from a couple of unconvincing punches looked pretty competent. Derek
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