U21 Premier League Cup
Arsenal 2 (Cirjan 32, Bandeira 96) Reading 1 (Trialist) (a.e.t.)
After fielding a heavily rotated team against Reading, a more experienced side was called upon for this game, with Catalin Cirjan the only player to start both fixtures. Amario Cozier-Duberry didn’t play as he was training with the first-team.
Defender Maldini Kacurri, who recently returned from injury, started the game, while Bradley Ibrahim and Joel Ideho were also called upon.
Graczyk
Walters-Kacurri-Awe-Sousa
M. Smith–Ibrahim
Cirjan
Cottrell-Sagoe Jr-Ideho
Subs: Nwaneri (for Ibrahim, 46), Nichols (for Kacurri, 66), Bandeira (for Cottrell, 90). Not used: Cooper, Jeffcott.
Lino Sousa and Catalin Cirjan came close to finding the net early on.
Just past the half hour mark Cirjan opened the scoring with his second goal in as many games.
There was an alteration at the start of the second half, with Ethan Nwaneri replacing Ibrahim.
Reading equalised through a trialist, with Arsenal then bringing on Josh Nichols in place of Kacurri.
Ben Cottrell found Cirjan with a fine pass, but the latter’a effort went over on this occasion.
The game headed into extra time, with Bandeira coming on for Cottrell.
That proved to an inspired change as just six minutes later Bandeira scored to restore Arsenal’s lead.
Charles Sagoe Jr hit the side-netting as Arsenal looked to add to their lead, but they had already done enough to secure their passage into the last eight.
[READ NEXT] Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta denies Gunners have signed another Willian or David Luiz
Mikel Arteta has been speaking about his side’s transfer policy.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has insisted that the signing of Jorginho is an important one for the club, despite some skepticism from fans about the wisdom of bringing in another former Chelsea player in the twilight of their career.
The Gunners have dealt with the Blues on a number of occasions in the past, but recent arrivals from Stamford Bridge such as David Luiz and Willian were not overwhelming successes. With central midfielder Jorginho now 31, some have claimed that the Italian’s best days may be behind him, and that Arsenal should have looked elsewhere.
But speaking ahead of his side’s trip to Everton on Saturday, Arteta defended the £12m transfer deadline day arrival. “Unfortunately you don’t always get it right, but we put all the work and intention to make it work – and I am confident that this one will be good,” the Spaniard said.
“Every time you sign a player you generate some debate. Maybe they don’t have experience, maybe they are too young, maybe he’s not that well-known or whatever. But we have some criteria and we do a lot of work behind the scenes to try to understand exactly the profile that we need.”
With Mo Elneny facing a spell on the sidelines, Arteta believed that Jorginho was exactly the type of replacement necessary to help improve the strength in depth in his squad. And he added: ‘With the latest news on Mo’s injury, we needed a player in that position and Jorginho is someone I have always admired, a great character and someone who is going to bring leadership quality.
“He is going to help the team a lot with his intelligence, his personality and the way he understands our way of playing – he is a player that will fit in really well with what we want to do. We knew that in this market you have to adapt and be flexible and be ready for inconvenience.”
Arsenal are facing a crisis club in Everton, who are languishing down in 19th position in the table and are in real danger of facing a first relegation from the top tier of English football since 1951. It is a team Arteta holds dear to his heart, with him having spent eight seasons at Goodison Park as a player.
He continued: “From the bottom of my heart, I hope they can turn this around in the best possible way because everybody who has feelings for Everton knows they are unique, very special and they deserve the best. Everton are going to ask different questions of us to Manchester United in our last league games but, for sure, they will be difficult questions to answer.
“At the moment we have a very stable and energised atmosphere around the club – but it takes a lot to build it and very little to lose it, so the most important thing is that we play well, win football matches and we’ll be fine.
“I think for any club, when you have ownership, directors, the manager, players and staff all on board, with the same purpose and really pushing in the same direction,it’s very powerful.”
SOURCE: arsenalyouth, express
