So Near, And Yet...

Well, I have to say watching any Arsenal team at the moment should carry a government health warning. It was like groundhog day watching the youth team at Old Trafford last night.

For an hour the youngsters put a stranglehold on the contest. The football was typical Arsenal, switching defence to attack with swift, crisp passing, and Fran Merida was at the heart of it.

Chances came and went, and the only scares at the other end came when crosses or set pieces were defended with uncertainty. That should have come as no surprise. If there are any defenders who can deal with set plays they would surely be in the first team right now.

The second half was still in it’s infancy when Gibbs finally got the goal the young Gunners deserved. The two goal cushion should have been enough, but these are lads, and not surprisingly their workrate slipped.

They were pulled back when Rodgers was harshly adjudged to have handled on the edge of the box. Far more harsh, and mystifying, was the four minutes of extra-time which gave United the chance to level the aggregate.

As the close of the first period of extra-time approached the hard-working Agogo launched one more raid down the right and fed Murphy to restore Arsenal’s advantage. It wasn’t decisive.

In around six months one or two of these lads could be involved in Carling Cup action. Certainly the midfield was impressive until they ran out of puff so Merida, Randall, and Barazite would be the likeliest to make that first step up.

The future looks secure. Time to concentrate on the present for the rest of this week and the visit of West Ham on Saturday. Another groundhog day would not be welcome.