Arsenal young guns beat Chelsea

Arsenal Reserves continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 2-0 win over London rivals Chelsea at Underhill on Monday. Craig Eastmond and Sanchez Watt scored the goals in another convincing display from Neil Banfield’s young Gunners.

Arsenal made four changes with James Shea,Armand Traore, Francis Coquelin and most notably Mikael Silvestre all coming in. Wojciech Szczesny, Ignasi Miquel, Roarie Deacon and Phillipe Senderos made way. Playing for Chelsea was England international Joe Cole who was looking to improve his match fitness following a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a knee-ligament injury.

Arsenal dominated possession early on but only had a string of half-chances to show for it. With 14 minutes played Watt turned his defender and then beat Chelsea keeper Ross Turnbull to the ball. With the net empty Watt knocked the ball toKerrea Gilbert who tried his luck from a tight angle. The right-back’s shot curled at the right moment but sailed marginally over the crossbar.

Eastmond broke the deadlock 22 minutes in, capping off a fine Arsenal move. Randall played the ball to a central Watt who knocked the ball left for Gilles Sunu. The French forward’s cross found its way through to Eastmond who tapped home at the near post.

Chelsea could have been level four minutes later after Fabio Borini won a free-kick 25 yards out. Defender Jeffrey Bruma came forward to take it and would have been disappointed to see his placed effort hit the top of the post.

With 10 minutes of the first-half remaining Watt was presented with a golden opportunity to double Arsenal’s lead. Sunu threaded through to Traore who sent a low cross into the area. Watt beat his man to the ball but fired his shot over the bar.

Chelsea introduced Milan Lalkovic at half-time with Daniel Philliskirk making way but it was Arsenal left-back Traore who had the first chance of note in the second-half, his long-range drive crashing just wide of Turnbull’s goal.

With 66 minutes played Arsenal’s lead was doubled. Barazite intercepted a cross-field ball on the right and drove forward. Cutting inside he passed the ball forward to Watt who sent the ball through the legs of Turnbull and into the back of the net.

With the win Arsenal have a 100% record this season with four wins in four games.