%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Arsenal Under-21s 2-0 Reading Under-21s
By Tom Humphrey
Arsenal and Reading fielded sides full of Premier League experience in this reserve fixture at Underhill last night. Bacary Sagna, Andre Santos, Francis Coquelin, Emmanuel Frimpong and Jack Wilshere all started for the Gunners, whilst Reading’s side included former Arsenal goalkeeper Stuart Taylor, experienced striker Jason Roberts, Adam Le Fondre and also Danny Guthrie. Also in the Reading line-up was Niall Keown, son of Arsenal legend Martin.
Sagna played for the first time since May.
Despite the experience on show from both sides, the youngsters on display were the ones who caught the eye. Serge Gnabry’s name has been mentioned a lot since he arrived from Stuttgart last summer and Arsene Wenger has hailed him as a “star for the future”. He impressed during the 6-1 win over Coventry in the League Cup last month and put in another good display last night, getting on the scoresheet in the process after good build up play that involved Jack Wilshere, Emmanuel Frimpong and Thomas Eisfeld.
Chuba Akpom headed in from close range after Wilshere’s corner was flicked on by Ignasi Miquel and that was the end of the scoring for the evening.
As well as the win, the other major positives for Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal fans were that Sagna got through an hour unscathed and both Frimpong and Wilshere looked better this time around than they did against West Brom last time around for the reserves, looking sharper and they were both influential. As well as this, Santos and Coquelin put in good shifts and with injuries to Gibbs and Diaby at the moment, they may be needed in the first-team in the near future. Finally, Serge Gnabry continued to make a name for himself with another impressive display. Hopefully we will see more of him in the first-team soon, whether it be in the Premier League as a sub or in the domestic cups potentially starting.
Overall you have to say this was a very positive night for the football club and the return of key players such as Sagna and Wilshere to first-team action will only make the team stronger.