Young Guns follow the Wenger way

EVEN if he does leaves the club in four years when he reaches 65, Arsene Wenger’s legacy at Arsenal may continue for decades to come.

As the Frenchman begins to blood the new generation of young Gunners, the next wave of teenage tyros from North London is already turning heads.

Shamrock Rovers’ Tallaght home was the intimate scene last night of an interesting look at the future in the second game of the triangular Platinum One Challenge. For their opponents, Manchester United, the experience was, at times, a little too close up for comfort.

For long periods, Arsenal’s reserve string reduced their United counterparts to bystanders. With Craig Eastmond and Henri Lansbury patrolling midfield and the giant Jay Emmanuel Thomas the focal point of their attack, United scarcely got a look in. They lost Fabio da Silva to an early strain but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were already on the back foot.

Despite an early headed chance from United’s central defender Scott Wootten, parried away by James Shea, Wenger pupils did as Wenger pupils do — kept possession well, occasionally threatening.

Jay Thomas, who spent a productive goal-scoring loan spell at Doncaster last season, looked likeliest and it was he who was tripped by Scott Wootten for the 19th minute penalty which the striker converted with some conviction.

On the half hour Craig Eastmond, who’s had a sprinkling of Premier League games, slipped through Benik Afobe, but the Gunners’ young scoring sensation dinked his effort wide of the right hand post.

Norwegian defender Havard Norveit, another returning from a loan spell — his with Bundesliga outfit Nurnberg — worked United keeper Amos but just when Arsenal appeared in total control, Irish hopeful Robbie Brady crossed for Will Keane to power a header which the Arsenal keeper did well to parry on 33 minutes.

A shuddering clash between Aneke and United’s Scott Norwood was the pre-cursor to another lift in tempo and a pair of Arsenal chances, with Afobe and Thomas going close, the former again working Amos.

There’s been much excited chat among North London cognosenti regarding Arsenal’s Brazilian find Wellington Silva, and he looked an isolated figure until the 50th minute when he was put through and clinically slotted Arsenal’s second.

United’s Kiko Macheda looked disinterested and only Tom Cleverley seemed capable of maintaining some resistance. However the Italian did rouse the United contingent when he claimed a goal in the 71st minute, beating Shea at the second attempt.

Arsenal again raised the tempo, but with nine minutes remaining Cleverley almost conjured an equaliser, via a wicked deflection. And in the final minute United’s Reese Brown, a brother of Wes, headed over with the Arsenal defence befuddled.

Arsenal, outplaying the opposition, but unable to close out a game. Sound familiar?

ARSENAL: Shea; Norveit, Miguel, G Hoyte, Cruise;, Eastmond, Lansbury (Evina, 66), Wellington Silva (Randall, 58), Aneke (Deacon, 58), Afobe (Vennaris, 82), Thomas.

MAN UTD: Amos; Fabio da Silva (Vermijl 23), Wootton, Gill, Dudgen; Cleverley, Norwood (Brown, 72), Eikrem, Keane, Brady (Ajose, 59), Macheda.

Referee: R. Winter (Dublin)