FA PREMIER RESERVE LEAGUE
MONDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER, 2003
(at Underhill, Barnet)
ARSENAL RESERVES 4 (3) SPURS RESERVES 0 (0)

Scorers:-
Aliadiere, 12, 17
Edu, 41
Thomas, 48

Referee:- Mr M. Yerby

Attendance:- Est 3,500

Teams:-
Arsenal (4-4-2):- Stack; Hoyte, Keown (Capt) (sub Tavlaridis, 46), Cygan, Clichy; Parlour, Kanu (sub Halls, 79), Edu, Thomas; Bergkamp (sub Paulinho, 84), Aliadiere

Subs not used:- Holloway; Bradley

Booked:- Clichy

Spurs (3-5-2):- Eyre; Mabizela, Kelly, O'Donoghue (sub McKie, 46); Marney, Dalmat (sub Black, 84), Barnett, Blondel, Jackson (capt); Barnard (sub Yeates, 46), Slabber

Subs not used:- Forecast; Henry

Booked:- Marney

Just when it was beginning to look like the Spurs fans visiting Underhill were going to see a skilled display from new loan signing Stephane Dalmat, up stepped the Big Guns of Arsenal (Messrs Keown, Cygan, Kanu, Edu, Parlour and Bergkamp) along with their pacy and skilled protégés (such as Hoyte, Thomas and chiefly Aliadiere) to give Spurs what is becoming the usual masterclass at Reserve level. Indeed this 4-0 scoreline is something like par for the fixture. The last time Spurs won at reserve level was in May 2001, when Dave McEwen scored the only goal at White Hart Lane. One week later, the gooners won 4-0 at Highbury.

Spurs lined up in their usual 3-5-2, with an inexperienced Kelly and out-paced O'Donoghue to the left of Mabizela. Marney and Jackson were the wing-backs, and inside them from right to left were Dalmat, Lee Barnett, and Jonathan Blondel, making a welcome return from his finger injury. Lee Barnard and Jamie Slabber were up front.

Arsenal played their usual 4-4-2, with Bergkamp playing just behind Aliadiere, and Kanu playing deep alongside Edu and Parlour. There were some very nice touches from Dalmat early on, as firstly he deceived two Arsenal players, facing goal, then turning and rolling the ball back to beat them both. Shortly after that, Dalmat was to send the first of a multitude of long passes to the left, aimed at Blondel.

Dalmat is a flair player, and does not appear to be the defensive midfielder we crave for. He started the game very well, having a good eye for a pass, knowing where his team-mates were almost intuitively. He has good close control, and often carried the ball forward to advantage. There were a couple of times when I wanted him to do the simple thing in front of our own box, and as the game progressed, he seemed to get further forward, and hence less involved in the play, as the red and white shirts swamped Spurs in all parts of the field. In general, Spurs passing was speculative, whereas Arsenal were more direct, and more effective. It was one-way traffic for too much of the game, and not a pleasant experience for a Spurs fan.

Arsenal took a slightly fortunate lead in the 12th minute, as Aliadiere enjoyed the fortunes of a lucky rebound off O'Donoghue. The young striker did make the most of his chance though, beating Nicky Eyre with a good right foot finish from just inside the box. Five minutes later, it was 2-0, as Hoyte collected a long ball sent from the left, sending Aliadiere to sweep past O'Donoghue again, beating Eyre with another low shot from the right of the area.

Spurs had their first effort on 23 minutes. A good ball from Jackson was threaded through by Barnett for Jamie Slabber who hit a rising shot that was held by Stack, in goal for the hosts. Clichy got an early booking for his challenge on Mabizela, and then Kanu raced goal-side of Lee Barnett only to fire way over the goal, with the goal beckoning. Cygan's momentum in a half-way line challenge with Slabber took the Arsenal defender into the gate beside the pitch, giving Slabber the edge in the ensuing attack. Slabber put in a low cross from the right, but Lee Barnett could not get a shot on goal.

Five minutes before half-time, Dalmat swept the ball towards Blondel, who did well to beat Parlour, before crossing the ball low. Slabber was at the back post, and should have scored, but missed his shot. Spurs were immediately punished by the home side, with a typical swift counter, and Edu was at the back post to receive from Parlour and fire home. O'Donoghue was well beaten by Hoyte, whose shot across goal missed the target.

Both O'Donoghue and Barnard were replaced by McKie and Yeates respectively, and Spurs reverted to a 4-4-2 after the break. McKie played at left back, and John Jackson moved into midfield, playing beside Dalmat. However, Spurs were soon 4 down, as Bergkamp chipped the defence, who were all at sea, eventually allowing Thomas to finish the move with a right foot goal.

Spurs tried to get one back, when Mark Yeates had a good shot saved on the right side. The ball reached Blondel on the other side of the area, but he hit the side netting. Bergkamp hit a dipping free kick just over the bar from 22 yards, and after 58 minutes, he was left in too much space after taking a corner. His shot was well saved by Eyre who then had to make a couple of close range saves in a goal-mouth scramble.

Dalmat was now starting to make mistakes and one short pass led to another threat from Aliadiere. Shortly after that the number 9 crossed for Parlour, and Dean Marney did just enough to take the sting out of the shot which bobbled into Eyre's arms.

In the latter stages, Spurs did at least start to get a few attacks together, mainly led by John Jackson. One such move led to Yeates crossing deep from the left. Barnett returned the ball from beyond the goal, and Jackson was there to make a diving header, but put it wide of the post, with plenty of goal to aim at. Another probing ball from Jackson gave Blondel a chance on the left, and he at least drew a save from Stack, with his shot. Edu had the last effort on goal though, when he latched onto a short ball from Yeates and hit a dipping 25 yarder, that did not quite dip enough.

The reserves have now played 5 games and lost their last 3, without a win to their credit so far this season.

Follow @spursodyssey