As with each new term, all eyes were on how the latest selection would do as many made the step up from last seasons successful U17 side and they weren’t disappointed as the young Lions comfortably dispatched their opposition with goals in each half from Liverpool duo Michael Ngoo and Jonjo Shelvey.

Noel Blake’s team dominated the game from start to finish in the international friendly and a goal in the 16th minute after Ross Barkley set up Ngoo score on his debut was no less than they deserved.

They continued to create chances but had to wait until the 72nd minute before doubling their advantage, former Charlton Athletic starlet Shelvey stepping up to curl home a free kick from 25 yards to seal the win.

This was their only opportunity to train together ahead of the European Championship qualifiers next month as they look to progress from a group containing Cyprus, Albania and Belgium and Blake declared himself delighted with the performance after the game.

“The victory is one thing, and that’s always a good start for a new year group. But I was absolutely delighted with the performance from start to finish.

I thought we controlled the tempo of the game and scored two very good goals but I was most pleased with our passing and our game management in particular.

That’s something we’ve spoken about a lot and it really pleased me, so it’s good food for thought from the first game.”

Arsenal’s Benik Afobe amd Nico Yennaris also made their debuts for the U19s, appearing as second half substitutes, and will hope they have done enough to assure themselves of a place in next month’s squad.

He has included three of Arsenal’s Academy Premier League-winning team from last season, including captain Nico Yennaris who only turned 17 this summer. Alongside him is prolific forward Benik Afobe and midfield powerhouse Emmanuel Frimpong fresh from impressing in the Emirates Cup.

Other exciting names include Chelsea’s creative midfielder Josh McEachran who has been tipped as one to watch by many this year, whilst Liverpool’s summer signing Jonjo Shelvey is one of the most experienced players in the squad, having broken on to the scene with Charlton Athletic at just 16.

Squad in full:

Benik Afobe (Arsenal)
Ross Barkley (Everton)
Aziz Deen Conteh (Chelsea)
Emmanuel Frimpong (Arsenal)
Ezekiel Fryers (Manchester United)
Shaun Jeffers (Coventry City)
Will Keane (Manchester United)
Josh McEachran (Chelsea)
Jack Mills (Reading)
Michael Ngoo (Liverpool)
Lee Nicholls (Wigan Athletic)
Bruno Pilatos (Middlesbrough)
Jonjo Shelvey (Liverpool)
Jed Steer (Norwich City)
Luke Williams (Middlesbrough)
Andre Wisdom (Liverpool)
Nicholas Yennaris (Arsenal)

On Friday the 18 year old Aaron Ramsey scored a goal worthy of winning any match as Wales U21s managed to pull off an impressive home win at the Liberty Stadium against a well drilled and talented Italian side. Arsenal’s young Welshman was named the Man of the Match after a very good performance capped by a goal of astonishing quality.

Rescieving the ball with his back to goal 30 yards out, he juggled before flicking the ball with his heel towards Simon Church. The Italian defender read the situation but could only head back to the onrushing Aaron Ramsey who took the ball expertly on his knee before volleying into the corner of the net leaving the goalkeeper no chance. Quiet in the 1st half, he grew into the match as he started to be given a free role in the centre of the pitch rather than out wide and should now be guaranteed a starting place for the senior side against Russia on Wednesday.

Robin Van Persie was the next Gunner to strike for his nation, and despite the strike not quite being on the same level as Ramseys effort it was a good finish by the Dutchman. Recieving the ball from a powerful cross by Elia Arsenal’s number 11 did excellently to control the ball before turning it high into the net on the half volley to double Holland’s lead.

The third Arsenal player to grab the headlines for his goalscoring exploits this week was Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner with another goal of real quality. A deep, inswinging cross from the left hand side was taken down by Bendtner on his chest first time, shrugging off his marker in the process before instinctively striking with his weaker left foot into the roff of the net on the half volley.

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Meanwhile there was still some action in red and white over the weekend, with Steve Bould’s brilliant Academy side notching up another win to their name as they start the season showing the same form that won the previous generation of players a double last year. The opposition were Birmingham City whose reserves were thrashed by their Arsenal counterparts earlier in the week. The score was closer on this occasion but Arsenal still came out on top with a 3-1 victory, England Youth Internationals Benik Afobe, Luke Freeman and Chuks Aneke all on target before Birmingham’s consolation goal. You can read a more in-depth report over at Arsenal Youth – http://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/2009/09/05/u18s-report-birmingham-1-arsenal-3/

England 1 – 1 Italy

In a game of missed chances England failed to get off to the ideal start in the tournament, settling for a draw against a determined Italian side. England had already began to make their mark on the game and the Italians could so easily have fallen behind with a fantastic double save from Nicola Leali keeping Arsenal’s prolific front man Benik Afobe out. His club team mate Chuks Aneke had dragged a half chance wide just a few minutes earlier as the England boys started to put pressure on the oppositions defence.

Then the Italians took a surprise lead with a rare forway forward ending in a cross inviting Magnaghi to tuck away for the opener and the young Azzuri striker did exactly that with a smart finish from close range and it seemed that the goal could disrupt England’s early flow but it had the opposite effect on Peacock’s side and galvanised them into action for the rest of the match.

The momentum was still with England and with Chelsea starlet Josh McEachran pulling the strings a goal seemed pretty close by, Afobe lifting the ball narrowly over from a tight angle after a fantastic reverse ball played through byMcEachran in the final chance of the half.

Jake Bidwell replaced Chuks Aneke at the break and on the left flank caused a lot of problems for the Italian right back, another Afobe effort coming as a result from a ball across the box by Bidwell before his header teed up Afobe who beat his man before putting the ball on a plate for Morrison, but the United man could only see his effort come back off the post.

The goal came just after that but when it did it was not the result of any flowing play by England, a corner being lofted into the box and inexplicably pushed into his own net by the otherwise outstanding Italian goalkeeper. They all count though and there is no question that it was fully deserved.

England were still pressing for the winner and Benik Afobe, who won’t be sorry to see the back of the Italian goalkeeper, could have scored once again when he beat his man before seeing his strike blocked by Leali once more, before right back Bruno Pilatos blasted a half volley just wide of the target.

There wasn’t to be another goal though and the final chance fell to the Italians after an awful spill by goalkeeper Sam Johnstone gave Magnaghi a chance to double his tally but the English goalie got up well to smother the effort excellently and redeem himself.

The full fixture list for the England side:

26/08/09 – 7pm – England Vs Italy – Pirelli Stadium

28/08/09 – 7pm – England Vs Turkey – Sixfields Stadium

30/08/09 – 3pm – England Vs Portugal – Meadow Lane

It’s a strong side that has been named with several eye catching names to look out for in the future. Sunderland’s Louis Laing, Arsenal duo Chuks Aneke and Benik Afobe, Chelsea’s Josh McEachran and Liverpool’s Andre Wisdom have all been tipped for big things. The full 18 man team is below:

• Jack Butland (Birmingham City)

• Sam Johnstone (Manchester United)
• Nathaniel Chalobah (Chelsea)
• Luke Garbutt (Everton)
• Louis Laing (Sunderland)
• Bruno Pilatos (Middlesbrough)
• Jack Robinson (Liverpool)
• Tom Thorpe (Manchester United)
• Andre Wisdom (Liverpool)
• Chuks Aneke (Arsenal)
• Conor Coady (Liverpool)
• Josh McEachran (Chelsea)
• Ravel Morrison (Manchester United)
• George Thorne (West Brom)
• Benik Afobe (Arsenal)
• Jake Fowler (Middlesbrough)
• William Keane (Manchester United)
• Conor Wickham (Ipswich Town)