ARSENAL v DEVELOPMENT SQUAD
BARCLAYS U21 PREMIER LEAGUE
LONDON COLNEY
MONDAY 24 MARCH 2014
KICK-OFF: 2PM
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Full-time: What an extraordinary game we've just witnessed here at London Colney! Akpom struck a hat-trick for the Gunners who responded superbly to Potts' spectacular leveller to make the score 3-3 with ten minutes left. Two quick-fire goals turned the game on it's head again and gave the home side all three points. Brown notched a brace for the Hammers who will be aggrieved that they leave north London empty handed.
90+1 mins: Arsenal looking to run the clock down now as they seek to keep the ball, but they're not being allowed to settle with some fierce pressing from the Hammers.
89 mins: Three minutes of stoppage time indicated by the fourth official. Time for more goals? I wouldn't bet against it.
87 mins: Fanimo crosses from the right towards the back post where Amoo meets it. He heads it down but Iliev is there to gather.
85 mins: This game has left me lost for words! Arsenal reacted wonderfully to the Hammers leveller with two quick-fire goals.
83 mins Goal: Akpom completes his hat-trick as the ball falls to him in the box and he beats Guzman with a firm strike. I cannot believe this!
81 mins Goal: Arsenal go back in front. Huge groans from the Hammers as Ansah smacks home an angled shot.
78 mins GOAL: What a goal that is! Arsenal clear out after Turgott's corner, Fanimo lofts the ball back in where no one is picking up Potts, who sends an overhead kick past Iliev. Take a bow!
76 mins: Guzman deals with Eisfeld's free-kick at the second attempt after Cullen was harshly penalised for hand ball.
74 mins: A great pass by Toral who takes Potts out of the game and finds Seimann bearing down on goal. The full-back, clearly out of his comfort zone, strikes a first-time effort over the bar.
72 mins: Haycock makes his second change, bringing on Amoo for Sadlier.
71 mins: Sadlier charges down the left and earns himself a corner. Turgott takes, floating the ball to the back post where Harney's header is straight at Iliev with no great power on it.
69 mins: Glorious chance for Eisfeld who finds himself unmarked in the area as Iwobi picks him out. He hits it first time but straight at Guzman fortunately for the Hammers.
67 mins: Sadlier picks the ball up on the left this time and swings it in looking for Brown. It's a tad over-hit however and Iliev catches.
65 mins: Sadlier sees a shot blocked as he tricks his way into the box. Arsenal break but Eisfeld hits the deck too easily and West Ham regain possession.
63 mins: Close! Hayden nearly turns the ball into his own net as Brown looks for Sadlier on the cut-back. Iliev is just able to re-adjust and gather the ball.
61 mins: Change for the Hammers, Makasi runs on to replace Nasha who's put a shift in in the midfield today.
59 mins: Eisfeld has time to line-up a shot in midfield before striking the ball just over Guzman's crossbar.
57 mins: Hayden heads wide as Toral whips a free-kick over from the right. The defender falling over as he glanced wide.
55 mins: There's been a good response from the visitors to going behind with Potts the latest to test Iliev.
53 mins: Great action here, but that decision could well change the momentum of this game. The Hammers had started the half with fresh impetus but that may stop them in their tracks.
50 mins Goal: Penalty to the Gunners. Akpom goes down under Harney's challenge and picks himself up to score, sending Guzman the wrong way. It looked a soft decision.
48 mins: What a start to this half! Knoyle also played his part in the goal as he fed Turgott before the winger supplied the cross for Brown.
46 mins GOAL: Brown again! The striker finishes off a nice move down the right where Turgott played the ball across the face for the waiting Brown who equalises with barely 30 seconds of the second half played.
46 mins: The home side take kick-off and we're under-way again at London Colney.
Half-time: Arsenal take a lead into the break thanks to goals from Olsson and Akpom who opened the scoring. The Hammers hit back through Brown who struck a low effort from just outside the box past Iliev. On the whole the home side are good value for their lead although things might have been different had Brown's header from a Turgott corner not hit the post.
45 mins: Burke makes a last-ditch tackle to stop Akpom's shot after Iwobi drifted past three players. Too easy for him there.
43 mins: As we head toward half-time Guzman makes another good save, this time to deny Akpom after he cut inside and unleashed a low shot.
41 mins: Toral sends an effort flying high across the training pitches from Iwobi's lay-off.
40 mins: Hayden trots to the touchline but looks like he might be ok to continue.
39 mins: The players head over for a drink as Hayden recieves treatment after putting in a heavy challenge on Brown.
37 mins: Eisfeld slides in Iwobi down the left-hand side but the linesman flags to bring the attack to an end.
35 mins: Zelalem is controlling the game from the middle of the park as he dictates the hosts' attacks.
33 mins: Guzman comes to the rescue as he denies Iwobi with his feet. Arsenal are looking dangerous now.
31 mins: That goal was harsh on the away side who've looked relatively comfortable against Arsenal's passing game up to that point.
29 mins Goal: Arsenal enjoy a spell of possession before Olsson fires a low shot past Guzman from outside the area.
27 mins: Hayden is the first man to feel the wrath of the ref as he is shown yellow for a handball. Seemed a harsh decision. The centre-back will have to be careful now.
25 mins: Arsene Wenger is among the onlookers here at Colney. This London derby has already proved more of a match than his side against Chelsea on Saturday.
23 mins: Akpom has the ball in the net again but the flag is up as he slides into convert Iwobi's cross.
22 mins: What a great couple of minutes for the visitors who've certainly shown they're here to get the three points.
20 mins: Post! Brown nearly scores again as he flicks a header towards the far post from Turgott's corner but is left to despair as the ball strikes the post.
19 mins: Reward for the bright start made by the Hammers and their reaction to falling behind. Brown joined West Ham from Arsenal in the summer and has returned to haunt his old side,
16 mins GOAL: The Hammers draw level! Brown tenaciously wins the ball in tandem with Fanimo off the dawdling Olsson. The striker moves to the edge of the box before driving low past the keeper. Get in!
13 mins: The ball falls at the feet of Fanimo as Turgott nicks the ball off Olsson in a promising position. He has a dig but pulls his effort wide of the post.
12 mins: Sadlier tees up Potts to swing a cross over from the left but it floats into the arms of Iliev as Brown lurks.
10 mins: An early blow for the Hammers who had looked a threat themselves going forward. Time to consolidate and find their rhythm now.
8 mins Goal: Akpom has time to take a touch in the box before slotting the ball past Guzman following Eisfeld's cut-back.
7 mins: Guzman forces Akpom wide as the striker collects Eisfeld's through ball. The young keeper does well to usher him wide of the goal and forces the forward into a wayward cut-back.
5 mins: Burke does excellently to cut out a passing move as Toral looked to running through on goal.
3 mins: Fanimo drifts a cross over from the left-hand side but Iliev gathers as there are no Hammers in the immediate space.
1 min: Sadlier nicks the ball high up the pitch as Arsenal try and play out. He cuts inside and shoots but it's deflected and easily gathered by Iliev.
Kick-off: West Ham kick us off here at London Colney. A London derby with all to play for!
1:58pm: The Hammers are the first team onto the pitch as we await the Gunners before we can get going in this one.
1:54pm: It's a windy one up here on the gantry, with facilities not ideal for media here at London Colney. While i'm praying that there will be no rain for the duration of the game, the teams have headed inside to make their final preperations.
1:42pm: Arsenal will be hoping to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat to Reading last time out with victory against a Hammers side who are looking for their third win in four league games.
1:30pm: We have news of the Arsenal team. Here's how they line-up: Iliev, Siemann, Ormonde-Ottewill, Olsson, Ajayi, Hayden, Iwobi, Zelalem, Akpom, Eisfeld, Toral. On their bench today are: Jebb, Macey, Lipman, Ansah, Kamara.
1:22pm: The visitors make the short walk from the changing rooms onto the pristine pitch that they will be playing on this afternoon to begin the pre-match warm-up.
1:12pm: Gines Guzman and Tim Brown are out to go through their paces with goalkeeping coach Jerome John on a beautiful sunny day here at Arsenal's training base.
1pm: The Hammers are in the changing rooms preparing to go through their pre-match routine as the tunes blare out.
The young Hammers have arrived at the scenic surroundings of Arsenal's London Colney training ground for a Barclays Under-21 Premier League clash against the Gunners. Nick Haycock's side will be hoping to add fresh momentum to their top-four challenge with a win against their London rivals after a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool last time out. That loss left the side sat in eighth position in the table as they head into this clash against 18th place Arsenal. The Gunners occupy a lowly league position having not won in their last five matches, having suffered three defeats in their last five league outings, although they have played only 13 games compard to the Hammers' 16.
Haycock's team takes on a younger look to it today with injuries wreaking havoc amongst his squad. Gines Guzman deputises in goal in place of regular starter Raphael Spiegel. Guzman will marshal a defence which features Reece Burke and Jamie Harney in central defence with Dan Potts moving to left-back in place of the absent Lewis Page. In midfield, Amos Nasha is promoted from the Under-18s to partner Josh Cullen in the centre, while Kieran Sadlier comes in to make his first competitive start following injury. The final change sees Jordan Brown lead the line in place of Elliot Lee.
West Ham United: Guzman, Knoyle, Potts, Nasha, Burke, Harney, Turgott, Cullen, J Brown, Fanimo, Sadlier
Subs: Makasi, T Brown, Mavila, Driver, Amoo
Arsenal: Iliev, Siemann, Ormonde-Ottewill, Olsson, Ajayi, Hayden, Iwobi, Zelalem, Akpom, Eisfeld, Toral
Subs: Jebb, Macey, Lipman, Ansah, Kamara