Wolves reserves 0 Arsenal reserves 0 – report and pictures
Wednesday 23rd November 2011, 8:00AM GMT.
Wolves’ trio Ronald Zubar, Steven Fletcher and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake sailed through their comebacks last night in an end-to-end clash.
Zubar got through 45 minutes with Saturday’s trip to Chelsea in mind, while the lively Fletcher played 70 minutes and Ebanks-Blake got the full game under his belt.
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Fletcher didn’t take long to threaten after he clattered a half-volley on the angle that Vito Mannone had to palm away after just six minutes.
Then he had a 17th-minute effort harshly disallowed for offside when he stabbed home Anthony Forde’s right-wing cross.
Three minutes later he turned provider to cross for Ebanks-Blake, who should have got his head to a teasing centre.
Most of Arsenal’s work came on the counter as Wolves pressed during the first half, but it required a superb tackle by George Elokobi on Jemade Meade as he broke onto a loose ball, while Oguzhan Ozyakup whistled a free kick a foot over and Sanchez Watts was a couple of yards wide from 15 yards.
But it was that man Fletcher who thought he had the breakthrough four minutes from the break.
This time he flashed a stooping header just wide from point-blank range from another Forde cross when Daniel Boateng just did enough to put him off.
But Arsenal almost forced a breakthrough two minutes from half-time when Watt’s curling free kick was tipped away by Dorus De Vries at full stretch after Jody Craddock tripped the Gunners striker.
The second half started in the same way and Fletcher was a foot away with rising angled drive before Wolves’ closest effort in the 53rd minute, Adlene Guedioura powering a header against the post from Adam Hammill’s corner.
But Arsenal should have taken the lead three minutes later when a poor pass from Matt Doherty allowed Watt a clear run on goal, but De Vries palmed away his shot diving to his left.
Arsenal dominated late on and after Ozyakup’s curling effort forced a falling save, Watt had an effort disallowed for offside, substitute Josh Rees ballooned over from a loose ball and Ozyakup was just wide with a low drive.
Wolves (4-4-2): De Vries; Zubar (Hemmings HT,), Craddock, Elokobi, Doherty (Ebanks-Landell 85); Forde, Guedioura, Price, Hammill; Fletcher (Winnall 70), Ebanks-Blake.
Sub not used: Cotman (gk).
Arsenal (4-3-3): Mannone; Hajrovic, Boateng, Squillaci, Angha; Eastmond, Yennaris, Ozyakup; Ansah (Rees 68), Watt, Meade (Ebecilio 68).
Subs not used: Martinez, Bihmoutine.
Referee: S Plane.
Attendance: 529.
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