By Max Margate (War Correspondent)
December 1 2004

Maybe my memory is playing tricks on me, but I cannot remember as much pre match publicity for the game that saw Arsenal win the league at Old Trafford.

In addition, it is not just the red tops; today’s Grauniad has almost a full broadsheet page on tonight’s Lager Cup match. It also lists every sending off since the Herbert Chapman era (well Graham actually – but why not join in the hype?). Yet not one of tonights squad played at Old Trafford last month.

 

According to all the feverish press reporting this could be the battle of the buffet mark two, or mark three if you include the buffeting of Ruud Van by Keown. Contradictory reports abound; Ferguson is upping the anti, Ferguson expects calm and so it goes on.

 

How can a match between Arsenal Youth and Man U reserves receive so much hype? The press will be disappointed if nothing goes off, and will revel in it if something does. Of course, they will condemn it, smug hypocrites that they are, but they will ignore their own role in trying to create an atmosphere where tensions will run high.

If it carries on at this rate the premiership will be turned in to a thinking persons WWF by Her Majesty’ Press.

 

Preview

I have been pessimistic about every round our youngsters have contested to date, (although readers of this site believe the kids will win) they have faced more experienced and senior opposition on every occasion. Man City and Everton put out first team squad players with just a sprinkling of youth, as Keegan put it Arsenal did not even play second string, it was third string. Amazingly they prevailed. Tonight its mainly third string Arsenal v second string Man U.

 

 I think Cygan will be missed he had a great captain’s game at Man City, and steadied a youthful defence. How will our youth respond to playing in front of 67,000. mainly Man U fans, consumed with prawn sandwiches and antipathy to all things Arsenal – who can say.

 

But whatever the result the youth have done remarkably well and the result will tell us more about the future than who will win the premiership this year.

THE SQUAD Manuel Almunia, Chris Wright, Robin Van Persie, Mathieu Flamini, Philippe Senderos, Jermaine Pennant, Gael Clichy, Justin Hoyte, Patrick Cregg, Johan Djourou, Sebastian Larsson, Arturo Lupoli, Quincy, Frankie Simek, Danny Karbassiyoon, Ryan Smith.