Arsenal young guns taught a lesson as Chelsea loanee Jacob Maddox shows benefits of lower league education

Jacob Maddox struck twice against Arsenal
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James Benge30 October 2018

As the Bundesliga and Serie A beckon for Britain’s brightest young prospects, it is encouraging to see that even the lowest tiers of the Football League are giving fledgling stars a chance to show what they can do.

In theory Chelsea prospect Jacob Maddox ought to be finding life at Cheltenham something of a slog. The Robins are second from bottom in League Two, appointed a new manager back in September and, according to those who were there, spent much of Saturday’s defeat to Stevenage lumping the ball from defence to attack.

At least he finds himself in one of England’s finest spa towns, because Stamford Bridge this is not.

And yet it was clear when Freddie Ljungberg’s Arsenal Under-21s side rolled into town that the last few months of battling football in the lower leagues have prepared Maddox in ways that the Premier League 2 and Checkatrade Trophy simply cannot.

For Cheltenham, a 6-2 win over the Gunners offered a welcome break from the scrapping of the lower leagues, their fans cheering “we want six” in their first game against an Arsenal side.

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

For the U21s this was a reality check after the impressive win at Coventry in last month’s first group game. A bright cadre of youngsters they may be but they have some way to go before they can compete in the Football League.

From the off it was Maddox was preying on the innocence of Ljungberg’s young guns, stealing possession off a dawdling Ben Sheaf. He may have been wearing the armband but he was made to look so innocent by a battle-hardened Cheltenham - who seemed to be relishing a break from the relegation slog - that his manager withdrew him midway through the first half.

By that time Maddox had already swung the match in Cheltenham’s favour. Having picked Sheaf’s pocket he repeated the trick on Robbie Burton, who felt he had no choice but to bring his opponent down, receiving a straight red for his foul.

Robbie Burton is given his marching orders
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Chris Clements curled in the opener from the resulting free-kick and the young guns were rocked. Replacing Sheaf with Matthew Smith didn’t offer any immediate security as Maddox led a steady probing of Arsenal that ended when Will Boyle flicked home a header at the back post, where he towered over the Gunners backline.

Even down to 10 men Arsenal were a major threat with the pace of Bukayo Saka and Tyreece John-Jules, who snaffled up a rare chance when he rounded goalkeeper Scott Flinders and slotted into an empty net.

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

If that gave Arsenal hope heading into the break, it was soon snuffed out as Maddox struck twice in the first five minutes - a smart finish at the end of a flowing move and a bullet header that put this game out of sight - though a Charlie Gilmour penalty won after what looked a soft decision for John-Jules at least briefly revived Arsenal’s hopes.

It is significant that Ljungberg fought so hard to get Arsenal to end their absence from the Checkatrade Trophy. In each of the first two seasons in which U23 sides were invited, the Emirates hierarchy turned down the invitation - but the Swede wanted his charges to get familiar with playing against “real men”.

Tyreece John-Jules of Arsenal is fouled by Ben Tozer of Cheltenham
Arsenal FC via Getty Images

An admirable approach, but then why have Arsenal not sent any of their best and brightest down to League 2 where they can learn on a weekly basis? Centre-back Krystian Bielik is at Charlton, Matt Macey at Plymouth but that aside the lower leagues are far less populated with young guns than they are with Chelsea prospects.

There may be the faintest of hopes for Maddox of ever making it at Stamford Bridge, but wherever his career may take him he will be stronger for this season in the doldrums. What Ljungberg and Raul Sanllehi must ask themselves is whether the youth teams are the best place to develop their best prospects.

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