Academy Report: Boga tortures Arsenal

There was a return to U18's action last week for the first time in 3 weeks and it was a big game to come back to. Arsenal were the team that were hosting the young Blues this week and given that it was the international break and there was not U19's or U21's fixtures it enabled both teams to field stronger teams than normal.

Chelsea manager Viveash was able to bring in experience for their first U18's action of the season in the form of Mitchell Beeney, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Isaiah Brown. Jeremie Boga also started as he looks to regain full match fitness. Charlie Colkett got his first start as he looks to build up his own minutes in his injury recover and Charly Musonda was to come off the bench for 30 minutes after missing the last 5 games through injury.

Incidentally the first appearances for those 3 players takes the total number of players used by the U18's this season up to 30 which is a big squad of players with almost half of that number being 16 years old or younger (crazily that still includes Jeremie Boga and Isaiah Brown).

The first half was all that Chelsea could have asked for as a hard fought game saw Chelsea sprint to a 3 - 0 first half lead through Jeremie Boga. The second half would see a game of containment from Chelsea as the looked to keep possession and press Arsenal high up the pitch without over committing themselves and leaving themselves exposed . Overall you have to say it was a very impressive result and one that puts Chelsea in a strong position in the table.

As it has been of course International break the loan action this week was very limited but there was still some action to speak of. In League One Sam Walker and Colchester United were at home to Swindon but were unable to take a victory and they ended up losing 2 - 1.

For George Saville and Brentford it was an excellent week not only they manage to secure a 5 - 0 home win against Crewe but Saville got on the score sheet for the second time this season, Saville's performances have earned praise from Brentford's manager who will be hoping to keep him beyond the January expiry of his loan. There was no game this week for Patrick Bamford and MK Dons but Bamford did make his England U21's debut.

It was also a big week for Milan Lalkovic, having struggled for starts recently at Walsall he got his chance in the game against Peterborough and in front of the Sky camera's and he took his chance perfectly. Milan got the opening goal for Walsall with some fine individual work and also assisted the second goal in the eventual 2 - 0 win. This is a springboard now for Lalkovic to continue to make an impact.

The only other Chelsea loanee in action was Ulises Davilla in the Spanish second division and it was also an impressive week for him. Not only did he start the game but he got 3 goals in Cordoba's 4 - 2 home win over Hercules, having taken his time to fully settle it hopefully now means a start of a good season for Davilla. Even though the action was thin on the ground this week it was certainly a good one for the players that were involved.

Coming up this week is another big game as the U18's take on the impressive Aston Villa at home which should be a very interesting game and then it is a return to the UEFA Youth League on Tuesday as the U19's travel to Basel looking to keep up their 100% record in the competition.