U-18s miss out on title but hope abounds for future

Arsenal under-18s dispatched of Birmingham City with a 2-0 victory last weekend in their final game of the season but, despite the win, Steve Bould’s side were unable to regain the Premier Academy League title, which they last won two seasons ago, after results elsewhere went against them.

When the campaign is assessed as a whole, however, it is likely to be looked back upon rather positively by Bould and his coaching staff, as the youngsters enjoyed a considerably more consistent campaign than last season. There were several stand out performers, with Serge Gnabry making headlines after finding the net seven times in as many starts, whilst internally produced talents such as midfielders Josh Rees and Jordan Wynter matured as the campaign progressed, establishing themselves as regulars in the side.

Schoolboys Chuba Akpom and Jack Jebb, who have both been capped by England at youth level, also received several run outs ahead of the commencement of their scholarships next season. Akpom, a striker also capable of operating anywhere across the front three, impressed with his unique blend of strength, pace and trickery, whilst Jebb, a cultured central midfielder, caught the eye with several raking passes.

There have been other pleasing aspects of the season, too, as first-year scholars Isaac Hayden and Zach Fagan have surpassed expectations, the former earning a professional contract, in addition to the acclimatisation of last summer’s foreign recruits, Hector Bellerin, Jon Toral, Kris Olsson and the aforementioned Gnabry.

Next season hopes will be even higher for success, as a promising new crop take the field for the first time. This generation includes an assortment of Hale End graduates and players purchased from other clubs.