It says something about the depth of attacking talent available to Arsenal at youth level that the young Gunners were without eight potential forward-thinking players this week yet still managed to prevail past their Bayern Munich counterparts with a 2-0 victory in the UEFA Youth League.
Arsenal weren’t able to call upon Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Chris Willock, Kaylen Hinds and Stephy Mavididi, who are all currently at the U17 World Cup in Chile, whilst Yassin Fortune is also on international duty with France U17s.
In addition, Dan Crowley, Gedion Zelalem and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, three hugely talented players who are still eligible to represent the club at this level, are currently spending time out on loan.
Without the aforementioned octet, Arsenal opted to deploy Dutch striker Donyell Malen up front, with the summer arrival being ably supported by Alex Iwobi, Ismael Bennacer and Reiss Nelson.
Malen wasn’t heavily involved for his proceedings, save for his cross late on to set up Iwobi’s second goal, but Bennacer and Nelson, two players who have been integrated into the side this season, were superb throughout their time on the field and, despite the fact that they have barely played together, demonstrated an impressive understanding.
Bennacer, an attacking midfielder who joined the club in the summer, is an extremely highly-regarded talent. He has already trained with the Arsenal first-team on several occasions, whilst he is a France U19 international at the age of 17 and also played in Ligue 2 last season for his former club Arles-Avignon.
Quick and a decisive passer, he works extremely hard off the ball and is capable of making immaculately-timed challenges.
As far as Nelson is concerned, his name is certainly worth remembering as he is likely to be mentioned a lot in youth circles over the next few years. Still a schoolboy at just 15 years of age, he was Arsenal’s outstanding performer against Bayern in the Youth League, catching the eye with his sublime close control and ability to link play.
Nelson’s driving runs also caused panic to set in amongst the Bayern defenders, and the England youth international can be extremely pleased with his recent progress.
Iwobi, the most well known member of the supporting trio, hasn’t quite been at his best this season and he started rather slowly against Bayern. However, the 19-year-old, who recently became a senior Nigeria international, scored both of Arsenal’s goals against the German side, the first of which was a tremendous powerful effort that left the opposing goalkeeper with no chance.
That isn’t even the full extent of Arsenal’s attacking options at youth level, with Vlad Dragomir, a creative midfielder, having also missed the game through international duty, and Edward Nketiah, a striker who has started the season in great form for the U18s, watching from the stands after not making the matchday squad.
Although there isn’t quite the same amount of depth available in defensive positions, the Gunners’ back four were impressive against Bayern, with Julio Pleguezuelo impressing again and Krystian Bielik also catching the eye even though his game ended in disappointment as he suffered an injury late on.
With three wins from three games, Arsenal’s youngsters are well on track to make progress in Europe, and their abundance of attacking options will make them a considerable threat to all of the challengers that they face in this season’s competition.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
Reiss Nelson looking very impressive. I hope Jeorge pens an article on the young players that will likely make the squad to play Sheffield Wednesday.
Even if 20% of these boys can make it here, we are safe for years to come.
With this wealth of young talents, it is safe to say the future of arsenal is safe and very bright….and looking at these youngsters……the depth of atypical attacking talents, the next arsenal team is going to be real scary for opponents to play against!…and given their age range, they are not too far away either. i would guess some of these guys would be knocking on the 1st team door from next season?
Is bielik still playing at centre back? Or is he back in midfield where he can drive forward with the ball?
A 15-year-old running the show in an under-19s match against Bayern Munich sounds fairly unprecedented.
Vlad Dragomir! There’s something about that name. I really hope he makes the first team someday.
With King Henry helping these boys out, I’m sure they’ll be pushing Theo and Giroud sooner rather than later.
Vlad Dragomir sounds terrifying! I assume he plays in dinner jacket and slicked back hair?
i think wenger sometimes has too much trust in them too early, for them to play for a big team like arsenal they firstly need serious first team action to develop their base of play, a couple of seasons or more at championship and maybe another spell at a premier league side, having done sth like that not only we’ll have our young talents exprienced n ready (mentally n physically) but also will find players with different basics n styles than what our academy usually tailors, afterall our coq would never be this hard makin grades along our dove playmakers
Don’t forget akpom either
And Crowley….Maitland Niles….There’s literally too many….what other team has this vast youth talent?! Malen looked a real talent before joining…Hopefully just bedding in. Exciting times, oh and who could forget Sanogo