With just two games of the season remaining the league title is in sight for Arsenal U18s.
Victories over Chelsea and West Ham United would see Kwame Ampadu’s team crowned champions, capping off an impressive campaign.
Winning certainly isn’t the most significant objective at youth level, with development taking precedence, but there can be no harm in success, especially given that Arsenal haven’t claimed any silverware at youth level in seven years.
While Arsenal certainly possess some exciting prospects and Ampadu deserves plaudits for his methods, it is clear that the decision to field much stronger lineups than usual has certainly played a part in the young Gunners’ upturn in fortunes.
Whereas previously it was commonplace for Arsenal to field many schoolboys at youth level, this season Ampadu has often fielded several second-year scholars in his team and in recent matches has even been able to call upon Reiss Nelson, who is firmly established as one of the stars of the U23 side.
Arsenal’s U18 team will have a very different look to it next season, with the first-years who have had their game time restricted this term set to be given opportunities to impress, while there are a talented crop of new prospects ready to step up.
For now, though, the focus is very much on the current team, who, while being vulnerable defensively, pose a major threat in an attacking sense.
Marcus McGuane and Josh Dasilva, two players with a wealth of experience of playing for the U18s, provide an impressive base in midfield, while Arsenal possess creative and attacking talents galore, with the likes of Nelson, Yassin Fortune, Donyell Malen, Vlad Dragomir and Eddie Nketiah (pictured) all players with vast potential.
With regards to development, however, it is Joe Willock who has made the most progress this season. The Hale End graduate, who can play as a winger or an attacking midfielder, was already very talented but has taken his game to a new level this season, becoming stronger physically and possessing an increased goal threat.
Whether Willock will still be at Arsenal next season remains to be seen as he has yet to sign the professional contract that was offered to him almost two years ago, but at present he remains a key player for Arsenal at youth level.
The aforementioned fixture against Chelsea takes place on Tuesday morning, although the situation is complicated somewhat by the fact that the U23s are in action against Manchester United, meaning Ampadu may not be able to call upon his strongest team for the visit to Cobham.
It is hoped, though, that Arsenal will still be able to prevail in that fixture and the subsequent encounter against West Ham to guarantee glory.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
Can we field them against United? Maybe they actually have some desire to play + Alexis.
Up the ‘ammers
hoorayy….atleast someone is winning at arsenal if not the first team
I will take any trophy this year: U18, Arsenal female, Arsenal Basketball (if that exists). But the U18 is a good thing for our future.
This should please you a great deal then –
https://twitter.com/arsenalladies/status/843489519798308864?lang=en
Thanks, I really really loved it. Hope next season the first male team will humiliate them for us.
Isn’t Chelsea like 11 points a head of us with just two more games to go?
Yes and no, kind of
I checked here: https://www.premierleague.com/tables?team=U18
There are two Divisions (north, south), after 22 games they seperate it into 3 new divisions (1st: 8 teams consisting of four highest-placed teams from two divisions, 2nd: 5th-8th … etc.)
After 5 games we’re top, 1pt ahead of chelski so winning against them will mean winning the league.
Sign them up now on contracts don’t leave it until they run out. I would play them in the league next year they already seem better than the players we have.
The ones we have in the squad now wouldn’t win the under 18s league, they would win anything.
What are spurs? Oh yes, that dross down the road ain’t likely to win the title after defeat to the hammers ?
That dross that made us look so ordinary last week and that have comfortably finished higher than us? This article is a chance to celebrate some of our promising young talent so why make some weak remark about them? It’s the written equivalent of our fans constantly chanting “we hate Tottenham ” rather than songs that get behind our team. Such a shame.
West ham thank you for actually pitching in.
God forbid sp o fuck it it’s just too gross to say.
It sounds obvious but winning games and titles seems like an important part of a young players development. They need to learn that winning mentality and not become used to losing which i feel has been a problem in our youth system in previous years. I.m also happy to see that the schoolboys and 1st year scholars are having to earn a place in this team rather than just being handed it. A competitive, successful environment is surely the best way to produce players who can eventually produce for the 1st team