Arsenal U23s secured their second win in succession yesterday, with Kido Taylor-Hart scoring both of the goals for his team in the 2-1 win away to Tottenham Hotspur.
Retaining the services of Taylor-Hart this summer was a significant boost for the academy and the winger has made an encouraging start to the new campaign.
Forming part of a hugely exciting attacking triumvirate that also includes Mika Biereth and Omari Hutchinson, Taylor-Hart showed excellent composure with both of his strikes at Hotspur Way.
An extremely skilful player, there are some occasions when Taylor-Hart takes a little too long to make a decision in the penalty area, but there is much to like about his game and he has frequently demonstrated that he is capable of making a major impact at U23 level.
The 18-year-old will hope to edge closer to the first-team squad this season but he will also look to help the U23s enjoy a significantly more successful campaign than they did last year.
It is evident that the Arsenal youngsters are still adapting to Kevin Betsy’s methods, but there have been signs that his system, which includes a three-man defence, is starting to work effectively.
Midfielder Jack Henry-Francis, who impressed against Hibernian in pre-season, received an opportunity to impress for the U23s yesterday and certainly seized his opportunity.
If Miguel Azeez joins Portsmouth on loan before the transfer deadline then it will be hugely beneficial for Henry-Francis, who received further good news this week as he was called up to the Republic of Ireland U19 squad.
—
Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
Great to see Gabriel get in a good 45 minutes.
Can they play Norwich after the break?
We need some points on board.
Can we keep Azeez at the club and send Elneny or Xhaka to Portsmouth instead.
Arteta is dying on the Xhaka hill, just like Emery and Wenger before him. He is the single worst transfer in the last 20 years of Arsenal, bar none. We have had players with less contribution, but his has been such an unmitigated 6 year car crash that it is getting hard for me to comprehend. He is a cat with 10 lives. I feel I am stuck in a fever dream, seeing him start yet another year in our central midfield. Still at our club, making the same brain-dead errors every single season. Letting the team down on repeat,… Read more »
No one cares really this club is a joke. Ship Saliba on loan after paying 27million for him then play Kolasinac.
Cedric & Elneny play instead of our summer signings.
A rubbish club run by a bunch of jokers.
I think a lot of people care.
I think it’s too simplistic to tie the decision to send Saliba on loan to Kolasinac playing.
The first choice CBs are injured/ill, the backup option of Mari is horribly out of form and there’s also the element that Saliba doesn’t seem to want to be at Arsenal right now.
This feels a bit more like a ‘perfect storm’ type scenario – I’m much more concerned about the right back situation!
Saliba doesn’t want to be at Arsenal? Obviously Arteta is the one who froze him out and shipped him out on loan, twice. Let’s not make excuses for poor mismanagement.
Your mentality is what is wrong with this club. Enjoy being the bottom of the league. I am sure your excuses and thinking will sink us to the Championship.
Promote him to the 1st team…or maybe the coach
In the past we’ve ensured continuity of progress by employing the same team tactics throughout the club so it’s interesting to see the u23s play 3 at the back consistently whereas the first team changes approach every game and sometimes during the game. Adaptability is important but taking time to master each format is vital.
I like to hear about our young players but I don’t think this is the time.
Not after the humiliating drubbing this afternoon.
The city game was horrible but we should always love beating the tiny tots.
Can he manage? He has as much experience as our current manager so I think he can do a great job. He’s hired! My brain hurts.
Can Taylor Hart and Azeez really be any worse than Xhaka and Elneny?
Cottrell again an unused sub…. Had him pegged as one of the more promising youngster at the academy but Betsy isn’t using him much so far.
Also, how was Norton-Cuffy. He’s another one that looks very promising…
Goals? Winning football matches? Points?
Oh the memories.
Let’s just imagine for a second that we manage to beat Norwich and Burnley. 6 points on the board. We move up to, say, 12th at that time. What does that mean for the spurs game? We surely can’t lose it and Arteta stay in job. We then have Brighton, Palace, villa. All of which will smell blood in the water. In other words, we need to win at least 4 of all of those games and comfortably otherwise the feeling of doom will continue. Every single game out of the next six is a cup final for Arteta. We… Read more »
We’ll win 4 or 5 of those next 6 games, plus the Wimbledon game, and things will start to look alright again.
I suspect Bellerin will stay and be our first choice right-back.
Great Expectations for Taylor Hart, Azeez, Hutchinson, Patino, and Norton Cuffy.
What is happening with Catalin Cirjan? Is he injured? I have heard a lot of good things but don’t see him playing at U-23 level or being groomed for a senior debut. Seems to be in a bit of a no-man’s-land…
Puzzled by Cirjan’s lack of opportunities. I kept an eye on his progress since his fairy tale move from Romania. He exploded onto the scene at youth level, got himself in contention for trainings with the first team, but the excitement seems to have tailed off a bit.