It has been a significant season for Charles Sagoe Jr, with the most notable milestone for the winger so far coming when he made his competitive debut for the Arsenal first-team against Brentford in the Carabao Cup.
This week there was another important moment for Sagoe Jr as he was given the captain’s armband for Arsenal’s final UEFA Youth League game away to PSV.
Reuell Walters had captained the U19s for all five of their previous fixtures in this competition but the defender was unavailable against PSV due to being called up to the first-team squad for the game against the same opponents.
Coach Mehmet Ali entrusted Sagoe Jr with the captaincy and the winger relished the extra responsibility that he was afforded.
Arsenal ran out 3-1 winners as they secured their first win in this competition since 2016 and Sagoe Jr certainly made an impact as he set up all three of his team’s goals.
Amario Cozier-Duberry scored a brace, with defender Josh Nichols also getting on the scoresheet as Arsenal secured victory.
Sagoe Jr, who featured as an overage player in the UEFA Youth League, won’t be eligible to play in the competition if Arsenal are involved next season.
However, the 19-year-old will hope that by that stage he will have stepped up to regular senior football of some description, perhaps out on loan.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
One fallout of Arsenal first team’s steady rise back to elite status in the epl and Europe is the step up in the quality demanded of the academy players.
I remember, back in the day, when Arsenal youngsters regularly thrashed established Championship sides in the early stages of the League Cup.
Anyone with hopes of making it to the first team now must think Saka or something pretty close.
Denilson,senderos and co could get to cup finals without any help ..kudos to arsene