This is a busy week for Arsenal U21s as they face Chelsea away tonight just four days on from their last game against West Bromwich Albion.
Despite fielding a strong team (seven members of the starting lineup had previously been called up by Arsenal for a competitive senior fixture), the U21s fell to a 3-0 defeat away to West Brom, which included two goals being conceded late on.
Mehmet Ali will be eager for his team to bounce back against the Blues, although that is unlikely to be an easy task, with Chelsea able to call upon talented players such as Leo Castledine and Ronnie Stutter (the latter was previously at Arsenal’s academy.)
Arsenal have a problem at left-back at U21 level following the departure of Lino Sousa, with Ali having tried various options in that position in recent weeks. Myles Lewis-Skelly started there against West Brom, but the 17-year-old is certainly better suited to operating in midfield.
Despite the scoreline on Monday, there were some encouraging signs from winger Amario Cozier-Duberry, whose future at Arsenal beyond this season remains somewhat uncertain with his contract set to expire in the summer.
Cozier-Duberry’s pace and trickery makes him very difficult for defenders to deal with and it seems likely that he will be stepping up to senior football of some description next season wherever he is playing.
Meanwhile, midfielder Ismail Oulad M’Hand will be pushing for a place in the starting lineup against Chelsea. The Morocco youth international was perhaps unfortunate to only be named on the bench against West Brom but there is much competition for places in midfield.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
Cozier duberry there is a star in there our next saka, we have to tie him down to a new contract . I don’t why Mikel don’t involved him with the Senior set up to have exposure