As Arsenal U21s got their season underway last night with a 4-2 victory against Manchester United, Osman Kamara found himself amongst the substitutes.
The winger, who recently signed his first professional contract with the club, will have been disappointed not to have been named in the starting lineup, but he did feature as a late substitute as he came on in the 85th minute.
As was the case at some stages in pre-season, Kamara was deployed as a wing-back when Arsenal had possession but as a full-back when they didn’t have the ball.
The use of the 18-year-old in that position was partly down to a lack of alternative options, especially with left-back Elian Quesada-Thorn unavailable again, but it was also a move designed to help develop Kamara’s defensive capabilities.
Kamara often made an impact for Arsenal at U18 level and he is now aiming to do the same for the U21s, having already gained some experience of playing for the second string.
With his flair and directness, Kamara is capable of making a significant impact when he is at his best and he will hope that his use in defensive positions will benefit his all-round game.
Ismeal Kabia is currently performing to a very high standard for the U21s, but a space in the team could soon open up for Kamara if Nathan Butler-Oyedeji and Khayon Edwards depart before the closure of the transfer window.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
Thanks for the articles on the young uns Jeorge. Great opening wins for both the u-21s and u-18s this weekend.
Good for young players to try out a few positions. And for wingers particularly I think it helps to see what it’s like playing fullback, especially as that is their direct opponent when they play as a winger. Worked well for Saka anyway!