Arsenal struggled in the UEFA Youth League for much of last season and their new campaign also got off to a frustrating start yesterday.
The young Gunners, now coached by Max Porter and Jack Wilshere, suffered a 4-1 defeat away to Atalanta.
Despite the result, there was a major positive to take from proceedings, with 14-year-old Max Dowman becoming the youngest ever scorer in the history of the competition.
Arsenal were without Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, who were both on the bench for the first-team, but it was still a very frustrating outcome.
The Arsenal side included the likes of Ayden Heaven, Maldini Kacurri and Ismeal Kabia, who have all been named amongst the substitutes for the first-team recently.
One of the problems that Arsenal often encounter at this level is a lack of cohesion as the team is effectively a blend of the U18s with some members of the U21 squad. Therefore there are some individuals involved who don’t often play alongside each other.
Meanwhile, a host of other youngsters joined Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly in the first-team matchday squad last night.
16-year-old Jack Porter became one of the youngest ever goalkeepers to be called up by Arsenal at senior level, while midfielder Jimi Gower was also listed for the first time in a competitive fixture.
Furthermore, attacker Nathan Butler-Oyedeji and midfielder Salah-Eddine were also named in the squad.
—
Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
Wilshere out