Elian Quesada-Thorn has made six appearances in Premier League 2 for Arsenal U21s so far this season, which represents significant progress for a youngster who has had so much frustration with injuries in recent years.
The left-back, who has previously been called up by Costa Rica at senior level, has shown some encouraging signs of progress and has made some important defensive interventions.
Quesada-Thorn, 19, relishes providing an attacking threat and delivering dangerous crosses, although he is perhaps more suited to playing as a traditional left-back than as an inverted full-back.
The aim for Quesada-Thorn this season will be to continue to gain experience at U21 level and to push closer to a first-team callup.
With fellow defenders Josh Robinson and Zane Monlouis having been named on the bench for the first-team in the Champions League this season, Quesada-Thorn will be hoping that he will eventually also get an opportunity to have that experience.
Myles Lewis-Skelly’s conversion to left-back means that it is perhaps difficult for Quesada-Thorn to break into the senior setup at present but he will hope that he will still be afforded a chance to impress eventually.
This season Quesada-Thorn is still eligible to play for the U19s in the UEFA Youth League as an overage player and he did so against Paris Saint-Germain last month. Further involvement in that competition could be hugely beneficial for his progress.
If Quesada-Thorn remains at Arsenal next season then it is possible that he could go out on loan for the first time.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com
Follow him on Twitter @jeorge_bird
Good to hear.