Arsenal U21s drew 0-0 with Blackburn Rovers this evening, with Theo Walcott making his first appearance at any level since January, whilst Serge Gnabry and Abou Diaby also featured. Here’s a player-by-player assessment of those involved.
Ryan Huddart
The tall goalkeeper was making his debut at this level and made some good saves, although he will seek to improve his distribution.
Tafari Moore
A tenacious right-back, Moore helped to keep the Blackburn defence at bay and also added to Arsenal’s attacking momentum with some good forays forward.
Stefan O’Connor
Assured for the most part, the youngster did have the occasional lapse in concentration but seemed confident having recently signed his first professional contract.
Glen Kamara
A holding-midfielder by trade, Kamara was initially supposed to be amongst the substitutes but was drafted in as a late replacement for Semi Ajayi. He coped well in his new position, thwarting some of Blackburn’s attacks before they could cause much damage.
Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill
As ever, he was excellent going forwards and very nearly found substitute Chiori Johnson with a good cross, but concerns about his defensive duties persist. The left-back occasionally gave too much space to Blackburn winger Connor Mahoney.
Abou Diaby
Evidently not at his sharpest, Diaby still played some good passes, although he couldn’t quite dominate the game in the same way as he did against Aston Villa U21s. Out of contract in the summer, but it isn’t yet clear when he’ll return to the first-team on a permanent basis.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles
A player of some quality, but his attributes seem better suited to his natural wide position as opposed to central-midfield, where he has been deployed recently. Was booked after hauling down an opponent in dangerous territory.
Theo Walcott
A few good touches and his pace is still intact, but, perhaps as expected, the winger wasn’t too heavily involved in his 45 minutes on the pitch. Not yet ready for first-team action, even as a substitute, but it was a major positive just to see him playing football again.
Serge Gnabry
Arsene Wenger said this week that Gnabry is a little behind Walcott in terms of recovery and that was evident here, with the German seeming rather rusty. The 19 year old also wasn’t much suited to the central attacking midfield position he was asked to play, but, like Walcott, he will be happy to merely be back on the pitch again.
Dan Crowley
Grew a little frustrated at times in the first-half, but Crowley was Arsenal’s key player in the second period and came mightily close to finding the net. An excellent dribbler and an astute passer, he still requires a little more tactical understanding before he can step up to the first-team, but, make no mistake, it can be said with much confidence that he will reach the senior squad eventually.
Chuba Akpom
Perhaps as a result of his exertions with England U20s, Akpom didn’t seem at his sharpest tonight and couldn’t make the most of the very few opportunities that he was presented with.
Subs
Alex Iwobi (for Walcott, 46)
Introduced at the start of the second-half and helped to swing the momentum of the game in Arsenal’s favour with some driving runs. He also had a goal ruled out for offside.
Gedion Zelalem (for Gnabry, 59)
Was quietly effective as he played some neat passes. Seems a little stronger physically and also more tactically aware than he was previously.
Chiori Johnson (for Diaby, 67)
A regular for the U18s, this was Johnson’s first experience of competitive U21 football and he nearly marked it with a goal but couldn’t quite connect with Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill’s cross.
Sub not used: Matt Macey.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
Theo! Theo! Theo! So happy he’s back!
The Diaby dream is coming to an end, he seems to be the posterboy of the last 8 years or so.
Read on Football365 a post from an Arsenal fan which said how sad it made him we’ll never have a better team than 2004.
I think we will, but I’ve no counter to his point
It’s sad that we’ll never have a better team than in 2004…………….
Better being an undefeated team that wins the treble?
Cripes.
I suppose it’s also sad that I’ll never have a guitar-playing unicorn as a pet.
I still love Arsenal! Just in the same way a man loves his wife after twenty years. Not as much because she’s not as pretty
Enjoy sleeping on the couch!
Good to see walcott back; this definitely means Mr diaby would not be on the bench for tomorrows match..
Coyg
Could you elaborate on what has happened in terms of Gedion’s development during 2014? A year ago it seemed he was on the brink of the first team and I thought he was a definite starter for this year’s Carling Cup, but now he doesn’t even make it into the U-21. What is happening?
I suspect that you’re reading too much into things. Before this match, Zelalem started four of the five previous U21 fixtures and came on at half-time in the other. On this occasion, they clearly wanted to give Diaby, Gnabry and Walcott a run-out: there wasn’t room for all the younger players to start.
He’s 17 and this is the youth setup. Coming off the bench here and there is hardly cause for panic.
Wait… we played a holding midfielder at CB? Did Isaac Hayden play for another youth team earlier this week or is he being saved for Hull?
He’s in the 1st team squad for Hull.
Probably on the bench.
He tweeted that he had a minor injury.
dan crowley to 1st team within 2 years?
Crowley’s problem getting into the first team is not going to be his talent – at least on current evidence – but who he has to go past to get there. Basically to get a starting spot he’d need to push Wilshere out, as they’re very similar players, at least right now. Cazorla and Rosicky will be gone (or nearly so) in 2-3 years though, so that should open up at least the path to an occasional first-team start.
He doesn’t have to get past anyone. He’s still very young. Taking Rosicky’s place would be enough for now.
Is kamara any relation to the legend that is Chris Kamara?
Crowley is an enormous talent. So is Zelalem and Akpom. We’ve got some pretty good players in the youth ranks.
We’ve had very good youth players in the past like JET, Aneke and Afobe, but the jump to 1st team /adult football is enormous. There’s still time for Afobe and ‘fingers crossed’ the 3 you mention will make it.
I’m actually excited at the prospect and find it preferable him being considered a CB ahead if Monreal. He’ll make mistakes, that is certain but he is still better suited to the roll than our Nacho.
I think Wegner should start Hayden ahead of Nacho at CB but i really don’t think he will. Its going to be hard to cope with set peices and crosses because we arent the tallest team anyway and now we are missing Kos and Calum so maybe hayden could add that height and power??
I still don’t know what the hell actually happened to Gnabry…