The Under-18s Thread

[db10_therza]

the goals seemed unusually sloppy from a defensive standpoint

I’ve felt this way watching almost every u18 highlights this season. Wasn’t sure if it was just a general u18 thing or our team, but the defensive lapses have been… interesting…

 

[MutableEarth]

I’ve felt this way watching almost every u18 highlights this season. Wasn’t sure if it was just a general u18 thing or our team, but the defensive lapses have been… interesting…

We've never been a particularly defensive team at this level tbh. The only team I can think of who were really strong defensively was the 2018/19(?) team with Matt Smith as captain. That defence was very strong - Dan Ballard and Mark McGuinness were the CB duo, both of whom are now hard-nosed Championship defenders who will likely end up in the PL in a few years. Zech Medley was the auxiliary CB and he was an interesting one because he was a forward right up until he joined Arsenal so while he looked fine on the ball, he was pretty error prone.

Of the current crop, Brayden Clarke looks quite sturdy and good on the ball but the most exciting players in that backline are the right backs (one of whom - Julienne - is actually a midfielder). I've not seen much of the 1st years yet but I'm hopeful they have a bit more about them defensively. But our USP has always been the attack and the midfield. At the moment, most of the attacking players we're producing and even the midfielders are all super versatile and play multiple positions. The first team mirroring is getting a bit more obvious. Dowman plays 8/10/RW; Annous plays 8/10/RW/9; Bailey-Joseph plays both wings; Zecevic-John plays both wings; O'Neill plays both wings and 8/10; Ife Ibrahim plays 6/RB; Julienne plays 8/6/RB/LB; Casey plays 8/9/10 etc. There's quite a lot of that going on! Even Will Sweet played full back last season before switching to CB.

 

[Afro Mugo]

I wouldn't look to much at the result. Atalanta side had 4 19 years old in their team. The oldest at Arsenal is 18. The 1-2 years advantage can make a big difference at this level.

Still Wilshere needs to do something about starting games so poorly. This is the 3rd game in a row his side went down 0:3 in the first half.

I think Wilshere showed during his first Youth Cup run that he can get cohesive performances out of players who otherwise don't have as much chemistry with each other as it was the same for him, calling up a handful of players who were at that point U21 players mostly

Atalanta - Serie A in general tbh - are quite good at this level, I'm assuming because they often play reserve team football and then drop back down for this level. The European teams have their youth players face adult competition far more than we do. At most we have the Papa Johns (or whatever it's sponsored by now).

I did have a look at the highlights though and the goals seemed unusually sloppy from a defensive standpoint. Heaven loses the ball for the 2nd goal trying to dribble out of trouble for example - and the shot was even deflected in. Heaven still seems somewhat uncomfortable at CB to me, not sure the experiment will work. I have a hunch he will leave as he still hasn't signed pro.

Yes I personally noticed that Wilshere gets better performances out of players not used to each other than Ali. With regards to Heaven, if he keeps his head down and learns to be a LCB he'll make a top defender. It's the position that has got him an England call up after all. I won't frown upon the decision to change his position as eg compare him to his agemates MLS Emery-Zaire, I don't think DM would put him at the top.level.

 

[MutableEarth]

Yes I personally noticed that Wilshere gets better performances out of players not used to each other than Ali. With regards to Heaven, if he keeps his head down and learns to be a LCB he'll make a top defender. It's the position that has got him an England call up after all. I won't frown upon the decision to change his position as eg compare him to his agemates MLS Emery-Zaire, I don't think DM would put him at the top.level.

I think with Heaven, his on-ball work is carrying him as he's struggling to deal with defensive transitions quite a bit. I'd like to see how he develops in the role as I don't think DM would be his best shot either, I actually think it's #8 if it's midfield. I like the idea of him in that CB role but I think he has to continue to face tough tests the way he has been. I'm just a little concerned at how uncomfortable he sometimes looks under pressure but I guess it's due to the nature of his natural game.

 

[MutableEarth]

So the U18s had yet ANOTHER 3-3 draw, this time against Brighton u18s. The talking point is Andre Annous (being billed as Andre Harriman-Annous now) scoring a hattrick, including a really nice chipped goal. He's definitely stepping up in this #9 role and should probably start for the UYL team.

I'm really impressed by him. Seems to have all the skills needed to be a top 9. Becoming physically quite dominant but I'd like to see him against bigger defenders.

U18s highlights: Brighton 3-3 Arsenal

Watch at: Arsenal FC Official Website | Home | Arsenal.com

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1840360885551792278

 

[Geofranco]

So the U18s had yet ANOTHER 3-3 draw, this time against Brighton u18s. The talking point is Andre Annous (being billed as Andre Harriman-Annous now) scoring a hattrick, including a really nice chipped goal. He's definitely stepping up in this #9 role and should probably start for the UYL team.

I'm really impressed by him. Seems to have all the skills needed to be a top 9. Becoming physically quite dominant but I'd like to see him against bigger defenders.

U18s highlights: Brighton 3-3 Arsenal

Watch at: Arsenal FC Official Website | Home | Arsenal.com

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1840360885551792278

How old is Andre? He looks pretty big and athletic

 

[MutableEarth]

How old is Andre? He looks pretty big and athletic

He's 16. Definitely much taller since his debut for the U18s. Looks a strong athlete. Squint and he actually looks a bit like Chido in stature . Obviously a couple inches shorter but he looks about as big as most of the CBs he's up against. Looks to have the acceleration and pace to get away from them but doesn't seem overawed in duels. His first goal this season he just skated away from the defender and it made me sit up and take notice instantly.

I'm very interested in how this season's gonna go for him.

 

[MutableEarth]

U18s highlights: Birmingham City 2-3 Arsenal

Watch at: U18s highlights: Birmingham City 2-3 Arsenal

Dowman with another impressive display and a brace. 2 very good finishes. Marciniak with another good goal off the bench aswell.

 

[drippin]

U18s highlights: Birmingham City 2-3 Arsenal

Watch at: U18s highlights: Birmingham City 2-3 Arsenal

Dowman with another impressive display and a brace. 2 very good finishes. Marciniak with another good goal off the bench aswell.

Dowman - Lewis-Skelly - Nwaneri

Oh man, wild dreams. I think all are proper gunners too? Not much fear of them leaving basically.

 

[Jack_The_Lad]

Dowman - Lewis-Skelly - Nwaneri

Oh man, wild dreams. I think all are proper gunners too? Not much fear of them leaving basically.

they're all left footed though, so maybe one of Dowman or Nwaneri in a more advanced position?

 

[MutableEarth]

Dowman - Lewis-Skelly - Nwaneri

Oh man, wild dreams. I think all are proper gunners too? Not much fear of them leaving basically.

That's the word. Although I think all 3 players are of such quality that it will be important that they aren't held back for too long. I think it's been played OK for now with the latter 2, and we'll have to be very delicate about Dowman's development. I can't stress how strange it is to be talking about a 14 year old at this level. If he was from another country he'd probably be playing first team football already, that's how weird it is. It's a good thing he's at Arsenal - even though the hype train is already rolling, he has a management team that will protect him for as long as they can. From Wilshere, to Per and to Arteta - the latter likely won't want to put him in the spotlight too early. Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly are arguably ready and he's still reluctant. It might get annoying if you want to see them play at a higher level but it's probably not wrong.

But yeah, I think those 3 aren't leaving, they're a lock.

they're all left footed though, so maybe one of Dowman or Nwaneri in a more advanced position?

Could be. Dowman looks good on the RW while Nwaneri has played false 9 a bunch of times and done quite well.

 

[lazyfreak]

Dowman continues to set records. After he became the youngest to score in the UEFA Youth League, he's now the youngest to score a brace in the U18 Premier League at 14 years, 278 days. Record was previously held by Finlay Gorman (14 years, 326 days) while at Leeds but is of course now at Man. City.

 

[NieThePiet]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1850160507203809283

First game after Wilshere.

Arsenal was leading 0-2 until the 69th minute and the conceded the 3:2 in extra time..

 

[MutableEarth]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1850160507203809283

First game after Wilshere.

Arsenal was leading 0-2 until the 69th minute and the conceded the 3:2 in extra time..

Expected us to beat Norwich so this was a slightly disappointing result. Think this team lacks a #9 now that Annous has seemingly been promoted already to the U21 team, and there's still a lot of work to be done defensively with this group. They're a very young defensive unit largely but it's still somewhat concerning that we're regularly conceding 3 goals or more almost every game.

This is still a very promising bunch, vast majority being 1st years and schoolboys so I expect performances to pick up again over time. Dan Casey seems to have become the main goalscoring threat, but it must also be noted that the undisputed best player in this team (Dowman) is on international duty and that has surely played a part.

EDIT: It's quite funny that a handful of Arsenal fans on twitter are fuming over this result. One because it's U18s lmao, why are you that upset? But I reckon they're just upset mostly because Chido Obi-Martin finally made his debut for Man United U18s and scored a 15 minute hattrick . This does not bother me because we already know that Chido is a beast at U18 level. I'd have taken more notice of it if he did it for the U21s instead. I'll definitely be paying attention when he plays a higher level.

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

Expected us to beat Norwich so this was a slightly disappointing result. Think this team lacks a #9 now that Annous has seemingly been promoted already to the U21 team, and there's still a lot of work to be done defensively with this group. They're a very young defensive unit largely but it's still somewhat concerning that we're regularly conceding 3 goals or more almost every game.

This is still a very promising bunch, vast majority being 1st years and schoolboys so I expect performances to pick up again over time. Dan Casey seems to have become the main goalscoring threat, but it must also be noted that the undisputed best player in this team (Dowman) is on international duty and that has surely played a part.

EDIT: It's quite funny that a handful of Arsenal fans on twitter are fuming over this result. One because it's U18s lmao, why are you that upset? But I reckon they're just upset mostly because Chido Obi-Martin finally made his debut for Man United U18s and scored a 15 minute hattrick . This does not bother me because we already know that Chido is a beast at U18 level. I'd have taken more notice of it if he did it for the U21s instead. I'll definitely be paying attention when he plays a higher level.

Feels like Chido would already be starting at 21 and not far behind Nwaneri and MLS regarding first team involves for us. Just general feeling.

But will be interesting to see his trajectory to first team football at United. At very leqst he got his 40k per week and thats all I ever wanted for him!

 

[MutableEarth]

Feels like Chido would already be starting at 21 and not far behind Nwaneri and MLS regarding first team involves for us. Just general feeling.

But will be interesting to see his trajectory to first team football at United. At very leqst he got his 40k per week and thats all I ever wanted for him!

He'll defo end up in the U21s for United sooner rather than later but he'd have done that here. I just think he wanted United regardless, don't think there was much we could have done to convince him - charge it to the game.

Had he stayed though, the opportunities would easily have been there. One only has to look at the rise of Andre Harriman-Annous, who's molded his game in a very similar fashion and has a good goalscoring record this season. Annous is now pretty much an U21 player and isn't even playing for the U18s anymore. It took him 5 or 6 games to get that start against Leyton Orient and he even scores against them.

Chido will do well I'm sure of it, but I'm more focused on what we do with Annous. He's the most interesting scholar at the moment to me. We know about Dowman and the other schoolboys already and Casey is building a nice case for himself but Annous could have genuine potential if he continues to develop the way he's developing so far.

 

[MutableEarth]

The U18s did something the first team couldn't do today and that was claw back a point after being behind. Game finished 1-1 with Palace.

Dowman was still on international duty so didn't play. Schoolboy winger Brando Bailey-Joseph was our goalscorer today.

 

[MutableEarth]

U18s highlights | Arsenal 1-1 Crystal Palace

Watch at: Arsenal FC Official Website | Home | Arsenal.com

‐-‐-------------------

Dan Casey playing that false 9 role and looked good. Popping up everywhere and popping off passes here and there. Bailey-Joseph looks really dangerous though for a schoolboy, think if he sharpens up his ball striking he'll be a very difficult player for defenders to deal with. Good to see Ibrahim back aswell.

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1854200777113235886

@MutableEarth wake up, a new Dowman video just dropped.

 

[MutableEarth]

S

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1854200777113235886

@MutableEarth wake up, a new Dowman video just dropped.

Saw earlier, was quite amazed tbh as we were beaten 4-1 and it didn't seem particularly close. To see that despite this he had a strong game is encouraging, especially for his age. I'm a bit disappointed with the U19 UYL performances, they've been very disjointed and too mix-and-match in nature compared to the seemingly much more uniform teams we often come up against. We don't even have the same coach in charge, Max Porter takes charge of the team for some reason.

Isn't much more I can say about Max Dowman though, he's a scary talent.