The Under-23s Thread

[MutableEarth]

Not been a great game from us. Losing 1-0. Lacking verve. Kinda what I expected.

 

[MutableEarth]

i thought Edwards is having a good potential

Injuries really slowed his progress tbh

 

[MutableEarth]

Annous has come on.......at LB

Still looks secure going forward.

 

[MutableEarth]

Thought Kamara looked alright. Still very raw though.

Gower was surprisingly good as #6. Has the tech and the hardwork in him. Salah-Eddine is well above this level aswell.

 

[teamsoutheast]

Yeah agreed Salah and Gower were good. I like Gower's combative mentality. He'd do well n the EFL if he plays his cards right. Both him and Salah should be playing men's football really and I'm surprised they weren't loaned out in January especially Salah. France or his native Holland would be a great move for him.

 

[Afro Mugo]

I know, i shouldnt be speaking about him as he is not our player (anymore) but Chido's agent, as good as he is (from a player/family perspective, financially), misadvised him. He's barely played u21football this season : and in light of the Havertz injury, none of Butler oyedeji or Edwards are good enough for this level . Chido would have made his debut this season. Its just really sad coz i like Annous a lot but i feel, on evidence of MLS and Ethan, its just a season too early for him

 

[scytheavatar]

I know, i shouldnt be speaking about him as he is not our player (anymore) but Chido's agent, as good as he is (from a player/family perspective, financially), misadvised him. He's barely played u21football this season : and in light of the Havertz injury, none of Butler oyedeji or Edwards are good enough for this level . Chido would have made his debut this season. Its just really sad coz i like Annous a lot but i feel, on evidence of MLS and Ethan, its just a season too early for him

What makes you so certain it wouldn't be too early for Chido too? Certainly Utd coaches think it is too early for him. With how Arteta works Chido seems to be the opposite of what he wants to see from his strikers so I am not sure Chido would be ahead of Annous in the pecking order.

 

[MutableEarth]

U21s highlights: Arsenal 4-1 Newcastle United

Watch at: https://arsenal.page.link/Ti8F2gRTNNfMff7

Glad to see Osman Kamara back on form. One of our better prospects in his age group. Marli Salmon holding his own and Salah-Eddine being the best player on the pitch as per.

 

[Big Nate]

I know, i shouldnt be speaking about him as he is not our player (anymore) but Chido's agent, as good as he is (from a player/family perspective, financially), misadvised him. He's barely played u21football this season : and in light of the Havertz injury, none of Butler oyedeji or Edwards are good enough for this level . Chido would have made his debut this season. Its just really sad coz i like Annous a lot but i feel, on evidence of MLS and Ethan, its just a season too early for him

You don't make career decisions based on the small chance there's an injury crisis in the first team

 

[Dutch D]

U21s highlights: Arsenal 4-1 Newcastle United

Watch at: https://arsenal.page.link/Ti8F2gRTNNfMff7

Glad to see Osman Kamara back on form. One of our better prospects in his age group. Marli Salmon holding his own and Salah-Eddine being the best player on the pitch as per.

What's Salah-Eddine's best position/role? If he doesnt extend I hope to see him at Ajax.

 

[MutableEarth]

What's Salah-Eddine's best position/role? If he doesnt extend I hope to see him at Ajax.

Any variation of 8/10 really. Jeorge Bird compared him to Cazorla the other night.

 

[MutableEarth]

U21 game being streamed on arsenal.com tonight.

I'm guessing it's gonna be a pretty standard (dare I say, uninteresting) XI tonight, I'm unaware if any u18 players are going to be called up outside of Marli Salmon. Main player to watch will probably be Salah-Eddine. He's been easily the best player and it's rankling a lot of people that he's still playing at PL2 level. The other player I'm keen to see is Salmon. He's catapulted himself into being one of the very best prospects at the club in a short space of time and it's largely gone under the radar just how good he's been lately. Been a while since a really good CB has come through in a big way at Arsenal so let's see how it goes with Salmon. Part of a nice little contingent of defenders making their way through.

I think Edwards starts this aswell but Harriman-Annous started the last game (and won a penalty). Butler-Oyedeji also played and scored a brace and I have a feeling with Saka's return he will also start this game. I live in hope we may also see a Max Dowman appearance but given the U18s have a game tomorrow morning it's very unlikely to be a thing.

The XI I'm expecting to see:

Rojas
Rosiak Salmon Sweet Nichols
Dudziak Gower Salah-Eddine
Kabia Edwards Butler-Oyedeji
​

I hope we get to see some of Harriman-Annous. He's probably the most interesting player (again, outside of Marli Salmon) in the U21 squad and doesn't really play as much as I'd like. He still needs to working on imposing himself on games more but he's still dangerous and a very well rounded player. Osman Kamara would also be good to see more of but with Butler-Oyedeji back in the U21 squad I heavily doubt we'll see much of Kamara. We might see Seb Ferdinand instead of Kabia aswell. Ferdinand one of those players who can be really, really good on his day.

 

[MutableEarth]

I stand corrected! Marcel Washington starts, no Nichols. Harriman-Annous starts ahead of Edwards and no Salah-Eddine. Dan Casey starts instead! Henry-Francis is back at #6. Rosiak and Salmon on the right side of defence.

 

[MutableEarth]

Arsenal should be about 3-0 up already. Norwich GK been solid so far. Casey has had 2 good opportunities, Butler-Oyedeji hit the bar and Annous also had a decent near-post shot saved.
Good game from us so far. Casey very much at home in this team. Different player to Salah-Eddine but still very effective.

 

[MutableEarth]

Salmon is really good man, can't believe he's only 15.

Annous also looking very good at #9 but he just doesn't get the ball enough. My only complaint about him, always come away feeling like we need to see more of him.

 

[MutableEarth]

Arsenal FINALLY score. A special free kick from Michal Rosiak. Beautiful free kick. Very well deserved.

 

[MutableEarth]

2-0. Jimi Gower with the header. Great cross from Henry-Francis. Been a dominant performance, deserved lead.

 

[MutableEarth]

Arsenal FINALLY score. A special free kick from Michal Rosiak. Beautiful free kick. Very well deserved.

 

[MutableEarth]

Annous has been unlucky not to score. Had 2 decent chances. Getting into it now.

 

[MutableEarth]

2-0 at HT.

Been a top performance. Salmon and Sweet have both been excellent with the little they've had to do. Rosiak and Casey have controlled the game largely, along with Henry-Francis who looks so out of place at this level - needs to be playing mens football.

Annous has been very good aswell, on another day he has a brace. Still goals in this for him.