Arsenal third-choice goalkeeper Tommy Setford appears set to feature for the u19s on Wednesday, but that doesn’t rule him out of the first-team squad later in the day.
PRESTON, ENGLAND: Tommy Setford of Arsenal celebrates after teammate Gabriel Jesus (not pictured) scores their team's first goal during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Preston North End and Arsenal at Deepdale on October 30, 2024. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images
Arsenal summer signing Tommy Setford has already made his debut for the Gunners’ first team, playing 90 minutes and keeping a clean sheet against Preston North End in the League Cup in late October.
The goalkeeper has also made the senior squad in other competitions, including twice in the Premier League and three times in the Champions League.
But ahead of Arsenal’s match against Monaco on Wednesday night, Jeorge Bird reports that Setford has been named in the Arsenal u19 squad facing the same opponents in the UEFA Youth League.
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: David Raya of Arsenal embraces his teammate Tommy Setford prior to the pre-season friendly match between Arsenal and Olympique Lyonnais at Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
This is only the second time in six games that Setford has been named in Arsenal’s Youth League squad, and the last time he was included, he started and played the full 90 minutes. So his inclusion again for Wednesday’s game suggests he could be in line for another start.
Yet that doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t be in the first-team squad. When Setford played that previous Youth League match against Shakhtar Donetsk, he then made the bench for the senior side later in the day.
Arsenal opted not to use the goalkeeper in both games against Inter or Sporting, but those matches were away matches. Perhaps the travel to and from Italy and Portugal was viewed as tiring enough.
The Shakhtar games were both local, as are the Monaco matches. The u19 games are at Meadow Park in Borehamwood, the senior matches at the Emirates Stadium in London.
Alexei Rojas (front row 3L) and Tommy Setford (6L) in training with Arsenal (Photo via Arsenal.com)
Photo via Arsenal.com
The UEFA Youth League offers an opportunity for Setford to get some competitive minutes, with Monaco’s u19s pushing for a final-day League Phase win to earn them a spot in the knockout stages.
Arsenal have much less to play for, with only their pride on the line after their elimination was recently confirmed. But that’s not going to make it an easy afternoon for a goalkeeper, and Setford should be given a good test.
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