Although Arsenal U19s concluded their UEFA Youth League campaign with a 2-0 win at home to Monaco, there was frustration overall as the young Gunners were again unable to progress beyond the group stages.
This competition has often proved a challenge for Arsenal and improvements will certainly have to be made if the U19s are involved in next season’s edition (which will be dependent on whether the first-team qualify for the Champions League).
There were some positives to take from this season’s games. 14-year-old Max Dowman gained valuable experience, while players such as Harrison Dudziak, Seb Ferdinand, Brayden Clarke and Dan Casey were heavily involved.
First year scholars Andre Harriman-Annous and Theo Julienne were also given the opportunity to test themselves against high-quality opponents.
In total, Arsenal won two games (against PSG and Monaco) while they suffered four defeats (against Atalanta, Shakhtar Donetsk, Inter Milan and Sporting). They finished in 26th place out of 36 teams (missing out on the top 22 by two points).
Arsenal demonstrated an improve defensive structure against Monaco; something which was sorely missing earlier in the campaign.
The involvement of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly with the first-team certainly impacted the U19s, while there was a lack of cohesion in some of the earlier games as some of these players don’t often play alongside each other.
One such solution could perhaps be to arrange more pre-season friendlies at U19 level to create a better understanding within the group.
**Arsenal U19 appearances in UEFA Youth League 2024/25**
Harrison Dudziak – 6 appearances
Brayden Clarke, Seb Ferdinand, Dan Casey, Josh Nichols, Ismeal Kabia, Osman Kamara, Ayden Heaven, Andre Harriman-Annous – 5 appearances
Louie Copley, Theo Julienne, Michal Rosiak, Maldini Kacurri, Max Dowman – 4 appearances
Will Sweet, Romari Forde, Lucas Nygaard – 3 appearances
Marli Salmon, Ismail Oulad M’hand, Tommy Setford, Elian Quesada Thorn – 2 appearances
Cam’ron Ismail, Ife Ibrahim, Khari Ranson, Ceadach O’Neill, Louis Zecevic John, Brando Bailey-Joseph – 1 appearance
Others called up: Samuel Onyekachukwu, Daniel Oyetunde, Alex Marciniak, Jack Talbot, Sam Chapman, Jack Talbot
Goalscorers
Kamara, Harriman-Annous, Copley, Dowman, Ismail Oulad M’hand – 1 goal each
**Who will play in the competition next season?**
If Arsenal are involved in the Youth League next season then the club will face some tough decisions on who to select as their overage players, who will be those who were born in 2006.
Five of the following players can be named as overage players (with just three permitted for each matchday squad): Tommy Setford, Lucas Nygaard, Josh Nichols, Will Sweet, Harrison Dudziak, Louie Copley, Seb Ferdinand, Romari Forde, Osman Kamara, Daniel Oyetunde, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Jakai Fisher, Reece Clairmont, Max Kuczynski, Ayden Heaven and Cam’ron Ismail.
Some of those players may well have departed before next season, while the likes of Lewis-Skelly, Heaven, Nichols and Setford are likely to be playing senior football of some description.
The following players will be able to play in the Youth League: Brayden Clarke, Sam Chapman, Samuel Onyekachukwu, Dan Casey, Ife Ibrahim, Theo Julienne, Andre Harriman-Annous, Alex Marciniak, Ceadach O’Neill, Jack Porter, Khari Ranson, Louis Zecevic John, Brando Bailey-Joseph, Marli Salmon, Max Dowman, Jack Talbot, Ethan Nwaneri, Bless Akolbire, Zac Shuaib, Josh Ogunnaike.
The new scholars for next season will also be eligible – this could include the likes of Marley Frohock, Maalik Hashi, Teshaun Murisa, Abraham Owusu-Gyasi, Saurap Sampang, Josh Tahou, Patrick Stachow and Callan Hamill.