Arsenal U21s took a small step in the right direction with a 1-0 victory at home to Burnley on Friday night.
After losing 7-0 to Liverpool last weekend, coach Max Porter was eager to see significant improvements from his team and he made nine changes to the starting lineup, with Josh Nichols and Charles Sagoe Jr the only players who started both fixtures.
Eight of the players who started are still eligible to play for the U18s and one of those, winger Brando Bailey-Joseph, scored the only goal of the game in superb fashion.
Bailey-Joseph, who has often impressed at U18 level, turned superbly before accelerating and then finishing well.
It is anticipated that the 17-year-old could now establish himself as a regular in the starting lineup at U21 level if he continues to impress.
Andre Harriman-Annous has mainly featured as a striker over the past couple of seasons but he was deployed as an attacking midfielder on this occasion – a position that he has some experience of playing in.
With Arsenal somewhat short of midfield options ahead of the game against Kairat, it’s possible that Harriman-Annous could be considered to feature in that position as a substitute.
Defensive midfielder Ife Ibrahim and Theo Julienne, who operated in a more advanced position, are other options that could be considered to be included in the matchday squad.
Arsenal U21s will look to continue to build momentum when they face Leeds United away next weekend.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird