Getting into the knockout stages of the UEFA Youth League has frequently proved to be a difficult challenge for Arsenal U19s but there is hope that this year they could make it beyond the league phase.
Yesterday David Horseman’s team were involved in a very entertaining 3-3 draw with Bayern Munich in which substitute Emerson Nwaneri scored an equaliser in stoppage time.
It has been an eventful week for Nwaneri, who had to operate as an emergency goalkeeper for the U18s in the closing stages against Tottenham last weekend after Jack Talbot and Max Lo Presti both had to go off due to concussion and injury respectively.
Arsenal took the lead against Bayern through an impressive finish from left-back Hakeem Abubakar.
However, Bayern equalised courtesy of Allen Lambe and then went ahead via a penalty from Erblin Osmani.
Marli Salmon, who was making his first appearance in this competition this season, conceded the penalty but it seemed a rather harsh decision.
Guido Della Rovere added a third goal for Bayern before the break.
Arsenal managed to respond after the interval as Salmon, who enjoyed an impressive second half, scored before Nwaneri’s late intervention.
The result means that Horseman’s team are currently in 18th place in the table, which would be sufficient to qualify.
However, a tough challenge lies ahead in the next game away to Slavia Prague, who are top of the table and also thrashed Arsenal 5-1 last season.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on X @jeorgebird