Arsenal U18s beat their Chelsea counterparts 3-2 this week and it was a significant occasion for Josh Ogunnaike.
The 16-year-old left-back scored his first goal at U18 level and produced an encouraging overall display.
After the game coach Birchall praised Ogunnaike when talking to the club’s official website and discussed how he showed his personality on the pitch.
Ogunnaike recently made his debut at U21 level when he featured as a substitute against Newcastle and he will now be looking to establish himself as the main left-back for the U18s, with Cam’ron Ismail only eligible to play at that level for the remainder of this season.
A player with good technique, Ogunnaike enjoys supporting the attack while his long throw can also be a useful asset at times.
Ogunnaike will be determined to finish the season strongly and there will be plenty for him to look forwards to next season as he will still be eligible to play for the U18s, while he could also feature for the U19s and the U21s.
Earlier this season Ogunnaike also gained valuable experience with Arsenal at U17 level as he was part of the squad which won the Flamengo Adidas Cup in Brazil.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird