**UEFA Youth League**
**Slavia Prague 5 (O’Neill 11 (o.g.), Szywala 23, Kolisek 32, Suleiman 90, Kotrba 90 (pen.)) Arsenal 1 (O’Neill 60)**
Arsenal U19s suffered yet another brutal blow in their UEFA Youth League campaign as they were beaten 5-1 away by Slavia Prague today.
Having lost their first three games in the competition, Arsenal went into this fixture knowing that realistically they needed a win to really boost their chances of progression.
However, they were abject in the first half and fell behind to an unfortunate own goal from Ceadach O’Neill before conceding twice more.
It was an improved second half display from David Horseman’s side, with O’Neill scoring to reduce the deficit.
Slavia, though, struck twice late on to inflict further misery on an Arsenal side who are now languishing in 34th place in the 36-team table.
It is still mathematically possible for Arsenal to progress but it certainly seems very unlikely now.
Arsenal were without a host of key players for various reasons. Max Dowman and Andre Harriman-Annous are with the first-team, Marli Salmon and Jack Porter are with England U17s and Kyran Thompson and Josiah King have also been on international duty.
Khari Ranson started in goal as he played in the Youth League for the first time this season while Josh Ogunnaike was surprisingly selected ahead of Marcell Washington at left-back.
Louie Copley returned from suspension to captain the team, with O’Neill leading the line.
First year scholars Marley Frohock, Josh Tahou and Abraham Owusu-Gyasi received their first callups in this competition as they were named on the bench.
U15 goalkeeper Charlie Phillips again travelled with the squad as third choice in that position.
**Ranson**
**Hamill-Clarke-Sweet-Ogunnaike**
**Ibrahim**
**Copley-Agustien**
**Kamara-O’Neill-****Bailey Joseph**
**Subs: Marciniak (for Bailey-Joseph, 38), Julienne (for Sweet, 71), Hashi (for Agustien, 81). Not used: Talbot, Washington, Frohock, Murisa, Owusu-Gyasi, Tahou.**
Callan Hamill had to be alert to cut out the danger in the early stages of the game.
Slavia, however, took the lead with eleven minutes gone as O’Neill inadvertently turned the ball into his own net following a corner from the hosts.
Arsenal attempted to respond, with Osman Kamara’s effort being deflected for a corner before Demiane Agustien later shot over.
The young Gunners then found themselves undone by a long throw, with Bartosz Szywala applying the finishing touch with a neat finish to double Slavia’s lead.
The impressive Mubarak Suleiman shot just wide for Slavia, who then added a third goal as Jakub Kolisek netted following a counter-attack.
Slavia continued to threaten and there was further disappointment for Arsenal as Brando Bailey-Joseph had to go off injured.
It did, though, give Alex Marciniak the chance to make his Youth League debut as a substitute.
After a woeful first half Arsenal were determined to produce a better display in the second period.
Slavia had a couple of opportunities but Arsenal, at long last, managed to carve out some chances of their own with O’Neill, who worked hard in difficult circumstances, heading wide before a cross from Kamara just eluded Ogunnaike.
O’Neill was rewarded for his persistence as the forward got his first goal in this competition with a deflected effort.
Ranson had to make a brilliant stop at the other end to tip the ball over the crossbar from Elias Pitak’s effort.
Will Sweet was booked for a late challenge, with Theo Julienne then replacing him in a move that saw Ife Ibrahim switch to centre-back.
First year scholar Maalik Hashi then came on in place of Agustien.
Substitute Ondrej Frolik shot just wide for Slavia before Marciniak shot over at the other end.
As the board went up for five additional minutes Arsenal may have had some hope of staging an unlikely comeback.
Soon, though, Slavia would add a fourth goal through Suleiman, who had initially been denied by Ranson.
Slavia were then awarded a penalty following a foul by Ibrahim, with substitute Matej Kotrba stepping up to score.
Arsenal were left dejected and despite having two games to come at home to Bayern Munich and away to Club Brugge will know that it is very unlikely that they will make it through.
Qarabag (who have played a game less) and Bodo/Glimt are the only two teams that have performed worse in the Youth League than Arsenal this season, which simply isn’t acceptable for a club of this size.
Serious questions will have to be asked of both the coaching staff and in some cases recruitment.
There are still two or three players in this side who have much potential but as a group they lack cohesion and dynamism.
As has often been the case in this competition this season Arsenal improved during the game after starting very slowly.
Overall, though, the return of four losses from four games is hugely concerning as Arsenal’s well documented difficulties in this competition continue.