Going into tomorrow night’s decisive third round of fixtures all four teams in EFL Trophy southern Group A – Arsenal U21s, Exeter City, Newport County and Cardiff City – are level on four points.
Arsenal face Cardiff away tomorrow night and it is worth remembering that in this competition if a game ends in a draw then a penalty shootout will take place for a potentially crucial bonus point.
The scheduling of the game hasn’t been especially convenient, with both teams set to be without some key players due to international duty.
From Arsenal’s perspective, Brayden Clarke and Demiane Agustien will be missing, as will a host of U18s who have featured at U21 level, namely Marli Salmon, Callan Hamill, Khari Ranson, Jack Porter, Kyran Thompson and Ceadach O’Neill.
Arsenal will still be able to call upon many players from their U21 squad and there are some talented U18s who can add depth.
However, there are two positions in which coach David Horseman will have to make difficult decisions regarding who starts.
In goal, for instance, with first-team squad member Tommy Setford also unavailable, it appears that Arsenal will have to choose between Alexei Rojas and Remy Mitchell.
Rojas hasn’t played a competitive game for Arsenal since February 2024 but it’s possible he could be called upon tomorrow.
At centre-back, meanwhile, Will Sweet seems set to start but isn’t especially clear who will play alongside him.
One potential option could be to move Sweet to the right sided centre-back position and start Josh Ogunnaike in the other central defensive berth. Another alternative is to play first year scholar Abraham Owusu-Gyasi.
Andre Harriman-Annous, who has been involved with the first-team recently, could feature for the U21s.
Kepa Arrizabalaga, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ben White are the only three senior players not on international duty who aren’t injured. However, it seems unlikely that they will play.
The Cardiff team could include some former Arsenal players in Calum Chambers and Chris Willock.
With many of the academy results above U16 level having been disappointing recently, this game and the potential for progression represents a chance to restore some positivity in that regard.
**Possible Arsenal U21 team v Cardiff**
**Rojas**
**Nichols-Sweet-Ogunnaike-Washington**
**Ibrahim**
**Copley-Dudziak**
**Kamara-Harriman Annous-Sagoe Jr**
**Subs: Mitchell, Ferdinand, Stevens, Julienne, Bailey-Joseph, King, Murisa.**