Arsenal’s under-21s drew 0-0 with Birmingham City on Friday morning, and the real story was the players they weren’t allowed to use.
The u21s were short-handed for their match against Birmingham because three defenders — Jaden Dixon, Marli Salmon, and Marcell Washington — were kept aside for first-team duties, along with midfielder Max Dowman. The absence of those key starters was expected, since they were assumed to take part in first-team training and might also feature in Arsenal’s Premier League fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
There was no winner on the day, but the u21s didn’t deserve to lose. They made the better chances and were unfortunate not to come away with three points.
What Was Left Out
The three players Dixon, Salmon, and Washington are regulars in the u21 setup. The team’s makeup was altered when they were not present.
Friday’s match kicked off before the normal hour, leaving the team short of its regular core for the contest. The young squad held the upper hand throughout the opening half, and the second half continued in much the same vein.
In the opening period, the under-21 side created the most promising opportunities, starting with Andre Harriman-Annous striking the post following some good play from Ife Ibrahim. Harriman-Annous had two further attempts saved inside the first 45 minutes, while Birmingham City escaped when a late deflected shot from Ceadach O’Neill didn’ was kept out, though Josh Ogunnaike did not manage to convert the rebound that followed.
A Lucky Escape at Half-Time
Birmingham’s goalkeeper Tyrese Warmington was the reason the home side were still in the game at the break. He produced a series of stops during the encounter, which helped keep the score level at 0-0 at half-time. The hosts owed their position entirely to the work of their keeper.
In the second half, Arsenal kept finding themselves with more chances to take the lead, yet Warmington kept denying them. A substitute named Evan Mooney broke through on goal at one point, only to see his shot swallowed up by Warmington. Mooney then gathered the loose ball and played it out to Maalik Hashi, who struck from the edge of the area, but Warmington had recovered in time to make another save.
Some of Birmingham City’s efforts came from distance and missed the mark. Their shots were mostly long-range attempts that went wide. Arsenal goalkeeper Khari Ranson didn’t see much action compared to his counterpart.
The Late Chance That Missed
Igor Tyjon came close to winning the game deep into added time, yet his shot drifted wide, leaving the score at zero.
That moment summed up the day for Arsenal’s u21s. They created chances, they pressed, and they were unlucky not to find the net, but Warmington’s heroics kept Birmingham in it, and Tyjon’s late chance went astray.
Key Chances Missed
Here is a quick rundown of the chances that mattered:
- Harriman-Annous hit the post after Ibrahim’s work
- Harriman-Annous had two other efforts saved in the first half
- O’Neill’s deflected effort was lucky not to go in
- Ogunnaike’s rebound chance was denied
- Mooney was through on goal but his shot was smothered
- Hashi’s edge-of-the-area strike was saved by Warmington
- Tyjon’s late injury-time chance went wide
Throughout each of these moments, the u21s kept coming up short, failing to find the net. The setup remained steady from start to finish: Arsenal created, Birmingham defended, and it was the goalkeeper who kept getting in the way.
The Lineup That Played
A solid lineup was put on the field for the u21s match even with several players missing. The starting eleven featured Ranson, Hamill, Clarke, Upson, Ogunnaike, Ibrahim, Hashi, Julienne, O’Neill, Harriman-Annous, and Scanlon.
Substitutes were Mbala, Mooney, Stevens, Tyjon, Agustien, Porter, and Nwaneri.
What This Means for the First Team
Arsenal appear to be preparing to call upon three u21s for first-team service against Brighton on Saturday, given they have been held back for such purposes. The trio of Dixon, Salmon, and Washington are all defenders who might take part in the senior squad, while Dowman continues to serve as a presence in the midfield.
A single point is all that came from the game, so the u21s remain without a victory. Still, there is reason for encouragement. The team created chances throughout the match and were unfortunate not to come away with three points.
Birmingham’s goalkeeper Warmington should be praised for his contributions to the match. He made a string of saves and kept the team in contention when the visitors controlled possession. His performances gave Birmingham the point they eventually earned.
When the u21s return to action, they will have an opportunity to build upon the performance they produced. The match ended level, yet the quality of their play indicated they possess the ability to win games.
Source material: “4 Arsenal u21s held back for first-team & miss Birmingham draw,” Yahoo Sports.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.