Following Wednesday night’s last-gasp victory over Manchester United at Underhill that propelled Arsenal up to 4th place in the U21 Premier League Elite Group, attention was immediately switched to the next fixture involving the club’s youngsters, with Monday’s NextGen Series Quarter-Final clash with CSKA Moscow already generating a considerable level of anticipation.
The excitement factor was cranked up a further notch yesterday afternoon when the Semi-Final draw for the competition was made, pitching the winners of Monday’s bout with a potentially mouthwatering affair against Chelsea in Lake Como, Italy, later this month.
Italy has already proven a happy hunting ground for the young Gunners in this competition so far this season, with Nico Yennaris firing home an emphatic strike to dispatch of the holders Inter Milan int he last round, but, before another European excursion is booked, the task in hand must be dealt with first, and CSKA Moscow, having garnered a reputation for free-flowing football during the group stages of this tournament, will certainly be no pushovers at Emirates Stadium.
The opportunity to play in front of a larger crowd will also be appealing to Arsenal’s youngsters, indeed every time a reserve or youth side representing the club from U18 level upwards has featured at the new ground they have won, and a large attendance is anticipated again on Monday. Arsenal will be hopeful that Chuba Akpom, who had to pull out of the England U19 squad through injury, will be fit, whilst Kristoffer Olsson is expected back from international duty, as is Serge Gnabry, with the duo having missed the aforementioned victory over United. Jon Toral and Reice Charles-Cook, however, are likely to miss the majority of the remainder of the season due to injury.
Arsenal will certainly be relying on the comparative experience of Yennaris to see them through against the Russian side, whilst the dynamic runs of full-backs Hector Bellerin and Martin Angha will also forge a huge part of the Gunners’ game-plan. Elton Monteiro and Sead Hajrovic should rekindle their partnership at centre-back which was so impressive against Inter, but it remains to be seen whether Thomas Eisfeld will feature as an over-age player, perhaps at the expense of Zak Ansah.
Aston Villa face Sporting Lisbon in the other Semi-Final, with both last four ties scheduled for a week today, prior to the Final three days later, which added to their U18 league commitments, could create a rather hectic schedule for Arsenal’s youngsters. Firstly, though, they will be focused purely on dispatching of CSKA Moscow, a side who topped a group containing Ajax and Chelsea.
Jeorge Bird's Arsenal Youth 
Hope Arsenal Player comes through and shows this match live on Arsenal Player for us fans(Gooners) across the globe? Cheers!
The match should be live on Eurosport anyway. Was told all the quarter finals were live on Eurosport.
Well if Eisfeld misses out on Monday, I hope he is compensated with at least a first team bench against Reading?
there is no way eisfeld will get on the first team bench whilst results are this important.
unless of course we pick up lots of injuries on international duty
I just looked at the u16-u21 national teams of England. I counted to 2-4 potential Arsenal players…. Aren’t we suppose to have atleast 2 players in every age group? I know englands coaches is a joke at times but city, united and chelsea got several in every age.
I wouldn’t pay too much attention to that. Most of our brilliant youth side from 08/09 wasn’t getting called up for England as I remember it. Good players like Bartley, Frimpong, JET, Watt were all ignored for the U19s and above, just as Aneke has been. Lansbury is still called up to the U21s even as a benchwarmer in the Championship while Bartley and Frimpong are getting games in the PL.
Why Aneke isn’t in the national team I have no idea but in midfield I am not sure he can come in and take a spot that easily. Frimpong has chosen Ghana and was picked for their recent international game. When he was playing in the PL he was picked for the U19 and U21? Bartley isn’t getting any games in Swansea so its only right not to include him for the U21. Lansbury has done great whenever he has got a chance for the U21.
I think this is kind a bad. I expected more to be picked
How many of those City, United and Chelsea England Youth internationals will go on to represent England at the highest level? We’ve got five English players aged 24 or under, good enough to represent the first team. Which other team has that?!? Chelsea, United, City definitely not.
Jenkinson and chamberlain was bought in to our first team. They don’t count as own product. If we only watch the own product of a club… then United, chelsea and city has got a few who is equally good? International matches count a whole lot for development. Luckily we have gotten the nexgen series too for club football which is even better than international games.
But we really should be better than only 2-3 players up to U21 level.
”whilst Kristoffer Olsson is expected back from international duty, as is Serge Gnabry”
As is Serge Gnabry ??? I dont think Gnabry will be back for the game. He will miss it because the game is on Monday(the 25th) while Germany u18 play against Netherlands u18 on Wednesday the 27th.