Arsenal 19yo praised after assist brace in 2-0 Youth League win | OneFootball

The Arsenal u19s won their final UEFA Youth League game against Monaco to move up to six points on Wednesday, but it wasn’t enough to avoid elimination.

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The Arsenal u19s went into Wednesday’s UEFA Youth League game against AS Monaco knowing their hopes of progression to the knockout stages were already at an end, with just three points from their opening five matches of the competition.

The team were playing for pride, and perhaps to catch the eye ahead of next week’s League Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace. Tommy Setford will have an eye on another start in the competition, and he was among those in the u19 lineup on Wednesday.

On that note, Setford will be pleased to have kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 victory, despite coming under some pressure from a Monaco side that weren’t guaranteed progression themselves.

Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images

At the other end, Ismeal Kabia was perhaps the most impressive performer, providing both assists for the Gunners’ goals.

Kabia first set up Ismail Oulad M’Hand in the 22nd minute, with the midfielder controlling the ball before volleying it in on the spin. Kabia then found Louie Copley in the 27th minute for 2-0.

“It was one of the best performances I’ve seen him have,” u19 boss Max Porter said. “He’s got to keep doing that and find that level consistently. Then there will be much more opportunities here at Arsenal or, if not, elsewhere to better his career.”

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Kabia was perhaps a rare Arsenal player who did well throughout the Youth League’s League Phase this season. With further assists against Atalanta and Inter Milan, the winger had a hand in four of Arsenal’s five goals in the competition.

The only goal Arsenal scored without Kabia’s help was in a game the 19-year-old missed.

The fact the Gunners only scored five goals in six games was a big part of the problem though, particularly as they conceded 12. It was another disappointing campaign, with only the two victories over French opponents PSG and Monaco to look back on fondly.

The focus will now return to domestic competition for the remainder of 2024/25.

Arsenal u19 lineup vs Monaco

Setford, Julienne, Clarke, Kacurri, Nichols, Copley, Dudziak, Ismail Oulad M’Hand, Kabia, Harriman-Annous, Kamara

Substitutes

Ferdinand (for Kamara, 77), Casey (for Kabia, 84), Sweet (for Harriman-Annous, 90+1), Nygaard, Forde, Oyetunde, Chapman, Ibrahim, Onyekachukwu

What’s next?

With no further UEFA Youth League matches to play, the u19s’ season is over. But the players that make up the team will continue to feature for the u18s and the u21s, or even the first team.

The u18s are now on their winter break, returning with a north London derby on January 11th, whilst the u21s face Sunderland on December 16th at 19:00 GMT.