Arsenal youth forwards make case for first-team call-ups | OneFootball

Former loanees Charles Sagoe Jr., Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand, and Khayon Edwards all made their mark in Arsenal’s u21 win over Middlesbrough on Friday.

Photo via Shrewsbury Town on Twitter

Charles Sagoe Jr., Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand, and Khayon Edwards have all spent time out on loan in recent seasons, but the trio are currently stuck in academy football waiting for first-team opportunities.

Winger Sagoe Jr. was on loan most recently, spending the first half of this season with Shrewsbury Town. But after 18 appearances and just five league starts for the League One side, he was recalled in January.

Midfielder Oulad M’Hand shook off some injury problems in the first half of last season to end his loan to Den Bosch in good form, but those recent injuries seemingly put off any potential suitors this campaign.

Meanwhile, striker Edwards got the first senior loan of his career last February, playing for Leyton Orient, but again he’s returned to the Arsenal u21s.

Photo via Arsenal Academy on Instagram

Mehmet Ali would have been glad to have the trio available on Friday, as his u21 team took on Middlesbrough.

The three combined for the opening goal of the night, with Sagoe Jr. picking up the ball on the right and dribbling past two players before finding Oulad M’Hand. The midfielder scooped a pass over the defence to Edwards, who chested the ball into his path before finishing with his second touch.

Edwards almost made it 2-0 not long afterwards, collecting a looping Sagoe Jr. pass before firing at goal venomously from a tight angle, with the goalkeeper doing well to save. The young striker has 10 goals or assists in 11 Premier League 2 games this season.

But the second half got off to a poor start, with midfielder Jack Henry-Francis (also a returning loanee) picking up an injury and Sonny Finch scoring a penalty to bring Middlesbrough level.

Photo via Sligo Rovers on Instagram

Later in the half, Sagoe Jr. once again found himself with the ball on the right and Arsenal in need of a goal. Pushing the ball past his man, Sagoe Jr. squared for Michal Rosiak, who finished with the aid of a deflection for 2-1, securing the three points.

Given Arsenal’s first-team injury struggles in forward areas, now is the time for Edwards and Sagoe Jr. to make an impression and encourage Mikel Arteta to give them a chance.

It wouldn’t be the first time, with Sagoe Jr. debuting against Brentford in the 2023/24 League Cup and Edwards making the bench in the 2022/23 Europa League. Sagoe Jr. also joined the squad for the recent trip to Dubai.

With Edwards now 21 and Sagoe Jr. turning 21 in the summer, it may be now or never. Another season with no senior chances will likely push both players to move on. For now, they’re doing what they can with the youth teams.

Arsenal u21 lineup vs Middlesbrough

Ranson, Rosiak, Nichols, Salmon, Sweet, Henry-Francis, Sagoe Jr, Gower, Edwards, S. Oulad M’Hand, Harriman-Annous

Substitutes

I. Oulad M’Hand (for Henry-Francis, 50), Ismail (for Nichols, 61), Ferdinand (for S. Oulad M’Hand, 84), Nygaard, Kamara

What’s next?

The Arsenal u21s face Newcastle United next Friday, February 21st, in another Premier League 2 game at Meadow Park. The Gunners sit 10th in the table, and they’ll want to push up the standings ahead of the play-offs in late April.