NextGen Series
Matchday Four
Marseille 1 Arsenal 0
Arsenal’s hopes of progressing to the next phase of the NextGen Series suffered a heavy blow in France this evening as Marseille inflicted a last minute defeat on Terry Burton’s side.
Arsenal created several chances throughout the game, but substitute Antoine Kisaku struck in stoppage time to leave the Gunners with a difficult task to progress out of the group. Since comfortably dispatching of Marseille in the opening game at Underhill, Burton’s outfit have been dealt three key blows, with tonight’s disappointing surrender coming in the wake of five dropped points over two fixtures against Olympiacos. Arsenal must now win their two remaining games, home and away to Athletic Bilbao, if they are to stand any chance of progressing.
Burton was shorn of Serge Gnabry owing to the German’s first-team commitments, but was still able to call upon Nico Yennaris and Martin Angha, whilst Dejan Iliev, the Macedonian youth international goalkeeper signed in the summer, made his first appearance for the club after finally having his transfer rubber-stamped by FIFA recently.
Iliev
Bellerin-Hajrovic-Monteiro-Angha
Yennaris-Toral
Ebecilio-Olsson-Neita
Akpom
subs: Jeffrey (for Ebecilio, 7), Mugabo (for Monteiro, 57), Jebb (for Toral, 72). Not used: Vickers, Lipman.
The hosts posed a threat from the off, with Sead Hajrovic having to be alert to make a timely intervention with the French side bearing down on goal, before Arsenal were dealt a considerable blow with just five minutes on the clock when Kyle Ebecilio, who has been impressive so far this season after struggling for consistency during his first two years at the club, fell awkwardly and had to be replaced by Anthony Jeffrey.
Billel Omrani then tested Iliev with a swerving effort, which the Arsenal goalkeeper gathered at the second attempt, before, at the other end, Yennaris released Nigel Neita but the forward, operating on the left flank on this occasion, didn’t have his shooting boots on, which wasn’t very surprising considering that he hasn’t scored a competitive goal for the club at any level for nearly two years.
Jeffrey came on as a seventh-minute substitute following an injury to Kyle Ebecilio.
Jon Toral then struck wide from a free-kick, before Jeffrey, who had certainly done his best to liven up proceedings following his introduction, crossed well for Chuba Akpom, but the striker drilled his effort wide.
Iliev was called into action again before the break as he palmed away Emmanuel Loiacono’s free-kick, but it was Omrani who was providing the most dangerous threat for Marseille and he struck a dangerous free-kick that whistled just wide of Iliev’s near post.
Arsenal started to up the ante a little thereafter, with Akpom having a seemingly legible penalty claim turned down, before the same player saw an ambitious effort blocked by a sturdy Marseille back-line after being slotted through by the efficient Toral.
Jeffrey then came close with another effort, before, just as it seemed as if the game was going to peter out into a draw, Kisaku pounced on some poor defending to make Arsenal’s journey home a miserable one.
Jeorge Bird's Arsenal Youth 
embarrassing loss really becoz this marseille team is really bad. They were made up of many players who aren’t good enough for their own youth setup , yet they beat Arsenal.
That’s the same Marseille team that reached the semi finals in this series last year, and still has seven squad members from that side? There no mugs my friend and you cant just turn up and roll over teams in this series, quality opposition and a very hard tournament to progress in, as is the Champions league .
how come illiev isn’t displayed on the official website jeorge? I like jeffrey. He seems to be one of the few genuine wingers in the squad and tends to be a constant threat. According to the commentary the penalty appeal was denied as there was a free kick prior to the incident. Olsson still seems to be finding his feet at this level as from the reports and highlights ive seen he seems to have hardly featured. Hopefully thats due to his lack of physical development as the talent is undoubtedly there. Like you said though jeorge i would play chuba wide but there appears to be a distinct lack of options up front with roberts and afobe on loan. Akpom has a wide array of tricks but seems to lack composure when it come to finishing off chances. Having said that the midfield in the article is probably our best technically so a disappointing result. However we lacked width as ebecilio i believe is best as a holding midfielder. I would personally play the following in future
iiliev
bellerin angha hayden boo
olsson toral ebecilio
lipman akpom jeffrey
however i understand that neita must be played as not playing him will essentially display a lack of faith in him. Same is the case with monteiro and hajrovic though i feel we have to be more ruthless across all levels of our academy as cruel as it may sound.
Would love to see Bellerin play wide midfield, he look good going forward.
Angha is a natural right back, why not play him there.
hes been poor at full back from the matches ive seen tbh. He started off as a center back and despite the occasional lapse in concentration he deserves a chance in that position on a more regular basis. Being versatile is good as long as its not over done, which i believe is the case with angha.
No he is not good enough and will never have a future in that position. I think we should have included BOO and Mugabo. Those are a lot more natural. Lipman wide and akpom wide with neita front. But I am not the youth coach.
Everything seems to be going to shit at our club right now…speaking of the results anyways…we gotta pull through this!!!
well thanks god for the ladies 😉
neita hasnt scored in two years hahahahahahahaha
Hey man, it’s either think that way, or think that it’s going to finish a lot worse than last year…I’d rather think that we can move on and improve, than think we’ll finish out of the top four…
And I’d rather think that our youth teams will sort themselves out A BIT than think that they won’t win anything…I’d rather see them play other clubs off the park and lose, than try to win anyway they can, but neither one of the two is happening…they’re sort of just floating downstream, falling asleep and drowning without even knowing it…I just hope things turn up and we’ll finish strongly at all levels.
AFC needs strikers ASAP!
That #9 of Reading 18’s killed us just was watching past highlights on AP.