Last season a managerial change had the desired effect for Arsenal U21s, with Steve Bould departing and Kevin Betsy taking charge, which led to the young Gunners finishing in third place.
Betsy’s decision to manage Crawley Town forced academy manager Per Mertesacker into making another appointment this summer, with assistant boss Mehmet Ali stepping up to coach the U21s.
The new U21 season gets underway tomorrow with an eagerly-anticipated clash at home to Manchester United and it will be interesting to see how Arsenal fare at this level this campaign.
Transfer window so far
Players in: None
Players out: Jonathan Dinzeyi (released), Joel Lopez (released), Jordan McEneff (released), Jordi Osei-Tutu (VfL Bochum), Daniel Ballard (Sunderland), Zak Swanson (Portsmouth), Omari Hutchinson (Chelsea).
Loaned out: Harry Clarke (Stoke City), Omar Rekik (Sparta Rotterdam), Tyreece John-Jules (Ipswich Town), Mika Biereth (RKC Waalwijk), Nikolaj Moller (Den Bosch), Ovie Ejeheri (Chelmsford City), Alex Kirk (Ayr United), Marcelo Flores (Real Oviedo), Ryan Alebiosu (Kilmarnock), Mazeed Ogungbo (Crawley Town), Charlie Patino (Blackpool).
There haven’t been any signings for the U21s, which isn’t entirely surprising given that the squad was already rather large.
However, there have been some significant departures, and Arsenal will have to cope without the flair of Omari Hutchinson following his move to Chelsea, while they have also been deprived of the services of Charlie Patino and Marcelo Flores due to loan moves.
Rule changes
The league has changed this season from being for U23s to U21s. Teams are permitted to name five overage players per game, with Matt Smith, James Olayinka and George Lewis all classed as overage.
What still needs to happen?
With less than a month remaining of the transfer window, there is still work to do in terms of sorting out the futures of some of the older players in the academy.
Possible permanent departures: Matt Smith, James Olayinka
Possible loan moves: Tim Akinola, Miguel Azeez, Ben Cottrell, Jack Henry-Francis, James Hillson, George Lewis, Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Salah-Eddine, Kido Taylor-Hart.
What will the team look like? * = overage players
Goalkeepers: Graczyk, Hillson, T. Smith
It seems likely that Hubert Graczyk will be the first-choice goalkeeper, although James Hillson and Tom Smith are also in need of playing time. Karl Hein has been promoted to the first-team squad but could still play some games at this level when he is fully fit.
Defenders:
Right-backs: Norton-Cuffy, Walters, Sweet
Centre-backs: Awe, Monlouis, Foran, Ibrahim, Jeffcott
Left-backs: Sousa, Jeffcott
Reuell Walters’ injury is a source of frustration, but James Sweet is ready to step up at right-back if Brooke Norton-Cuffy goes on loan. There are plenty of options at centre-back, while left-back Lino Sousa has already shown that he can cope at this level.
Midfielders:
Akinola, Azeez, Cirjan, Cottrell, Henry-Francis, Bandeira, Olayinka*, Salah-Eddine, M. Smith*, Ibrahim
It is clear that Arsenal have way too many midfielders at their disposal at this level. Matt Smith and James Olayinka need to move on permanently while others such as Miguel Azeez and Salah-Eddine require loan spells. It could be a big season for Catalin Cirjan, who is available again after a lengthy injury lay-off.
Attackers:
Forwards: Edwards, Vigar, Butler-Oyedeji
Wingers: Butler-Oyedeji, Ideho, Cozier-Duberry, Sagoe Jr, Lewis, Taylor-Hart
Khayon Edwards is an excellent option up front but Arsenal will be hoping that Billy Vigar can avoid further injuries as there isn’t much depth beyond that.
Wingers Nathan Butler-Oyedeji and Joel Ideho found it difficult to hold down a starting berth last season but will look to be more heavily involved this campaign, although Amario Cozier-Duberry and Charles Sagoe Jr, who can also play in midfield, are pushing for minutes.
Which scholars could step up?
One of the most interesting aspects of the season is when members of the U18 squad step up to the U21s. Defenders Tino Quamina and Michal Rosiak have already been involved in pre-season, while Elian Quesada-Thorn, Mathaeus Roberts and Kaleel Green have previously been called up. Henry Timi Davies already has a professional contract but is mainly involved with the U18s for now.
There are some talented first-years who could be called upon at some stage, and it isn’t beyond the realms of possibility that schoolboy Ethan Nwaneri could get selected as the season drags on.
Jeorge Bird's Arsenal Youth 
Kudos, Jeorge, this is quite a thorough and extensive summary!
Just one question: have Walters, Sousa and Cozier-Duberry officially been promoted to the U21 team (despite being eligible for the U18)? Or are they regular scholars whom you are already convinced about being able to step up?
Walters and Sousa are officially in the U21 squad although they could still play the occasional game for the U18s.
Cozier-Duberry (along with Ibrahim) will probably flit between both squads at the beginning of the season but will probably end up more with the U21s as the season goes on.
On Fri, 5 Aug 2022 at 15:29, Jeorge Bird’s Arsenal Youth < comment-reply@wordpress.com> wrote:
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I think you might see Marquinhos start off with u23s if he doesnt go on loan and Nelson/Pepe stay with the first team.
From the 20 man squad that started tonight, i expect Tomiyasu, Smith Rowe and Vieira to replace Holding, Cedric and Nelson.
That for me would be our best 20 man squad.
Hein, Runarrsson, Cedric, Holding, Maitland-Niles, Marquinhos and Nelson would then be hoping to make the bench for Europa League matches