Development team captain Anna Filbey was named in the Arsenal squad to face Liverpool, but the game was unfortunately postponed due to the weather.

The players coming from the youth teams find it hard to get into the first-team squad as competition for places is fierce.

There are currently 22 first-team players signed, but multiple injuries have opened the door for Filbey to get a chance. She has recently made her first-team debut against Millwall, albeit in a bizarre right centre-back position.

Anna is a central attacking-midfielder who can play as a winger or centre-forward as seen with the England u19s. She is also used as a right-back in training with the first-team.

Ava Kuyken, another midfielder, also trained with the first-team, but all the youngsters who train with the seniors are not really prepared for adult football when playing in the Development team league.

The gap between the development team and first-team football is so huge that youngsters have a lot of problem to make up the step, unless they are phenomenal prospects like Leah Williamson or Lauren James, both of whom were 17 or under before their call-up/

For the other youngsters like Anna, who is developing at the normal rate and improving year on year after coming through the age groups, training twice a week with the development team and playing those games is not enough to compete for a first-team place.

There is no doubt that a loan move to a Tier 2 side next season might be a better way to improve than staying with the Development team, as most games are not intensive enough to push the players on.

It is a good omen that Joe Montemurro gave Anna a chance to be part of the matchday squad in a big league game nevertheless. She might be back in next week in the Conti Cup as Arsenal will be at home to Sunderland Ladies in their quarter-final tie.