Arsenal u21s had an established team out on Thursday afternoon but, despite having Jack Wilshere on the pitch for 90 minutes, couldn’t seal a win which would have seen them clinch promotion to the top reserve league in England.
Picking up all three points would’ve secured top spot and promotion, which will have to wait until the next fixture against West Bromwich Albion after the Gunners lost 3-1 to Swansea City in one of their games in hand on Thursday.
Tomas Rosicky and Jack Wilshere were both in the team once again, completing 71 and 90 minutes respectively as they step up their progress. but couldn’t do anything to prevent Arsenal heading 2-0 down.
It looked like there was hope when fellow first team player Serge Gnabry netted with 10 minutes remaining, only for Swansea to instantly reply and restore their two-goal advantage.
The game ended 3-1 but, positively, Wilshere and Rosicky now seem ready to play regular football. The intensity will be greater with the first team but, as of now, they have some minutes under their belts and haven’t responded badly at all.
Swansea were helped to the win by goalkeeper Josh Vickers, who impressed having been released by Arsenal last year. Perhaps the former Arsenal youth goalkeeper felt he had something to prove against his ex-club. He did just that and Arsenal are now sweating on their promotion hopes.
Even if Arsenal fail to beat West Brom, they will still have an opportunity to earn promotion via a play-off.
Arsenal u21s XI: Macey; Moore, Bielik, Pleguezuelo, Bola; Reine-Adelaide, Wilshere; Gnabry, Rosicky, Willock; Hinds.