The Arsenal u21s played out a dead rubber against Burnley on Tuesday night, and they’ll take some positives from the game despite defeat.

Omari Benjamin with the Arsenal u21s (Photo via Arsenal Academy on Instagram)
Omari Benjamin with the Arsenal u21s (Photo via Arsenal Academy on Instagram)

Arsenal played their rescheduled Premier League Cup game against Burnley on Tuesday, after the initial plan for the match fell through due to a frozen pitch.

Given Arsenal had already qualified for the knockout stages in top spot, the match was something of a dead rubber.

In fact, the competition organisers have already scheduled Arsenal’s first knockout match against Reading for this Friday, and Burnley were already out before a ball was kicked.

But the rescheduled group game went ahead anyway, with Arsenal making a number of changes to their side as a result.

Omari Benjamin made his u21 debut and George Lewis made his first start since mid-November, among others, with u16 striker Daniel Oyetunde stepping up to the u21 bench.

Match report

Mauro Bandeira and George Lewis with the Arsenal u21s (Photo via Arsenal Academy on Instagram)
Mauro Bandeira and George Lewis with the Arsenal u21s (Photo via Arsenal Academy on Instagram)

Arsenal certainly looked like a makeshift side in the opening seconds, as Burnley took an almost instant lead through Joe Westley.

But the young Gunners rallied after that, with Josh Robinson converting from close range after a set-piece, before Catalin Cirjan gave Arsenal the lead with a nice finish after a cutback from Mauro Bandeira.

Burnley really put the pressure on immediately before the half-time break, however, forcing a number of saves out of goalkeeper James Hillson before eventually beating him with a long-range effort from Marcel Lewis.

The away side started the second half just as impressively, with Bradley Grant quickly making it 3-2.

After that, Arsenal had the best chances, with Cirjan hitting the post and Bandeira having a shot saved. But it wasn’t enough to turn things around.

Final thoughts

Josh Robinson scores for the Arsenal u21s (Photo via Arsenal Academy on Instagram)
Josh Robinson scores for the Arsenal u21s (Photo via Arsenal Academy on Instagram)

Centre-forward Omari Benjamin played well on his debut, particularly in standing up to the physical challenge of the Burnley defenders, turning them to get Arsenal up the pitch.

As well as Benjamin, Daniel Oyetunde and goalkeeper Noah Cooper (who came on as an extra concussion sub for James Hillson) also made their debuts for the u21s from the bench, so the night ended up being a good opportunity for a few Gunners youngsters.

Mehmet Ali will now hope his full-strength side can get the win on Friday to keep Arsenal progressing in this competition.

Arsenal u21 lineup vs Burnley

Hillson, Rosiak, Robinson, Jeffcott, Quamina, Lewis-Skelly, Bandeira, Cirjan, Ferdinand, Lewis, Benjamin

Substitutes

Walters (for Robinson, 58), Gower (for Cirjan, 69), Nichols (for Rosiak, 69), Oyetunde (for Benjamin, 76), Cooper (for Hillson, 86)

What’s next?

The Arsenal u21s play against Reading in the Premier League Cup Round of 16 at Meadow Park on Friday, February 3rd at 19:00 GMT.

But some of Tuesday’s u21 side will be dropping back to the u18s next week, as Jack Wilshere’s team take on Watford at Vicarage Road in the FA Youth Cup on Monday, February 6th at 19:00 GMT.