The Arsenal u21s secured a last-gasp win over Newcastle United on Friday night to secure progression to the next round of the Premier League 2 play-offs.
Tommy Setford, Michal Rosiak, Jack Henry-Francis, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, and Jimi Gower were all in Mikel Arteta’s first-team squad to face Real Madrid just over a week ago, but the quintet dropped back down to the Arsenal u21s for Friday’s last-16 play-off match against Newcastle United.
Having finished eighth in the regular season, Arsenal kicked off the play-offs against ninth-place Newcastle, so it promised to be a close match.
The Gunners took the lead from the penalty spot in the first half, with Andre Harriman-Annous winning the spot-kick and recent Premier League debutant Butler-Oyedeji converting it.
Newcastle drew level at the start of the second half, with Scott Bailey scoring from distance after an Arsenal mistake in possession. But Khayon Edwards’ late introduction ended up proving pivotal for the hosts.
As the game moved into stoppage time with the scoreline still level, Arsenal were awarded another penalty for a foul on fellow substitute Charles Sagoe Jr. by Rory Powell.
Edwards stepped up to convert for 2-1, sending Arsenal into the quarter-finals.
Arsenal will now play away against Manchester City in the next round, with City seeing off Liverpool 2-1 to secure their own quarter-final spot.
City were the regular season champions, finishing in top spot 14 points ahead of Mehmet Ali’s Arsenal side. Given they’ll also have home advantage for this quarter-final tie, the odds are stacked in their favour, and it’s up to the Gunners to produce an upset.
Arsenal u21 lineup vs Newcastle
Setford, Rosiak, Sweet, Clarke, Washington, Henry-Francis, Oulad-M’Hand, Gower, Kabia, Butler-Oyedeji, Harriman-Annous
Substitutes
Sagoe Jr. (for Butler-Oyedeji, 73), Edwards (for Harriman-Annous, 86), Porter, Ismail, Copley