David Horseman is yet to manage the Arsenal u19s in a UEFA Youth League fixture, but he’s already picked up a suspension ahead of his first game.
Patrick Austen-Hardy reports for the Mirror that Arsenal youth coach David Horseman has been handed a one-match ban by UEFA for “insulting players or others present” during the Arsenal u19s’ opening Youth League fixture against Athletic Club.
A very recent addition to the coaching staff, Horseman hadn’t yet been officially appointed by Arsenal during the Athletic Club fixture. But Arsenal themselves confirmed he “was present to oversee our opening Youth League clash”.
At the time, the Gunners added that Horseman would take charge of the remaining five matches of the competition.
Yet it seems that Horseman made himself more than just a casual observer of the Athletic Club fixture, and as a result he’ll be banned for one of those five remaining games.
Assuming the ban is immediately in effect and that Arsenal can’t delay it with an appeal, Horseman will be unavailable for the u19 match against Olympiacos on Wednesday at 13:00 BST.
Arsenal u21 head coach Max Porter will likely take charge in Horseman’s absence.
Horseman has already coached an Arsenal academy team for one game, as his remit involves both managing the u19s in the UEFA Youth League and the u21s in the EFL Trophy.
The u21s kicked off their EFL Trophy campaign away to Newport County last Tuesday, with Horseman leading his new side to a 2-1 comeback win.
It looks like he might have to wait a little longer for his next game in charge, when Arsenal play Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, October 21st.