The Arsenal u18s are off to a slow start in the u18 Premier League, but they could soon be boosted by reinforcements via the transfer window.
The Arsenal u18s kicked off their season away to West Bromwich Albion last weekend, and they played their second game of the campaign at home to Ipswich Town on Saturday, but things aren’t going particularly well so far.
Arsenal’s opening 0-0 draw with West Brom wasn’t a terrible result, given it was the first game back and playing on the road.
But Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Ipswich was much less excusable, with Chris Atherton scoring a hat-trick for the visitors.
The one positive moment was Emerson Nwaneri scoring a late consolation with a placed finish in the 94th minute.
The younger Nwaneri brother was the subject of plenty of transfer speculation in recent months, but he ended up agreeing to both a scholarship contract and a first professional deal with Arsenal.
To celebrate those new deals with the u18s’ first goal of the season was the sole upside to a pretty bleak home opener for the team.
The good news is that the u18s could soon get a couple of much-needed additions in attacking areas.
The Gunners have agreements with Liverpool striker Vincent Joseph and Crystal Palace striker Mylo Bernard, two exciting centre-forward prospects, both of whom are 16.
The duo will be eligible for the u18s this season, having scored nine goals in 15 u18 Premier League games between them for Liverpool and Palace despite technically being u16 players last season by age.
U18 transfers aren’t always the easiest to get done, with negotiations for compensation payments often leading to tribunals before the player can make things official.
Arsenal’s issues are also more than just in scoring goals, with clear problems to solve at the back. But getting the two signings over the line could give the team a major morale boost.
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