The Arsenal u21s may need to win their final EFL Trophy match to reach the knockout stages, and they certainly need to avoid any form of defeat.
AFC Wimbledon played out a 0-0 draw in the EFL Trophy earlier this week, with Barnet winning the subsequent penalty shootout 8-7 for a bonus point.
As a result, Barnet lead the group on five points going into the final round of matches, with Arsenal in second place on three points.
Wimbledon and Leyton Orient both sit on two points, with only the top two teams progressing to the knockout stages.
Arsenal’s progression will largely be determined by their final game, away to Wimbledon on October 27th. A win will absolutely guarantee a spot in the knockouts, and potentially even top spot in the group.
A draw and a win on penalties (for the bonus point) may also be enough, but only if Barnet avoid defeat to Leyton Orient in the other game. If Leyton Orient win, they’d join Barnet and Arsenal on five points, and the Gunners would almost certainly have the worst goal difference of the three.
Arsenal’s current goal difference is -3, with Barnet on 4 and Leyton Orient already better than Arsenal at -1. So it would take a mammoth eight-goal win for Leyton Orient in order for Arsenal’s goal difference to beat Barnet’s.
Things are much simpler if Arsenal lose to Wimbledon, either in normal time or on penalties.
A defeat in normal time would drop Arsenal down to third (at best), and a defeat on penalties would see Wimbledon leapfrogging the Gunners on goal difference. If Arsenal lose in either manner, they’ll be out, whatever happens in the other game.
So Arsenal must be victorious on the night, and if they can’t do it in normal time, they’ll be relying on the other result.
Barnet don’t play Leyton Orient until November 10th, and it could be a nervous two-week wait if the young Gunners don’t get the job done themselves.
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