Arsenal face UEFA Youth League elimination after damaging defeat | OneFootball

The Arsenal u19s slipped to defeat against Inter Milan on Wednesday and now face the very real prospect of League Phase elimination.

The Arsenal u19s face off against Inter Milan in the UEFA Youth League (Photo via Arsenal.com)

Before the first team were in action against Inter Milan on Wednesday night, the u19s took on the same opponents earlier in the day in a UEFA Youth League clash.

Inter came out of the blocks fast, and Giacomo De Pieri gave them a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute. Though Arsenal saw most of the possession and had a few chances, Inter had the better opportunities, and they made it 2-0 in the 41st minute through Matteo Spinacce.

Things didn’t get any better for the Gunners after the break, as Maldini Kacurri picked up a second yellow card and the team were reduced to 10 men.

Inter then added to their lead through Manuel Pinotti in the 69th minute.

Ismeal Kabia celebrates a goal for the Arsenal u21s (Photo via Arsenal Academy on Twitter)

Arsenal did at least keep pushing, and Ismeal Kabia crossed to assist Osman Kamara pulling back a goal in the 74th minute.

But that turned out to be nothing more than a consolation, with Matteo Lavelli adding a fourth goal via a deflection to secure Inter’s win in stoppage time.

The defeat in itself wasn’t disastrous, away to the top team in the entire League Phase. But to lose 4-1 and pick up a suspension is certainly disappointing, and the context of the defeat makes it even more damaging.

Osman Kamara (L) in training with the Arsenal first-team (Photo via Arsenal.com)

As it stands, Arsenal have won just one of four UEFA Youth League games, with only six matches scheduled to be played. The team sit 28th in the table, six places off the progression spots.

With two games remaining, Arsenal have a gap of two points and six goal difference to make up. Certainly not an impossible task, but the pressure is really on those final two games now.

Arsenal u19 lineup vs Inter Milan

Nygaard, Salmon, Kacurri, Heaven, Nichols, Dowman, Rosiak, Dudziak, Kabia, Casey, Annous

Substitutes

Julienne (for Nichols, 46), Kamara (for Dowman, 46), Clarke (for Annous, 63), Copley (for Kabia, 75), Porter, Ferdinand, Forde, Ismail, Sweet

What’s next?

The Arsenal u18s are involved in league action on Saturday, November 9th at 12:00 GMT, playing away to Reading.

Back in the youth league, the Arsenal u19s face Sporting CP away on November 26th, then Monaco at home on December 11th, the same as the first team.