Arsenal u21 star proving he’s too good for youth football | OneFootball

The Arsenal u21s secured a big win over Newcastle United on Friday, with a starring performance from Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand.

Photo via Arsenal.com

The Arsenal u21s hosted Newcastle United at Meadow Park on Friday night, and Gunners 21-year-old Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand put in an impressive performance to secure Mehmet Ali’s side all three points.

Arsenal opened the scoring in the 16th minute, their only goal Oulad M’Hand didn’t have any involvement in. Michal Rosiak put a cross into the area, and Khayon Edwards registered an assist as Seb Ferdinand was on hand to score for 1-0.

Midway through the half, Edwards added a goal to his assist, tapping in after Oulad M’Hand’s initial shot was saved.

Oulad M’Hand then produced an excellent assist for Osman Kamara for 3-0, putting his team in a commanding position at half-time.

Photo via Arsenal.com

Arsenal perhaps took their foot off the gas a little in the second half, and Newcastle capitalised by converting a penalty in the 78th minute. But Oulad M’Hand put the game to bed with an excellent free-kick goal for 4-1.

It seems strange that the midfielder is still playing youth football, particularly after the impressive way he ended his loan to FC Den Bosch last season.

The problem has been the midfielder’s injury record, and it’s likely he just didn’t find the right club to take a chance on his fitness for a loan or permanent transfer in the last couple of windows. But now that he’s proving his fitness with the u21s, first-team chances shouldn’t be far away.

Photo via Arsenal.com

15-year-old Marli Salmon also impressed on the night, playing at centre-back. The teenager has stepped up from the u18s to start the u21s’ last couple of games now, and he looks comfortable despite his age.

Late in the game, Dan Casey and Josh Ogunnaike got the chance to make their u21 debuts, rewarding their performances with the u18s.

And Tommy Setford was in goal, despite being Mikel Arteta’s third-choice first-team goalkeeper at the moment.

Setford was with the senior side for Saturday’s game against West Ham, but Arsenal are clearly keen to ensure he gets some minutes on the pitch as well.

Arsenal u21 lineup vs Newcastle United

Setford, Rosiak, Nichols, Salmon, Sweet, Henry-Francis, Gower, S. Oulad M’Hand, Kamara Ferdinand, Edwards

Substitutes

Ogunnaike (for Nichols, 71), I. Oulad M’Hand (for Henry-Francis, 81), Casey (for Kamara, 81), Nygaard

What’s next?

The Arsenal u21s aren’t in action again until March 3rd, playing away against Crystal Palace in a Premier League 2 clash.

But some of the members of Friday’s squad against Newcastle could drop down to the u18s before that, for the FA Youth Cup quarter-final against Manchester United on Friday, February 28th.