Arsenal U19s top Bayern Munich, remain unbeaten in UEFA Youth League

Despite fielding a weakened side due to the Under-17 World Cup, Arsenal U19s dispatched Bayern Munich U19s 2-0 with two second half goals from Alex Iwobi.

Missing for the young Gunners were JEFF (Reine-Adelaide), Yassin Fortune, Stephy Mavididi, Chris Willock, and Kaylen Hinds, players that would typically comprise the majority of the attacking players in the Arsenal U19 side. In their place, Donyell Malen, Ismael Bennacer, and fifteen year-old Reiss Nelson were handed their first UEFA Youth League starts for the club.

The match was tense in the first half with Arsenal having most of the possession but the Germans having the better opportunities. That tension remained in the second half until Iwobi opened up the scoring with a fantastic strike in the 73rd minute. The newly minted Nigerian international received the ball centrally, just outside of the box, took a touch to his right and then hammered a shot into the top right corner of the goal. It marked the third consecutive season Iwobi has scored in the UEFA Youth League.

Iwobi would double his tally just a little over four minutes later as Malen, a summer signing from Ajax, made a run down the left flank and put in a nice back post cross which Iwobi did well to steer in off the post.

The only worry late was an injury to Krystian Bielik. The Polish youth international had to come off after injuring himself making a clearance.

The win gives Arsenal U19s 9 points out of 3 UEFA Youth League matches so far this season. As only the group winners automatically qualify for the knockout rounds of this competition (runners-up have to play in a playoff), the young Gunners are in good position to qualify halfway through the group stage.