Things learned from the return of the Arsenal U21 team in the summer

The Arsenal U21 team have returned to London Colney to begin pre-season training after the summer break. Coach David Horseman is temporarily taking charge of the team, while the team has not yet made an official announcement about the appointment of a new head coach. Pictures from the first training session have been released by Arsenal, showing the players gathered at the club's training ground on Monday.

During the training session, some young players who were on loan last season such as Ismeal Kabia, Louie Copley and Lucas Nygaard also appeared. These players have spent time playing at Shrewsbury Town, Crawley Town and Brabrand IF. Potential player Marli Salmon also attended the training session while Max Dowman was not present. This seems to indicate that Dowman is already seen as a more veteran player in the squad.


Currently, the Arsenal U21 team does not have an official coach after Max Porter left the club for Stoke City. Coach David Horseman ran the team's first training session and it seems he will hold this role in the near future. The Horseman's official role is as manager of the Under-21 and Under-19 teams, specifically in the EFL Trophy and UEFA Youth League competitions, but not in Premier League 2.

To prepare for the first friendly match of the summer, the Arsenal U21 team will meet Boreham Wood at Meadow Park on July 17 at 7:00 p.m. The club also said that the team's remaining friendly match schedule will be confirmed in due course. One point to note from the first practice session is that Alex Marciniak and Josh Ogunnaike were not present, because the club is negotiating contract extensions with them. Both players' contracts expired on June 30, so it is likely they will not participate in training until they sign new contracts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is temporarily leading the Arsenal U21 team?

Coach David Horseman is temporarily taking charge of the Arsenal U21 team.

When will the Arsenal U21 team have their first friendly match?

Arsenal U21 team will meet Boreham Wood on July 17 at 7:00 p.m.

Are there any players who were on loan last season participating in training?

Yes, players like Ismeal Kabia, Louie Copley and Lucas Nygaard took part in the training session.

Why wasn't Max Dowman present at the first training session?

Specific information on why Max Dowman was unavailable was not provided, but it appears he was considered a more veteran player in the squad.

Who is the official coach of the current Arsenal U21 team?

Currently, the Arsenal U21 team does not have an official coach after Max Porter left the club.

Read more on our latest coverage and stay tuned for updates on what happens next.