Much like the first-team against Norwich City last Saturday, Arsenal U21s demonstrated terrific resolve to prevail in adversity and secure a late victory. Their 3-2 win away to Wolverhampton Wanderers, which came after the Gunners had squandered a two-goal lead following the dismissal of Daniel Boateng, may, however, have been too little, too late to springboard a push for the end-of-season play-offs.

To reach the play-offs, Arsenal must finish in the top three of the Elite Group, a task that appears rather difficult at present given that they are currently in fifth place, languishing seven points behind Liverpool, who currently occupy the last play-off spot. To make matters worse, there are now only three games remaining and, even though they are all home fixtures, it would be some feat if Steve Gatting’s side were to take maximum points from their games against Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, two sides who have already beaten them this year.

The other remaining game, sandwiched in between those two, is the re-match against Wolves and, on the evidence of the original fixture, it should be a captivating affair. Two goals from England U19 striker Chuba Akpom, taking his tally to 18 goals in 30 matches in all competitions this campaign, looked to have set Arsenal on the way to a comfortable victory, but Wolves scored either side of Boateng being sent off for a slight tug on Samir Bihmoutine, before substitute Sanchez Watt, who has now been playing at this level for six years, struck a late winner.

Bihmoutine, strangely enough, is still contracted to the Gunners until June, but, despite having worked his way through the ranks at the club, will be let go in the summer, which is why the Moroccan left-back is currently being allowed to trial with various clubs, including Wolves.

A plethora of other youngsters are set to join the 19-year-old in departing the club in the summer. Martin Angha has already signed a pre-contract agreement with Nuremberg, Kyle Ebecilio is wanted by several Dutch clubs, the quartet of Conor Henderson, Craig Eastmond, Watt and James Shea are set to be released, whilst others, such as Josh Rees and second-year scholar Zach Fagan are likely to follow suit in being let go.

The U18s, meanwhile, who have been fielding a side consisting mostly of schoolboys and first-year scholars for several weeks now, have struggled for results since the turn of the year, most recently losing 2-0 to Manchester City last weekend. One player who featured in that game for the Gunners was England youth international Kodi Lyons-Foster, who is currently in the middle of a two-week trial at the club after being let go by Tottenham.

Speaking of Arsenal’s North London rivals, Monday’s meeting between the two sides at Underhill promises to be quite an occasion. It is expected that the game will be well attended by supporters of both sides, with the intriguing additional sub-plots being that, not only will it be one of the final games at the ground before Barnet officially depart at the end of the season, but Tottenham could also virtually secure a play-off spot of their own with a victory, something which Arsenal will certainly be seeking to prevent.

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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird