By Max Jones at Constant Vanden Stock Stadium
SUMMARY
Arsenal Under-19s’ Uefa Youth League campaign came to a bitter end when they were knocked out in the play-off round by a clinical Anderlecht side.
John Vancamp delivered the cruel blows, losing his marker on two occasions to fire the Belgian side into the last 16 and one step closer to this season’s final in Switzerland.
It was the third time the sides had met in this competition and a third win for Anderlecht, but in truth it was not as easy for the hosts as the scoreline suggested.
Aside from Arsenal’s rare defensive errors, there were clear signs of improvement from the Gunners’ side that shipped six goals to the Belgians last season.
Despite a disappointing exit, Andries Jonker’s side can hold their heads high after an encouraging European journey.
SETTING THE SCENE
Jonker made three changes to the side that lost 2-0 at Olympiacos in their final group-stage game.
Chiori Johnson replaced the injured Ben Sheaf to make his first Youth League appearance of the season in an otherwise unchanged back four, while Ismael Bennacer returned in place of Kaylen Hinds, who was also sidelined.
Jeff Reine-Adelaide’s inclusion at No 10 saw Daniel Crowley pushed out to the wing and Stephy Mavididi continued up front, looking to add to his four goals in his last four games.
Anderlecht, however, named a youthful side - with Youri Tielemans a notable absentee from the Belgians’ 2014 Youth League squad.
There was more good news for Arsenal as Aaron Leya Iseka, the competition’s second-highest all-time scorer with 13 goals, was not named in the hosts’ 18. Vancamp provided the firepower up front.
FIRST HALF
Arsenal knew that whatever happened, their fate in this competition would be decided before they left Belgium.
Their fast start suggested they were not prepared to give up on their dreams of reaching the final in Nyon, with Crowley and Reine-Adelaide going close in the opening stages.
However, for all their quality going forward, the Gunners’ defence could have done more to prevent Anderlecht from taking the lead. Orel Mangala was afforded too much time to find Vancamp, who peeled off his man to head home at the far post.
It could have gone from bad to worse moments later when Johnson inadvertently played Dodi Lukebakio through on goal, but Hugo Keto produced a vital save to deny the forward from close range.
Anderlecht did not have to wait much longer to double their lead, though, and it came from another fast counter-attack.
The hosts cleared Reine-Adelaide’s corner and broke down the right-hand side to cross to Vancamp, who crashed his powerful strike in off the crossbar to put Anderlecht firmly in the driving seat.
SECOND HALF
The Gunners had 45 minutes to salvage their European campaign and Jonker gambled by sacrificing the creativity of Crowley and Hillock for the energy of Donyell Malen and Reiss Nelson.
The manager’s decision almost paid dividends, with Malen immediately switching play to Nelson on the right-hand side. The teenager beat his was man and crossed to Mavididi, whose shot was blocked as it headed towards the bottom corner.
Arsenal were throwing bodies forward to claw their way back into the game but that left them vulnerable at the back, and Vancamp perhaps should have completed his hat-trick.
The forward snatched at two clear-cut opportunities before Keto made another sublime stop to thwart the Belgian as he raced into the box unmarked.
The Gunners refused to give up and continued to mount the pressure until the final whistle but the damage had already been done by Vancamp, who ensured that it would be his side whose name was in the hat for the last 16.
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