U-21s: Swansea City v Arsenal - Preview

By Lloyd Webb

Silverware is so close, Marc Bola can almost touch it.

The under-21s require one win from their two remaining games against Swansea City and then West Brom to earn promotion into Division One following their 2-1 victory against league leaders Derby County.

The young Gunners will have the opportunity to cap an impressive season with a trophy in Wales on Thursday, and Bola says Steve Gatting’s side are in the right frame of mind.

“The mood is great,” he told Arsenal.com. “We were buzzing to beat Derby and we have two games in hand so if we win one, hopefully we will be champions. I think we have the belief after the win against Derby that we can take it all the way.

"Everyone together makes us strong and I think we can do it. We got close last season to the play-offs, but I think we can really win it this year. It will be good for us as well because we didn’t get through in the FA Youth Cup and we have had an excellent season.

“It would top it all off if we won the league and it would be good. We have to wait on the games and see how it goes, but I will probably go for a [celebratory] meal with the lads if we win it.”

Arsenal drew 0-0 with the Swans when they faced them earlier in the campaign at Meadow Park, and Bola says the Gunners know what to expect.

“Swansea’s full backs and wingers are quite good,” he said. “They will be looking to overload us from there and get crosses in because they have a good striker as well.

“We will need to stop that, and if we do, then our back four and front six can win the game. We are going to take what we did against Derby into the game against Swansea. We have to fight through it and hopefully we can celebrate soon.”

Follow @Arsenal on Twitter from 12:55pm (UK time) on Thursday for live updates of the game against Swansea City Under-21s at Liberty Stadium’s training ground.