Arsenal 21yo makes 1st appearance after re-signing for Gunners | OneFootball

Goalkeeper Remy Mitchell made his competitive return with the Arsenal u21s on Friday, helping them to a 1-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion.

Photo via Mitchell on Instagram

Remy Mitchell’s return to the Arsenal u21s was effectively confirmed last weekend, with the player sharing a Baller League post announcing that he’d rejoined the Gunners – in the absence of any official confirmation from Arsenal.

Any remaining doubts about the youth goalkeeper’s comeback were ended on Friday, as the player was named in a competitive Premier League 2 squad for the Arsenal u21s.

Though the 21-year-old was initially included on the bench, he ended up playing 48 minutes as a substitute. Mitchell kept a clean sheet to earn Arsenal’s first win of the new campaign.

Photo via Arsenal.com

Prior to this match, there was still some uncertainty about Mitchell’s situation. Though he had featured in a pre-season friendly against Young Violets Austria Wien in July, he hadn’t made the squad for the first couple of Premier League 2 games.

But the player was included in Arsenal’s academy photocall, he’s taken the number 47, and he’s now made a competitive appearance. It’s clear that he’s officially rejoined the club.

The reason for Mitchell’s introduction was less positive, with starting goalkeeper Tommy Setford forced off through injury. Lingering hopes of a loan move for Setford this summer are surely now at an end.

Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images

The initial assumption around Mitchell’s return was that it was because he’s still currently classified as an u21 player. That means he wouldn’t take up a senior squad spot, but could still be used if needed.

Karl Hein has gone on loan, Setford is now injured, and Lucas Nygaard’s absence from Friday’s u21 game perhaps suggests he could go on loan as well. Mitchell would then be available to fill in with the youth teams.

Mitchell’s previous spell with the Arsenal academy ended in 2022, after 10 years with the club. He joined Swansea City, and has since played for Haringey Borough and Aylesbury United, before making his comeback in north London.