Arsenal wonderkid Luis Munoz has made European football history after becoming the youngest player to play in the UEFA Youth League, taking to the pitch after just 13 years and 343 days.
The milestone came during Arsenal Under-19s’ 4-2 win over Bayern Munich at Meadow Park on Wednesday afternoon.
Who is Luis Munoz? Arsenal’s youngest UEFA Youth League player
Munoz, a highly rated midfielder in Arsenal’s youth academy, has been playing above his age group for a number of seasons.
In September he played for the England Under-15 squad, and earlier in November he helped Arsenal’s Under-16s win the Premier League National Championship.
Munoz was one of a number of schoolboys included in Arsenal’s squad to gain valuable matchday experience in the Youth League, with the club’s chances of reaching the knockout rounds considered slim.
Youngest player in the history of the UEFA Youth League
By making his debut at 13 years and 343 days, Munoz breaks the previous Youth League record set by Liam Payas, who played for Lincoln Red Imps at 14 years and 93 days.
He also surpasses Arsenal’s youngest entry into the competition, Max Dowman, who is tipped to break the record for the youngest goalscorer in the Premier League. He made his UEFA Youth League debut at the age of 14.
The UEFA Youth Tournament mirrors the structure of the Champions League, with under-19 teams from participating clubs and the youth champions of UEFA member states.
For this season, players must be born on or after January 1, 2007, although teams may contain a maximum of five players born in 2006.
Arsenal U19 vs Bayern Munich U19
Munoz entered the match with five minutes of normal time remaining, replacing goalscorer Kyran Thompson and briefly acting as striker.
Arsenal won 4–2, with Max Dowman opening the scoring after good work from Kyran Thompson, who then added Arsenal’s second goal.
Ceadach O’Neill scored what proved to be the winner before Dowman sealed the result with a brilliant late solo goal.
For Bayern Munich, Yil Gashi scored early and Ljubo Puljic provided a late consolation.
Munoz was not the only young debutant: Emerson Nwaneri, the younger brother of first team player Ethan, also came off the bench at the age of 15.
Arsenal’s win is the first of this Youth League campaign and keeps their knockout hopes alive ahead of the final group match against Club Brugge on December 10.
They overtake Bayern to 30th in the rankings, but only the top 22 teams qualify for the next round.
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