If you believe the critics, Manchester City have an Erling Haaland problem this season.
Despite 33 goals already, Haaland has apparently joined the wrong club, and City are no better with the striker, who is being criticised for 'only' scoring goals. His build-up play is improving, but not enough for some.
Pep Guardiola doesn't buy into that narrative, though, and seems to be enjoying the challenge of integrating a player of Haaland's qualities into his possession-based side. On the evidence of City's FA Youth Cup quarter-final win over Oxford on Tuesday, it seems the academy is successfully deploying a similar system that saw them set up a tantalising semi-final at Arsenal.
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"If you watch any of our sides play from under-nines to the first team, hopefully it doesn't look that dissimilar in terms of the style and product that's on offer," under-18 coach Ben Wilkinson told MEN Sport before this quarter-final. "We try and play in the same way as the standards the first team set."
Wilkinson also wanted City to deal with the pressure of an expectant home crowd, rather than a 'hostile' away one that the under-19s experienced at Hajduk Split last week in the UEFA Youth League defeat, and it would be up to the five starters from the defeat in Croatia - and the seven substitutes - to help their younger colleagues through this tricky test against Oxford.
With a solid back four, and no sign of an inverted full-back that the senior team have deployed of late, City unsurprisingly took control of the tie with the ball. Gatlin O'Donkor's warning shot was way wide and was the only chance of note in an opening where City were moving Oxford from side to side looking for the opening.
That opening would come from the Oxford right, with Blues forward Joel Ndala enjoying plenty of joy against U's right-back Ibrahim Sankoh and his centre-back Max Smith. The pair simply couldn't cope with the ball inside the full-back and weren't being supported by their midfielders. Ndala's pace had been used to create three half-chances before the deadlock was broken 20 minutes in, and Oxford wouldn't find a way to stop the same forward ball all night. City scored three goals from targeting a helpless Sankoh.
Midfielder Isaiah Dada-Mascoll had been bossing the defensive midfield area and when he sensed an opportunity to stride forward, he played an inch-perfect through-ball for Justin Oboavwoduo to take a touch and slide the ball calmly under Fraser Barnsley in the visiting goal. After a hat-trick in the last round, this was Oboavwoduo's 17th of a productive season.
The Blues remained well on top, with a Will Dickson drive and Farid Alfa-Ruprecht run the closest they came to a second. Despite creating few chances, they were coping well with the pressure of being favourites, even if a second goal would be welcome.
While rarely troubled, the defensive partnership of Max Alleyne and captain Jadel Katongo were working well together and starting attacks on the transition, while left-back Tom Galvez was haring up and down the left flank to support Ndala while still protecting his defence. Katongo has been in first-team training recently, while Galvez was in the group who trained in Abu Dhabi with Pep Guardiola during the World Cup. Finland defender Galvez isn't the only City player to have made his senior international debut before making his professional debut at club level, and his attacking display against Oxford was particularly notable.
A number of encouraging partnerships were developing, with Alleyne and Katongo anchoring the team, Galvez and Ndala pinning down the left, and midfielders Dada-Mascoll and Michael Okeke dominating the midfield.
It was two individuals who finally booked a semi-final spot, though, as substitute Nico O'Reilly facilitated a change of shape and a spark into City's attacking play. Moments after his drive forward almost resulted in a follow-up goal, he fed the run of Galvez and the Finn's cross was perfect for Dickson to slide in and add a welcome cushion to the scoreline.
After two goals came from targeting the Oxford right-back, so did a third, as Galvez again popped up on the overlap to find Dickson for the second time in five minutes. Dickson had to adjust his run, and finished smartly to seal City's clash at Arsenal with 20 minutes left.
In the first team, City have had to find a way to facilitate Haaland, who as a tall, physical striker rarely gets involved in the build-up, but can be relied upon to finish when it comes to him in the box. It's far too premature to compare Dickson to Haaland, yet there were similarities in their quiet performances until they came alive in the box and scored crucial goals.
If anything, Dickson's education throughout the City academy sees him more involved in the build-up, and he knew exactly where to be whenever Galvez raced down the left. As he grew in confidence, he popped up more and more to turn, drive, and set up a teammate - a move that almost set up a third for substitute Dan Ogwuru.
It might not have been pretty for large stretches, but City were professional and disciplined against an Oxford side who beat Leeds and Cardiff to reach this stage. With pressure on them, City's youngsters passed the test, and now they can finally start thinking about Arsenal.
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