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Seconds out, round three: Anderlecht v Arsenal

Play-off opponents Arsenal and Anderlecht have previous in the UEFA Youth League – UEFA.com looks back at their meetings last season and the players who made their mark.

Arsenal's Daniel Crowley (right) taking the attack to Anderlecht last season
Arsenal's Daniel Crowley (right) taking the attack to Anderlecht last season ©Arsenal FC

The draw for the UEFA Youth League play-offs produced some interesting ties, but arguably the most tantalising is the meeting of Anderlecht – semi-finalists last season – and Arsenal, who have featured in all three editions of this competition to date.

While offering the London side the opportunity to qualify for the round of 16, the tie on 9/10 February also affords Arsenal the chance to avenge their two defeats by Anderlecht in the 2014/15 group stage.

Past UEFA Youth League meetings
21 October 2014

Anderlecht 4-3 Arsenal

4 November 2014
Arsenal 1-2 Anderlecht

Background
• Daniel Crowley, who scored all of Arsenal's goals in those matches, is still part of the Gunners' squad. The 18-year-old midfielder spent the first three months of this season on loan at English third-tier club Barnsley.

©Getty Images

• Aaron Leya Iseka struck twice in the October 2014 encounter and went on to make his senior European debut in Anderlecht's UEFA Europa League round of 32 game against Dinamo Moskva four months later. Like Crowley, forward Leya Iseka could figure in this fixture.

• If he does, Arsenal should be wary: Leya Iseka is second on the all-time UEFA Youth League scorers' list, two behind Atlético Madrid's 15-goal Roberto Nuñez, the 2015/16 group stage's leading marksman.

Who is Leya Iseka, Belgium's latest prodigy?

• Anderlecht are captained by Wout Faes. The shaggy-haired centre-back spoke to UEFA.com about this competition in Bulgaria last May while part of the Belgium squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2015 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.

©Arsenal FC
©Arsenal FC
©Arsenal FC
©Arsenal FC
©Arsenal FC

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