Arsenal teenager takes major step in international career

Arsenal’s 18-year-old forward Ceadach O’Neill is now a confirmed Northern Ireland international after making a competitive appearance in their first ever Nations League win on the road as they beat Georgia 0-1 on Friday evening.

O’Neill had already made two senior appearances for Northern Ireland, but both came in friendlies, meaning he remained eligible to switch allegiance to the Republic of Ireland.

That option is now no longer open after his competitive debut.

Northern Ireland occupy a unique position in international football, with players able to opt to represent the Republic without needing to meet any other eligibility criteria.

The arrangement does not work the other way around.

Northern Ireland had therefore been concerned that O’Neill could still be persuaded to switch despite the time and effort invested in his pathway to the senior side.

O’Neill came on for the final four minutes (plus 10 of injury time) with the score at 0-0, after a contentious refereeing display in which the visitors had been denied a stonewall penalty while Georgia were awarded one for a slight tug by Dan Ballard.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia then produced a poor stuttering penalty which was comfortably saved by Pierce Charles in the Northern Ireland goal, before his brother, Shea Charles of Fulham, won the match in the 99th minute.

In other news from the game, Sunderland’s Dan Ballard had to be replaced towards the end of the match after appearing to pick up a bad hamstring injury.

The problem compounds what has already proved to be a costly international break for the Black Cats with Brian Brobbey having to be helped from the pitch the evening before after his own hamstring went.