Our FA Youth Cup journey concluded with a defeat at the hands of Liverpool on a difficult evening in the North West.
The hosts seized control within the first ten minutes when Lewis Koumas netted from close range, set up by Jayden Danns. However, we swiftly responded as Ethan Nwaneri curled a brilliant equaliser into the bottom corner, marking his sixth goal in just two FA Youth Cup games.
The goal injected energy into our play, and we came close on two occasions. Initially, Nwaneri's shot from inside the area deflected just wide of the post. Then, Chido Obi-Martin hit the bar with a close-range header after Komel Misciur an initial save.
Despite dominating play, Koumas' deflected strike saw Liverpool take the lead against the run of play as he scored his second goal. Shortly before the break, Liverpool had their third when Trent Kone-Doherty slotted home at the near post.
After the interval, Kone-Doherty secured his brace, tapping in the rebound from Koumas' initial shot. Then, after a defensive mix-up, Danns capitalised and scored their fifth.
Liverpool's clinical finishing persisted as Danns netted his second with a stunning free-kick, and Koumas completed his hat-trick late in the game, marking our exit from the FA Youth Cup.
WHAT IT MEANS
Our FA Youth Cup journey comes to an end in the fourth round.
WHAT’S NEXT
We can bounce back next week when we travel to Leicester City in the Under-18s Premier League on Saturday, January 27.
Kick-off at LCFC Training Ground is at 11.30am (UK).
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal XI: Cooper, Rosiak, Kacurri, Heaven, Nichols, Lewis-Skelly, Dudziak (Brown, 60), Nwaneri, Kabia, Kamara (Ryan, 60), Obi-Martin (Oyetunde, 55)
Subs not used: Rojas, Sweet, Julienne, Casey.
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