Our under-18s were beaten 2-0 at home to Crystal Palace in the U18 Premier League Cup on Saturday.
WHAT HAPPENED
We had the first chance of the game from a corner that was whipped in by Ceadach O’Neill, the ball dropping to Cam’ron Ismail and his shot being blocked.
But Palace took the lead in the sixth minute, Jesse Derry sending a free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards out.
Louis Zecevic-John was played in but his shot from just outside the six yard box was blocked as we pursued an equaliser, but Palace come close to a second after a corner almost went directly in by Dean Bennamar, Khari Ranson tipping it over the bar.
Zecevic-John then went on a great run and around the goalkeeper only to see his effort hit the post, before Dan Casey played Brando Bailey-Joseph in behind, but his fizzed cross across the box was parried out.
Louie Copley split the palace defence with a pass to O’Neill, but his effort was parried wide for a corner and Ranson then made a great save to deny a free header by David Montjen that seemed destined for the bottom left corner.
Another header by Montjen smashed the post before Marcus Hill made an excellent stop to deny Bailey-Joseph an equaliser just before half-time.
We come close after a looping ball by O’Neill found Will Sweet at the back stick, but his cushioned header went across the box and evaded everyone.
Ranson was called into action again to prevent Jerome Osei Kyremeh from doubling Palace’s lead, and Zecevic-John missed another good chance to equalise when he shot straight at Hill from O’Neill’s cross.
Zecevic-John was one-on-one with Hill in the 61st minute but the Palace goalkeeper closed it down and the visitors did then go 2-0 up courtesy of Zack Henry, who slotted the ball into the back of the net with his right foot.
WHAT IT MEANS
We’re second in Group G of the U18 Premier League Cup with six points from three games. We’ll have to await the outcome of Liverpool v Birmingham City to see if we progress to the knockout stages, as Liverpool would go above us with a win.
WHAT’S NEXT
Members of the under-18s team are expected to be involved in Tuesday’s UEFA Youth League clash away to Sporting Lisbon under-19s at 1pm. They will return to U18 Premier League action with the visit of Fulham at Sobha Realty Training Centre at 11am on Saturday, November 30.
LINE-UPS
Arsenal XI: Ranson, Salmon, Onyekachukwu, Sweet, Ismail (Chapman 46), Copley, Ibrahim, Casey, O’Neill (Oyetunde 66), Zecevic-John (Murisa 76), Bailey-Joseph.
Substitutes (not used): Talbot, Marciniak.
Crystal Palace XI: Hill, King, Adams-Collman, Somade, Benamar, Muwana (Okoli 63), Danaher, Shae Whyte, Derry (Lameiras 88), Kyremeh (Henry 59), Montjen (Casey 46).
Substitutes (not used): Mason.
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