Our Under-21s suffered a narrow 1 - 0 defeat to West Ham United in a London derby on Friday night at The Rush Green Stadium.
Kaelan Casey scored the only goal of the game for the hosts five minutes into the second half, and despite a valiant effort from our Gunners in the second half, we suffered our second defeat of 2025.
What Happened
The home side had a good chance just five minutes into the game when goalkeeper Fin Herrick played a wonderful pass to Josh Ajala, but the Hammers striker was denied by Lucas Martin Nygaard.
Our first chance came midway through the first half, when Will Sweet’s pass broke the West Ham press, allowing Salah to drive forward. He picked out Osman Kamara, but the winger’s shot was deflected wide of the post.
The Hammers were just a couple of inches away from taking the lead in first-half stoppage time, but Sean Moore lifted an effort over from close range on the stretch.
West Ham were more clinical with their first opportunity after the break, as Kaelan Casey lashed the ball home from a corner five minutes into the second half.
We responded well to going behind and just ten minutes after the opening goal, Osman Kamara had a fine effort from the corner of the penalty area deflected just wide.
After holding us off for most of the second half, the Hammers had a great chance to double their lead when Lewis Orford’s chip was stopped well by Nygaard.
Despite putting plenty of pressure on the East Londoners in the final stages of the game, we fell to a narrow defeat.
What It Means
We sit 13th in the Premier League 2 table with 19 points from our 13 league matches.
What’s Next
Our under-21s are in action again next Friday, February 14, at home to Middlesbrough.
Kick-off at Meadow Park is scheduled for 7pm (UK time).
Line-Ups
Arsenal XI: Nygaard, Clarke, Monlouis, Sweet, Washington (Harriman-Annous, 72), Gower, Salah, Oulad M’Hand, Ferdinand, Edwards, Kamara
Subs (not used): Ismail, Ranson, Copley, Ibrahim
West Ham XI: Herrick, Briggs, Mayers, Akpata (Fearon, 80), Casey, Luizao, Moore, Orford, Ajala (Rigge, 69), Swyer, Adiele
Subs (not used): Golambeckis, Terry, Brown
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