Post-Match Report

U-23s: Arsenal 1-0 Leicester City - Report

Leicester City U23 -

Mangata Pay UK Stadium, Meadow Park
Premier League 2 - Division One
Premier League 2 - Division One
  Arsenal U23
      
                  D. Johnson (32 og)
            
   crest
Arsenal U23
D. Johnson (32 og)
1 - 0
  Leicester City U23
   crest
Leicester City U23

WHAT HAPPENED

Our under-23s continued their strong start to the new Premier League 2 season with a narrow 1-0 win against Leicester on Friday. 

Eddie Nketiah had the first opportunity to score just a minute in, but saw his drilled strike tipped wide by Daniel Iversen for a corner.

Not long after, the Foxes soon created their own chance on goal, when George Thomas sent a low shot from the edge of the penalty area narrowly wide of the far post.

Although the visitors had enjoyed the opening exchanges of the game, it was Steve Gatting’s side who took the lead on the half-hour mark when Osei-Tutu broke free down the right channel and fired in a dangerous ball. With Chuba Akpom waiting, Darnell Johnson inadvertently put the ball into his own net.  

Soon after, we almost scored a second when Akpom sent a searching cross to the far post. Reiss Nelson made a run from deep to meet the ball and flung himself towards it, but wasn’t able to make contact.

The chances kept coming for us, as Nketiah sent a powerful shot from long range, only to see his effort tipped over the bar by Iversen.

Shortly after the interval Nketiah made sure to let the visitors know that there would be no let up when he fired a low shot that Iverson saved. 

It wasn’t until the 70th minute that the next good opportunity of the game arrived, with the chance this time falling to Akpom. The striker picked up the ball on the left hand-side and cut inside to shoot, but dragged his shot wide.

With full-time nearing, Leicester’s Keirnan Dewsbury-Hall came close to netting an equaliser, but was denied spectacularly by a diving Matt Macey.

In the dying minutes the visitors again almost found the goal they were searching for in a goal-mouth scramble, which resulted in Macey gratefully grasping on to the ball on his line.

WHAT'S NEXT

Up next is an away trip to Everton on September 25. The third-placed side face Derby County on Monday night and will be hoping to keep up with the pace at the top of the table. 

WHAT IT MEANS

The result means that Gatting’s side are joint top of PL 2 with Liverpool, who play West Ham away from home on Monday night.