Post-Match Report

Arsenal Under-18s 0-2 Tottenham - Report

Tottenham Hotspur U18 -

Sobha Realty Training Centre
Premier League U18
Premier League U18
  Arsenal U18
   crest
Arsenal U18
0 - 2
  Tottenham Hotspur U18
      
              0 (8, 64)
          
   crest
Tottenham Hotspur U18
0 (8, 64)

Arsenal Under-18s suffered their first defeat in six games when they hosted Tottenham Hotspur at London Colney.

Ismail Azzaoui gave the visitors the lead after eight minutes and made sure of victory when he doubled the advantage after the break.

Tottenham defender Anton Walkes was sent off midway through the second half but Arsenal could not find a way back into the game.

Frans de Kat made four changes to the side that drew 0-0 against West Ham United. Bradley House replaced Huddart while Ilias Chatzitheodoridis, Renny Smith and Josh Da Silva came in for Tolaji Bola, Aaron Eyoma and Kaylen Hinds.

It only took Spurs eight minutes to find a breakthrough. Debutant Chatzitheodoridis failed to deal with a long ball and Azzaoui capitalised on the defensive mix up between the left-back and goalkeeper to slot into the empty net.

Arsenal threatened back immediately, though, and Harry Donovan was unlucky to see his volley from Chris Willock’s cross well saved by Tom Glover before House had to react quickly at the other end to prevent Azzaoui’s deflected cross from finding the corner.

The young Gunners looked certain to score just before half-time when Stephy Mavididi collected the ball six yards from goal but Cameron Carter-Vickers threw himself at the striker’s feet to block his effort.

Despite Arsenal’s bright finish going into the break, they found themselves conceding again after it when Azzaoui latched onto Joe Pritchard’s through ball and fired past House for his second of the game.

Tottenham then looked to have given the Gunners a way back into the game when Walkes received a second yellow card for a two-footed tackle on Donovan but the hosts could not capitalise.

Renny Smith headed Ben Sheaf’s corner over from six yards before Spurs nearly grabbed a third when Ryan Loft fired over from just inside the box at the end of a frustrating afternoon for Frans de Kat’s side.