By Lloyd Webb
Arsenal Under-18s were beaten 2-1 by league leaders Middlesbrough on a frustrating afternoon at London Colney.
Eddie Nketiah struck the woodwork early on but it was Yassin Fortune who gave the Gunners the lead with a curling finish.
Mitchell Curry levelled the scores with a penalty after Nketiah had tripped him in the box moments before the break.
Nketiah hit the post again in the second half but in the 88th minute, Marcus Tavernier headed home a later winner.
Nketiah gave the visitors an early warning when he raced through on goal but struck the post.
Fortune then made space for himself in the box and tucked the ball into the bottom corner to give the Gunners the lead.
Nketiah took down Curry just before the break in the box and the Middlesbrough attacker made no mistake from the spot.
Nketiah had a chance to make amends for his error immediately after the interval but the woodwork denied him once more.
Tavernier scored the deciding goal two minutes from the end when he found himself unmarked at the back post to head home.
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