By Lloyd Webb
Arsenal are still waiting for their first win in the under-18s play-off stages after a frustrating defeat at West Brom.
Marcus Forss opened the scoring when he made space for himself outside the box and fired into the bottom corner in the first half.
Eddie Nketiah levelled the scores after the interval when he headed home substitute Nathan Tella’s whipped cross.
West Brom found the winning goal three minutes later when Forss’ strike took an unfortunate deflection off Tolaji Bola and wrong-footed Joao Virginia.
Joe Willock was replaced by Vlad Dragomir in midfield, while Yassin Fortune and Nketiah were given the nod in attack.
Nketiah went close with a volley in the opening exchanges, but Forss gave the hosts the lead when he hammered the ball past Virginia.
The Gunners came out in the second half looking to attack, and were equal eight minutes after the restart when Nketiah connected with Tella’s cross.
Three minutes later the hosts retook the lead after Forss’ strike took a heavy deflection off Bola and rolled into the bottom corner.
Dragomir had a late chance to equalise, but the Gunners ultimately left empty-handed.
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