By Connor Armstrong
SUMMARY
Kwame Ampadu’s under-18 side scored the opening goal against Reading, but ended up on the wrong end of a 5-1 scoreline in Berkshire.
Trae Coyle provided a finessed finish after a marauding run by Joe Willock, before goals from Ben House and Jordan Holsgrove sent the hosts in with a 2-1 lead at the interval.
Holsgrove seized on an error from Joao Virginia to make it 3-1, before Arsenal were reduced to 10 men when Willock was shown a red card for violent conduct.
House then applied the finishing touch from close range to chalk up Reading’s fourth goal of the afternoon.
The scoring was completed two minutes from the final whistle when Akin Odeimayo tapped the ball home from an inswinging corner.
SETTING THE SCENE
Virginia started in goal, with Zach Medley continuing his partnership with Joseph Olowu in central defence.
Tolaji Bola started at left-back and captained the side, with Jordi Osei-Tutu at right-back.
Coyle led the line for Arsenal, with Willock, Burton and Tella in support.
Meanwhile in central midfield, Josh Benson was joined by Daniel Ballard.
FIRST HALF
Arsenal endured a tough start against the Royals, with the hosts winning a penalty when Joseph Olowu’s backpass lacked enough power to make it to Virginia, with Reading forward House bundled over.
Holsgrove’s penalty was wild and sailed over the bar, before Willock beat three men before cutting back for Coyle to curl inside the far post.
Zach Medley then misplaced a pass, enabling House to cancel out Coyle’s opener with a lifted effort from 25 yards.
The Royals were then awarded another penalty when Jordi Osei-Tutu nudged House over in the area - and this time Holsgrove held his nerve to send Virginia the wrong way.
SECOND HALF
Holsgrove added to his tally after just eight minutes of the second period, when Virginia played the ball straight to the feet of Reading’s No 10.
Willock then saw red after an off-the-ball altercation with Odeimayo.
House added a fourth goal for Reading when he turned the ball home from close range, before Odeimayo touched home a corner from inside the six-yard box.
The defeat was the Gunners' second of the season, seeing them move down a place in the league - two points behind table-topping West Ham United.
Copyright 2024 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.
