Arsenal under-18s head coach Adam Birchall praised his team’s application in key moments following their thrilling 4-3 victory over Hertford Town in the FA Youth Cup third round.
Goals from Andre Harriman-Annous, Louie Copley, and a brace from Dan Casey sealed the win in a game that tested the young Gunners’ character.
On the result:
“We’re in the next round, and that’s the most important thing,” said Birchall. “I’m really pleased with the team’s application. They’ve been excellent in training over the past three days, and I thought what we worked on really showed on the pitch. At times, we could’ve managed the game better and allowed Hertford to hit us on the counter, but it was some game for the neutral.”
On the atmosphere:
“It’s unbelievable for them and so important at this stage of their development. With over 1,000 people here, the atmosphere was incredible. Fans can sway momentum in games, and the players had to manage that—it’s a great experience, and they did that well.”
On handling Hertford’s physicality:
“We knew coming into the game we’d need to be fully committed in every duel. I was really pleased with the running and effort across the team. Their wingers were tricky, but we dealt with them effectively, and our midfielders worked incredibly hard defensively, especially in those final moments.”
On Dan Casey’s standout performance:
“The biggest moment for me was Dan winning the duel for our first goal and hitting the crossbar—it was great to see his hard work paying off. His finishing was excellent today, showing real composure and technical quality when it mattered. I’m very happy with how he played.”
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