Jack Wilshere expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, despite conceding a late equaliser in Saturday's 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion in the Under-18s Premier League.
We initially took the lead thanks to Max Dowman's stunning effort, only to be swiftly brought level by Dan Chimeziri. However, Chido Martin Obi restored our lead before halftime, marking his ninth goal in his last three games. In the second half, Owen Asemota's save from Adriel Walker's penalty preserved our advantage, but the Baggies managed to secure a point late in the game courtesy of Archie Kirton.
"I'm frustrated with the result despite the quality of our performance," Wilshere said. "We need to figure out how to close out games. Even if we've dominated for 80 minutes, we have to anticipate the opposition's push in the final 10 minutes and be prepared to fight until the end.
"I believed we were prepared for the majority of the game, and we anticipated their direct style of play. We managed to cope with it reasonably well, but consistency throughout the full 90 minutes is crucial," Jack remarked.
Jack has also been pleased with the development of Max Dowman. Despite only being 14, Max has started the last two games for the under-18s and has scored his first goal at this level.
"I'm not surprised that he's adapted well because he's a talented player. It's a testament to the dedication and effort put in by the staff at Hale End over the past few years. While he still has a long way to go, it will require a combined effort from both Hale End and everyone here at the Sobha Realty Training Centre to further his development. However, he's on the right track, and hopefully, he can maintain his form, stay fit and healthy, and continue to progress," Jack said.
Finally, Jack expressed satisfaction with how new signing Brayden Clarke, who joined us from Wolves last month, has settled in during his first three games at the club.
"I think he's performed really well and is comfortable. Despite participating in only three games and having trained just six times due to his involvement with the Wales U17 national team during the international break, he seamlessly integrated into the team and displayed commendable performances.
Moving forward, we'll observe his progress until the end of the season. Next season holds significance for him as he'll be a second-year scholar, particularly as a center-back, where we hope to see his leadership qualities shine through. Overall, I'm genuinely pleased with his initial performances," Jack commented.
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