Mehmet's thoughts after draw with Stoke

Arsenal under-21s head coach Mehmet Ali reflected on his side's performance following our eventful 2-2 draw against Stoke City on Monday night.

"I thought it was a good, entertaining game. We displayed moments of real quality and class," Ali began. "However, we were frustrated because Stoke City played a very direct style, excelling in winning the first contact and second balls, which disrupted our rhythm. In those instances, we needed to exert more control over the game, but unfortunately, we fell short in that aspect. Therefore, I believe a draw was a fair result."

Mehmet praised his players' commitment and dedication to getting a point after going 2-1 down in the second half, stating, "With the group of lads representing Arsenal, they always give everything in terms of their application and attitude. However, we lacked a bit of quality at times during the match. We struggled to cope with Stoke's style, which was frustrating, but credit to our players for continuing to push and ultimately securing a draw."

Assessing their performance in duels and first contacts, Mehmet acknowledged improvements made in the second half but emphasised the need for better execution from the outset. "In terms of duels and winning first contacts, we did well, especially in the second half. However, I still believe we could have performed better in the first half. It was encouraging to see how we adapted as the game progressed. Nonetheless, at this stage, our players should be executing these aspects from the first minute, and we should have been in a position to control the game more effectively than we did."

Mehmet discussed the advantages and disadvantages of not having a game for the last four weeks in the build-up to this game.

"There are both pros and cons to that," said Mehmet. "The benefits include having more time to spend on the training ground, allowing us to work closely with our first team and address various situations that require improvement. However, nothing quite compares to the intensity and experience of game day, where you're out on the pitch competing against an opponent."

Mehmet concluded by expressing his hopes for a more dominant performance against Aston Villa, our upcoming opponents.

"I'm eager to see a response from the team in terms of dominating our opponents, as we have done in previous games," Mehmet remarked. "It will be beneficial to return to the training pitch and prepare thoroughly for the match against Villa. I'm looking forward to seeing if we've made improvements and can translate them into a strong performance on the field."