By Matt Aldridge at London Colney
SUMMARY
Our under-23s began pre-season with a 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth at London Colney.
The Gunners went behind after just five minutes, as the visitors' striker flicked a low ball inside the far post.
The first half finished with the Cherries still in the lead, however, shortly after the break we equalised, when Folarin Balogun pressed and won the ball off a Bournemouth defender. The forward raced through on through at goal and stroked his effort past the goalkeeper.
With the game deadlocked, the Cherries took the lead once more with a curling strike that found its way in off the far post to condemn our under-23s to defeat.
setting the scene
Steve Gatting fielded two entirely different starting XIs for each half of our under-23s' first pre-season fixture.
A number of first year scholars made their first appearance at this level, while a number of more recognisable faces were also on show.
Arsenal - first half: Virginia, Moore, Olowu, Medley, T Bola, Bennacer, Toral, Amaechi, Dragomir, Eyoma, John-Jules
Arsenal - second half: Keto, Osei-Tutu, Johnson, McGuinness, Omole, Gilmour, McGuane, Benson, Mourgos, Burton, Balogun
FIRST HALF
Bournemouth took an early lead through their striker, who flicked a low cross beyond goalkeeper Joao Virginia and just inside the far post.
We had our first chance of the match in the 19th minute, when Ismael Bennacer sent a hard, low shot at goal. The Algerian’s effort couldn’t beat Bournemouth’s goalkeeper, however.
Shortly before the break, the visitors almost doubled their lead as they flashed a teasing shot wide of the upright.
SECOND HALF
Shortly after half-time, Balogun equalised as he pressed the Cherries’ backline and won the ball. The 16-year-old raced through on goal and then coolly slotted the ball past Bournemouth’s onrushing goalkeeper.
Just seven minutes later, we carved out a promising opportunity, as Balogun laid off the ball to Marcus McGuane on the edge of the penalty area after a slick piece of play. The central midfielder couldn’t keep his effort down, though, and sent the ball over the bar.
Two minutes later, we came close once again, as Chiori Johnson hit the post from Savvas Mourgos’ corner, only to see his rebounded shot cleared.
Bournemouth took the lead once again, though, in the 76th minute, as they fired a whipped strike in off the far post and past substitute Hugo Keto.
In search of an equaliser once more, chances fell to Josh Benson and Mourgos. In the 84th minute, Benson was sent through on goal and rounded the keeper, but was not quick enough to beat the covering defender.
Moments later, Mourgos saw a low curling effort turned behind the post and with just two minutes left, the Greek forward stung the palms of Bournemouth’s goalkeeper but there was no way through.
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