U21s report: West Ham 2-3 Arsenal

2 - 3

WHAT HAPPENED

We picked up our second win in as many Premier League 2 matches on Friday night, beating West Ham 3-2 at Rush Green.

Marquinhos made his second start for Mehmet Ali's side after impressing against Manchester United and it was the Brazilian who would prove to be the matchwinner once more.

We didn't have things all our own way in the opening exchanges and the hosts took an early lead through Kamarai Swyer, the Hammers midfielder capitalising of a Zach Awe error to snatch the ball and finish beyond Tom Smith.

We found ourselves level almost instantly from the restart, Marquinhos finding space at the back post to head home after James Olayinka's chipped cross at the end of a marauding run.

Khayon Edwards almost put us ahead midway through the half, exchanging passes well with Miguel Azeez in midfield, before seeing his instinctive effort cleared off the line in miraculous fashion.

Marquinhos scored our second moments before the break, rising well in a crowded penalty area to find the top corner with a glancing header from Charles Sagoe Jr's lofted ball.

Ali's men didn't have to wait too long for another after the interval, Olayinka turning provider to finish with aplomb past after a defence-splitting pass from Matt Smith found the midfielder in space in the penalty area.

Mipo Odubeko's reduced the deficit against the run of play midway through the second half, racing through one-on-one and firing low beyond Smith.

Edwards then came agonisingly close to scoring once more, his goal-bound strike heroically blocked by the Hammers backline after yet more good play from Olayinka to find our striker.

Smith was forced into action in the closing stages to deny Swyer with a reflex save to tip the midfielder's effort over the bar.

We withstood West Ham's late pressure to claim successive wins in our opening two matches of the Premier League 2 season.