U18s report: Arsenal 2-2 Brighton & Hove Albion

2 - 2

WHAT HAPPENED

We extended our unbeaten streak to four matches as we drew 2-2 with Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday afternoon at London Colney.

Despite changes in personnel, Jack Wilshere's side started the contest in their usual fast fashion, taking the game to the visitors from the first whistle, with a front three of Omari Benjamin, Mathaeus Roberts and Seb Ferdinand causing chaos.

We took a deserved lead inside 20 minutes, Benjamin's header looping over Tommy Reid in the Brighton goal after they failed to deal with Ferdinand's dangerous cross.

The visitors restored parity against the run of play just 10 minutes later, Joe Knight scoring from the penalty spot after Luis Brown was adjudged to have brought down Jaydon Fuller in the area.

Brighton came out for the second half in a change of shape and with a change of approach, forcing us back as the game became scrappy in midfield and we failed to establish a foothold.

We remained dangerous on the counter attack and restored our advantage 20 minutes before the end, Ferdinand sending Reid the wrong way from the spot after some impressive forward play from Benjamin to win the initial penalty.

It looked as though all three points had been secured while not at our best, but for the hosts to equalise deep into stoppage time - Bailey Smith tapping home beyond Alexei Rojas after a ball across the box.