WHAT HAPPENED
Our under-18s put up a valiant effort in our 2-0 away defeat to West Ham United on Saturday morning.
West Ham, who sit comfortably at the top of the league, started the brighter, and Noah Cooper was called into action early on to produce a stunning save to deny the home side.
The young Gunners slowly grew into the game and almost took the lead when Osman Kamara went on a bursting run but he curled his shot just wide from the edge of the box.
Both sides cancelled each other out well and we went into the break all square.
After the restart, we started on top and almost went ahead when Jimi Gower got his head on Osman Kamara’s cross but Mason Terry pulled off a good save.
Jack Wilshere’s side went close again shortly after when Ismail Oulad M’Hand’s free-kick was tipped over by Terry who was being called into action time and time again.
However, the hosts broke the deadlock just after the hour when Divine Mukasa's scuffed shot rolled its way into the back of the net.
Omari Benjamin went on a surging run in search of an equaliser and he did well holding off two defenders but his effort was saved.
The Hammers doubled their lead 10 minutes from time when Gideon Kodua scored from close-range to clinch all three points.
Despite the result, it was a good experience of what we will be up against in 10 days' time as we face the east London side in the FA Youth Cup final at Emirates Stadium.
WHAT IT MEANS
The result sees us drop one place to ninth and we remain on 19 points after 19 games.
WHAT’S NEXT
Our next game sees us travel to the east Midlands to face Leicester City on Tuesday, April 18.
Kick-off at LCFC Training Ground is at 3.30pm (UK).
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal: Cooper, Robinson, Kacurri, Brown, Nichols (Small, 75), Oulad M’Hand, Gower (Green, 82), Roberts, Ferdinand (Kabia, 70), Kamara, Benjamin
Subs not used: Rojas
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