WHAT HAPPENED
Our U21s fell to a 2-0 away defeat against third-placed Crystal Palace on Friday afternoon.
Mehmet Ali’s side, who were looking to bounce back from Monday’s narrow Premier League Cup defeat to Brentford B, started the brighter of the two sides and had the game's first real chance through Joel Ideho, who sent his effort wide after an impressive run from midfield.
We were awarded a penalty moments later when Nathan Ferguson tripped Omari Benjamin in the box but Jackson Izquierdo was equal to Matt Smith’s attempt from 12 yards.
However, the home side took the lead just seconds before half-time when Ademola Ola-Adebomi side-footed home from Tayo Adaramola’s cross.
After the restart, we made a triple change bringing on Catalin Cirjan, Khayon Edwards, and James Sweet - the latter two making timely returns after long spells on the sidelines.
The changes seemed to spark a resurgence in the side and we were almost level but Zane Monlouis failed to get the right connection on a close-range header.
We came close again after good link-up play between Ideho and Ben Cottrell but the latter fired his shot inches over the bar.
The hosts doubled their lead 20 minutes from the end when Ola-Adebomi scored his second of the game after being played in by Jadan Raymond.
We huffed and puffed to find a way back but heroic defending from the Eagles on multiple occasions kept us blank on the scoresheet.
WHAT IT MEANS
The result sees us remain sixth on 27 points, after 19 games played.
WHAT’S NEXT
We're back in action on Saturday, March 25, when we’ll head up north to face Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League 2.
Kick-off at the Lancashire FA is at 1pm (UK).
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal XI: Graczyk, Walters (Sweet, 46), Monlouis, Awe, Sousa, Smith, Cottrell, Bandeira (Cirjan, 46), Cozier-Duberry, Ideho (Sagoe Jr, 79), Benjamin (Edwards, 46)
Subs not used: Cooper
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