Match report: Arsenal U-23s 1-1 West Ham

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WHAT HAPPENED

Kevin Betsy was without key trio Salah-Eddine Oulad M’hand, Mika Biereth and Charlie Patino, but that didn't stop us from putting in a performance to be proud of against league leaders West Ham.

We took the game to the visitors right from the off and almost raced into an early lead, Reuell Walters picking out Joel Ideho with a pinpoint cross, but our forward's header went just over the crossbar.

The Hammers would punish our missed opportunity moments later, Keenan Appiah-Forson capitalising on our sloppy attempt to play out from the back, snatching a loose pass and rounding Karl Hein to poke home into an empty net.

West Ham continued to pile on the pressure and forced Hein into a succession of good stops from close range to prevent us from falling further behind.

We drew level against the run of play five minutes before the break, Khayon Edwards the quickest to react in the box after Walters' shot was fumbled by Krisztian Hegyi and our striker tapped in on the goalline.

Betsy shuffled the pack at the interval, Ryan Alebiosu replacing Brooke Norton-Cuffy in a change that appeared to unlock more avenues of attack for us.

Edwards came close to scoring his and our second after some good work from Ideho, but his left-footed effort from inside the box rattled the outside of the post.

Substitute Charles Sagoe Jr's terrific solo run from our own half to the West Ham penalty area almost ended in spectacular fashion, but his shot could only find the side netting.

Deep into stoppage time Alex Kirk made his long-awaited return from injury when he replaced Zach Awe, as the final whistle came to signal the points were shared at Meadow Park.