Our young Gunners suffered defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday morning.
Goals from Darius Lane, Bailey Palmer and Bode Newnham-Reeve secured the victory for the Seagulls and proved enough to overcome our under-18s.
WHAT HAPPENED
We fell behind early on when Jacob Parsons slipped a pass through to Lane, who cut inside before firing into the bottom corner.
Brighton nearly doubled their advantage soon after when a corner drifted through the crowd at the near post and reached Isaiah Alakiu at the back post, but he blazed his effort over from close range.
We threatened an equaliser after winning the ball high up in the Brighton half, but Alex Marciniak’s resulting effort rolled wide.
However, the visitors did extend their lead just before the break. Palmer collected the ball outside the box and unleashed a superb strike that flew into the top corner.
Brighton added a third after the restart when Newnham-Reeve drove forward with the ball before finishing emphatically into the top corner.
Despite our efforts to respond, we were unable to find a way back into the game.
WHAT IT MEANS
The result leaves our under-18s on 21 points from 17 games in the league this season.
WHAT’S NEXT
Our under-18s continue their league campaign away to Ipswich Town on Saturday, March 14.
Kick-off at Playford Road is scheduled for 12pm (UK time).
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal XI: Lupinski, Owusu-Gyasi, Pedro (Sampang 62), Murisa, Stachow, Mbala, Nwaneri, Hashi (Frohock 62), Marciniak, Zecevic-John, Thompson (Nduka 62)
Subs unused: Chapman, Lo-Tutala
Brighton XI: Doyle, Outen, Anah, Alakiu, Ferdinand, Brennan, Newnham-Reeve (Evans, 86), Lane (Cullinane, 56), Parsons, Kasvosve (Crutchett, 72), Palmer (Oppong, 72)
Subs unused: Rutter
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