Our under-18s were pegged back twice as we battled out an eventful 2-2 draw away to Southampton on Saturday afternoon.
Our young Gunners went ahead after just nine minutes, Kamarni Ryan finding the top corner with a stunning strike from 25 yards out after a bursting run from Bless Akolbire.
However, the hosts equalised back ten minutes later when Nicholas Oyekunle found the bottom corner.
Jakai Fisher came on after Louis Zecevic-John was forced off through injury and he came close to restoring our lead on the stroke of half time, but his effort was well saved.
We restored our lead within two minutes of the restart when Fisher’s deflected cross landed at the feet of Dan Casey in the middle of the area and the midfielder made no mistake in finding the back of the net.
Daniel Oyetunde almost extended our lead when he won the ball back high up the pitch but he fired his shot straight at Henry Upstell in the Southampton goal.
However, the hosts equalised again three minutes from the end when Jayden Moore headed in from a corner late on.
Shortly after, Brian Okonkwo pulled off a stunning save to deny Oyenkunle winning it for the Saints by tipping his effort over the bar to ensure we at least took a point home.
WHAT IT MEANS
The draw keeps us in fourth place in the Under-18s Premier League with 25 points after 13 games played.
WHAT’S NEXT
We return next week with a home fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, February 24.
Kick-off at Sobha Realty Training Centre is at 12pm (UK).
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal XI: Okonkwo, Zecevic-John (Fisher, 36), Small, Sweet, Brown, Ismail (Ibrahim, 46) Akolbire, Dudziak, Casey (Copley, 70), Ryan, Oyetunde (Annous, 81)
Subs not used: Cooper, Clairmont,
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