Arsenal’s u18s slipped to their second defeat of the season in their fourth league game, against Chelsea on Saturday.
The Gunners were fresh off the back of a commanding 6-1 win against West Ham, but they couldn’t make it three successive wins against their London rivals as they failed to score for the first time this campaign, losing 2-0.
The u18s were at a bit of a disadvantage from the start, as first-choice centre-back and captain Zech Medley missed out. Medley was required on the u23 bench, due to an injury to Krystian Bielik, Rob Holding’s return to the first-team and so on.
Chelsea took advantage of the new look defence early on, with Guehi scoring in the 7th minute from a Gilmour corner. Gilmour himself then doubled the lead before half-time, and although both teams had chances to add to the scoreline in the second half, the match finished 2-0.
Joao Virginia was unfortunate again, as he put in a good performance in goal for the Gunners despite conceding two. In both of the u18s losses so far Virginia has managed to earn praise for his saves, but the defence simply left him with too much to do on each occasion.
Overall the match against Chelsea is one the young Gunners will be looking to move on from when they face Reading on the 23rd September.
Line up:
Virginia; Daley Campbell-Olowu-Ballard-Omole; Benson-Olayinka; Saka-Burton-Smith Rowe; Balogun
Subs: Thompson (for Burton, 63), Smith (for Olayinka, 75).
Not used: Okonkwo, Spencer-Adams, John-Jules.