Marcelo Flores and Khayon Edwards scored again on Saturday, but it wasn’t enough for the Arsenal u18s to avoid a second straight defeat.
The Arsenal u18s’ unbeaten run of eight competitive fixtures under new manager Dan Micciche came to an end last week, as the team were finally defeated away to Leicester City.
The side were looking to get back on track at home to a strong Crystal Palace u18 outfit on Saturday, but unfortunately, the game ended up going much the same way as the Leicester match.
Match Report
Arsenal took the lead in the early stages, with less than five minutes on the clock. Though the Premier League initially credited Charles Sagoe Jr with the goal, Khayon Edwards posted afterwards that he’d got the final touch – and his 11th goal of the season.
Unfortunately, Crystal Palace drew level through Jadan Raymond in the 21st minute, assisted by Ademola Ola-Adebomi.
Arsenal retook the lead with another goal from Marcelo Flores three minutes later, with James Sweet helping with an assist. It’s no surprise to see Flores, Edwards and Sweet all involved in the goals again, based on recent form.
Flores’ goal was his seventh of the campaign and his third in three matches, whilst Sweet has now provided five assists in eight games and three in his last three.
But the lead only lasted two minutes, as Fionn Mooney scored another Palace equaliser, set up by Maliq Cadogan.
The situation only got worse midway through the second half, as Raymond scored again, this time with Kaden Rodney creating the chance.
Though Arsenal ended the game with the majority of possession, shots, and shots on target, their failure to keep Palace out proved costly as they slipped to a second consecutive defeat.
Arsenal u18 lineup vs Crystal Palace
Mitchell, Walters, Foran, Awe, Jeffcott, Quamina, Cozier-Duberry, Sweet, Sagoe Jr, Flores, Edwards
Substitutes
Kovacevic, Robinson, Ibrahim, Gaspar (for Awe, 78), Richards (for Sweet, 81)
What’s next?
Now down to sixth in the u18 Premier League South, Arsenal will try and end their run of two defeats with a win against 13th-placed Reading next Saturday. The game is away, at Bearwood Park Training Ground on November 6th at 11:00 GMT.