The Arsenal u21s returned to the top of the Premier League 2 table with a Crystal Palace draw on Monday, with plenty of subplots in the match.

In a top-of-the-table clash on Monday night, Arsenal took on Crystal Palace with the chance to return to first place with a draw or a win. However, a defeat would see Arsenal dropping to third and Palace taking top spot, so the stakes were high.

There were a few interesting team selections in the Arsenal lineup, with Marquinhos dropping down from the first team for a game, but recent first-team squad regulars Bradley Ibrahim, Catalin Cirjan, and Khayon Edwards all only making the bench.

That was likely with Thursday’s match against FC Zurich in mind, as Arsenal’s senior squad currently isn’t big enough to fill out the Europa League bench without calling up a few youngsters.

Match report

Arsenal had the better chances in the early stages of the first half, with Nathan Butler-Oyedeji having a penalty claim waved away, Jack Henry-Francis delaying a little too long when well placed to score, and Amario Cozier-Duberry hitting the side netting twice.

But Palace grew into the half, with Hubert Graczyk making a fantastic close-range save to keep things level before Malcolm Ebiowei turned a chance home in clinical fashion for 1-0 in the 28th minute.

Ebiowei is a former Arsenal youngster who joined Palace after spells at Rangers and Derby County. A very talented teenager, it was somewhat inevitable he’d score against his old club, though he didn’t particularly celebrate the goal.

Elian Quesada-Thorn went close with an attempt to equalise a few minutes later, a stinging effort on the half-volley.

Arsenal did get their equaliser shortly before half-time, with Matt Smith winning the ball back in midfield, Mauro Bandeira playing it forward to Butler-Oyedeji, who found Henry-Francis on the wing.

Henry-Francis had options in the area, but he laid it back to Bandeira on the edge of the box, who touched it away from a couple of defenders before finishing with his left.

https://twitter.com/ArsenalAcademy/status/1587426756973285376

The game started to get a bit fiery, with a few heavy challenges and plenty of holding from both sides. Ebiowei had the first great chance after the break, hitting the bar after beating his man.

Marquinhos then came off at the hour mark, in what was clearly a pre-planned change. But his replacement Charles Sagoe Jr was quickly involved in the action, putting one shot just wide and forcing a great save with another.

As the clock ran down, Sagoe Jr found a clever reverse to Reuell Walters, who hit the post. There was still time for one more shot off the woodwork, as Bandeira hit the post again from distance.

The game finished 1-1, giving Arsenal the point they needed to return to the top of the table.

Final thoughts

Whilst Arsenal are top of the Premier League 2, there are now four different clubs just one point behind them, and that’s not even counting last year’s Champions Manchester City (two points behind).

The Gunners are the only unbeaten team in the division right now, but they face a serious fight to stay top.

Khayon Edwards made a late substitute appearance on Monday, and Catalin Cirjan and Bradley Ibrahim didn’t come on. All three are realistically in contention for the first-team squad on Thursday, as is Marquinhos – given he came off in the 60th minute.

Marquinhos’ performance was a relatively subdued one, but the primary goal was simply to get him minutes, and that was achieved on Monday.

Arsenal u21 lineup vs Crystal Palace

Graczyk, Walters, Quesada-Thorn, Foran, Awe, Smith, Marquinhos, Bandeira, Butler-Oyedeji, Henry-Francis, Cozier-Duberry

Substitutes

Sagoe Jr (for Marquinhos, 60), Edwards (for Butler-Oyedeji, 85), Fedorushchenko, Ibrahim, Cirjan

What’s next?

After Arsenal’s long run of away games (six in a row), their upcoming run of home fixtures continues with the visit of Everton on Sunday, November 6th at 13:00 GMT.

Everton are one of the many teams sitting a point behind league leaders Arsenal right now, so it should be another intense game. Unfortunately, it does clash with the first-team match against Chelsea at 12:00 GMT that day.