The Arsenal u21s finally got back to winning way in emphatic fashion on Friday night, coming from behind to thrash Everton 4-1.
Mehmet Ali made a couple of changes from the previous game against Fulham as Arsenal got set to take on Everton on Saturday, with Noah Cooper replacing Hubert Graczyk in goal and Reuell Walters coming back in for Bradley Ibrahim at centre-back.
17-year-old Cooper was getting his first chance to start a game in the Premier League 2, whilst Walters was returning to the side following a spell of matches in the first-team squad.
Walters was a nailed-on starter for the u21s between October and March, after recovering from his pre-season injury, but he’d missed the last five league games for senior call-ups.
Match report
The Arsenal u21s were winless in 12 games in all competitions going into the Everton fixture, and it initially looked like it was going to be more of the same on Friday.
27 minutes into the game, Katia Kouyate sent in an early cross, and Stanley Mills was on hand to head home from close range for 1-0.
Everton had the better of the chances in the first half, but Arsenal nonetheless managed to draw themselves level within minutes.
Charles Sagoe Jr picked the ball up on the left-hand side, playing Lino Sousa in behind the Everton defence. Goalscorer Mills went in too eagerly to try and block the run, bringing Sousa down for a penalty.
Ben Cottrell stepped up to the spot, firing down the middle for 1-1, which is how the half ended.
Everton made a couple of changes at the break, but it was Arsenal who took control of the contest.
In the 53rd minute, Amario Cozier-Duberry picked the ball up on the right, before playing a nice pass to an underlapping James Sweet.
Sweet sent a looping cross into the box, which evaded a couple of headers before falling to Cottrell, who controlled the ball while holding off a challenge before finishing with his left foot for 2-1.
It was the first lead the u21s had had in April, and they looked to press home that advantage as the half progressed.
Once again, the chance stemmed from Cozier-Duberry receiving the ball on the right, with the winger taking on his man this time before cutting back into the centre of the box. Sagoe Jr was on hand to provide an emphatic finish.
In the wake of Arsenal’s third goal, Ali decided to bring on Mauro Bandeira, and it was the substitute midfielder who provided the finishing touches to the win in injury time.
After some nice moves in the build-up to the first three goals, Arsenal’s fourth was much more simple.
Everton centre-back Elijah Campbell seemed to misjudge how much time he had on the ball, and Bandeira stole it off him before finishing between the goalkeeper’s legs.
Arsenal secured the three points, leapfrogging Everton into seventh ahead of their final league fixture next weekend.
More than just the result, this was more like it from the u21s in terms of performance. The young Gunners created plenty of chances, and they deserved the win.
It’s been a difficult season for Ali’s side, with all the players going on loan, receiving first-team call-ups, or even dropping down to the u18s for the FA Youth Cup run.
Arsenal u21 lineup vs Everton
Cooper, Sweet, Monlouis, Walters, Sousa, Cottrell, Henry-Francis, Cirjan, Cozier-Duberry, Sagoe Jr, Edwards
Substitutes
Awe (for Sweet, 66), Smith (for Cirjan, 66), Bandeira (for Henry-Francis, 75), Kamara (for Sagoe Jr, 87), Rojas
What’s next?
The Arsenal u21s play Manchester City at Meadow Park on Saturday, May 6th at 13:00 BST. That’s the final game of the Premier League 2 campaign, with a chance to take on the division’s champions.