Our Under-21s ended 2024 with a narrow 2-1 defeat to Sunderland at Meadow Park on Monday night.
Goals on either side of half-time from Tymer Tutierov and Marcus Neill secured all three points for the Black Cats. Nathan Butler-Oyedeji found the net for us, but it wasn’t enough to salvage a result.
### **WHAT HAPPENED**
The visitors started brightly and took an early lead after just five minutes when Tutierov poked home from close range.
Sunderland almost doubled their advantage moments later after a misplaced pass from Lucas Nygaard left him stranded. Ben Middlemas attempted a speculative effort from just beyond the halfway line, but his shot narrowly missed the target.
Nygaard was called into action again, producing a fine save to deny Harrison Jones from extending Sunderland’s lead.
Our first real opportunity came just before the interval when Butler-Oyedeji managed to get a shot away, but it was blocked and deflected out for a corner.
After the break, Sunderland continued to threaten, and Nygaard made a stunning save low to his left to deny Elias Lenz.
We started to gain momentum, and a slick move outside Sunderland’s box resulted in Salah-Eddine’s deflected shot going just wide.
Our equaliser came courtesy of some excellent play by Jimi Gower, who threaded a perfectly timed ball to Butler-Oyedeji. The forward made no mistake, slotting home from close range to level the score.
With the wind in our sails, we began to dominate. Zane Monlouis played a sharp pass to Ismeal Kabia on the right, who advanced towards goal, but his effort from the edge of the area flew over the bar.
Despite our dominance, Sunderland remained a threat with Jones rattling the crossbar with a powerful effort.
We nearly went ahead after some fantastic work by Butler-Oyedeji on the byline. He pulled the ball back into Gower’s path, whose goal-bound shot was flicked over the bar by a Sunderland defender.
But Sunderland struck again against the run of play. Nygaard initially made a brilliant save, but substitute Marcus Neill was on hand to tap in the rebound just moments after coming on.
We pushed for another equaliser and came agonisingly close in the dying moments. Salah-Eddine unleashed a powerful strike from distance, but it smacked against the crossbar, and the visitors held on for the win.
### **WHAT IT MEANS**
We remain on 16 points after 10 games played, sitting 9th in the Premier League 2 table.
### **WHAT’S NEXT**
This result wraps up our Under-21s’ action for 2024. They return in the new year on Monday, 13 January, with an away trip to Norwich City.
Kick-off at Carrow Road is scheduled for 7pm (UK time).
**LINE-UPS**
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**Arsenal XI:** Nygaard, Robinson, Monlouis, Heaven, Patterson (Nichols, 46), Dudziak (Oulad M’Hand, 89) Gower, Salah, Kabia (Harriman-Annous, 86) Butler-Oyedeji, Edwards
Subs (not used): Okonkwo, Kacurri
**Sunderland XI:** Cameron, Lavery, Bell, Johnson, Anderson, Jenson Jones, Middlemas, Lenz (Neill, 81), Walsh, Tutierov, Harrison Jones
Subs (not used): Chibueze, Bell, Dinsdale, Scott
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