Adam Birchall saw his under-18s side maintain their undefeated start to the season, following a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at the Sobha Reality Training Centre on Saturday, September 13.
In the wake of the upcoming 2025/26 UEFA Youth League fixtures, Adam saw the match as an opportunity for his players to perform. "I'm just super proud of the lads. Thinking about the lead-up to this game, there were certain decisions around who would play what game with the UEFA Youth League coming up, which created an opportunity for other players to play in the game.
"When I analyse it always from a mentality perspective, as a starting point, I'm so proud of them. In the first-half, I think they struggled to break us down. The lads carried out the game plan superbly.
"In the second half, we had to sit deep, but we also probably had the biggest chance in the game with Ceadach at the end to win it. Obviously, as a group of lads, that's exciting as well, to know that we're very young today and there's more to come from this group. Just incredibly proud of it."
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U18s report: Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea](https://www.arsenal.com/fixture/under-18/2025-Sep-13/under-18-1-1-chelsea-u18-match-report?utm_source=arsenaldotcom&utm_medium=embedded-article&utm_campaign=news)
Following the Chelsea opener, Adam saw his under-18s battle back during the first 45, when Callan Hamill arrived at the back post to head home and ultimately earn a share of the points.
It was the first time his team had conceded from open play this campaign, and so Adam took positives from the response to going behind. "I don't think it affected them at all, to be honest," he said. "One thing we did pick up on was that they may have communicated a little bit less in that period between conceding and scoring.
"But listen, over the course of the season, you're going to concede goals, and you're also going to defend in a low block. So anyone who doesn't understand this doesn't understand development.
"I'm super proud of those two things, really, response to the goal and their defending today."
Our under-18s remain unbeaten and top of the Premier League South, having picked up ten points from the opening four matches. Table standings aside, it's the development of the players that comes of the utmost importance to Adam. "Of course, I'm pleased with what they're showing, but my job as a developer is to find their next level, their next bar.
"I just want them to get better at football. They're actually judged like first-team players. They have to get onto the training pitch. We have to give them everything, and they need to give everything to keep improving.
"I won't rest until they get better, and I know they want to get better — so, let's see how good they can get."
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