Our under-21s earned a hard-fought point in the Premier League 2 with a 1-1 draw away to Southampton on Friday, November 7.
In the game at Staplewood Training Ground, Charles Sagoe Jr fired us into a first half lead from a superb run in from the wing.
The home side brought the tie level right after the two teams returned from their dressing rooms, through Nick Oyekunle, who did well to convert a routine free-kick.
What Happened
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We boxed the hosts into their own third throughout large spells of the opening five minutes, and Sagoe Jr carved out a solo run deep through what was an experienced Southampton lineup, but was thwarted by Abdul Okunola at the back.
Our pressure was rewarded on eight minutes when Will Sweet found Sagoe Jr out wide, before our attacker weaved his way from the left flank towards the edge of the Saints' box and unleashed a strike that buried itself inside Hugo Fisher's far bottom corner.
Tails were up, and Sagoe Jr came close again just moments later, this time with an effort from a tight angle that was cleared off the line by Moses Sesay.
Max Porter's side continued to battle through torrential rainy conditions, and Sagoe began on another of his dribbles down the left and picked out Kyran Thompson inside the box. Our striker pulled the trigger and came inches close to doubling the lead, but Fisher fingertipped the strike past his post.
Louie Copley swung the follow-up corner into a crowded Saints box, for it to only be cleared as far as Harrison Dudziak, who arrived on the edge of the area to send the ball back goalwards but was cleared, albeit in panic, by our opponents.
Half an hour passed before Khari Ranson was called into action to close down an attempt from range by Romeo Akachukwu, before he pounced to his feet to clear the seconds. Rory Whittaker then picked up on some loose play to go free down the right, but blazed his shot over our no. 1's upright.
Baylee Dipepa came close to finding the equaliser just before the break when he bundled his way towards Ranson's net, but Brayden Clarke stuck in a last-ditch tackle to prevent the shot, and came off worse in the collision that forced us down to ten men momentarily whilst he received treatment, but our young Gunners saw out the positive opening 45.
The hosts were level just after the interval, after a free kick was won right on the edge of our penalty box. A clever setpiece saw Sesay drag the ball back to Nick Oyekunle, who charged his run and belted the ball through our defensive blockade, beyond Ranson and into the top right corner.
A lively Sesay then drew Ranson into making two fine stops in quick succession; the initial save required a backwards leap to tip over the bar, whilst the latter he saw late but used quick reactions to dive and parry to safety.
Archie Stevens looked to have stolen back the lead just before the hour mark, after he won his duel with Dobson-Ventura and went free at the back post, but his shot rippled the side netting.
Clarke did well to show Dipepa onto his weak foot when faced one-on-one and created a tight angle for the Saints striker to take his shot, which aided Ranson in steadying himself for the shot and the ball was cleared from danger.
As the clock ticked into the final 15 minutes, Sagoe Jr linked up well with Thompson once more for our no. 9 to turn and send a finessed shot that appeared to catch out Fisher, but the goalkeeper leapt late and caught the ball as it curled inwards.
Substitute Zach Awe hit the crossbar moments later with an effort from distance before Clarke threw himself in front of the follow-up shot that had rebounded off the woodwork into the path of Akachukwu to thrash at.
Defensive duties were required at the death as the home side searched for a late winner, and Ranson stepped up again to deny Sesay, but could only punch into the path of Rory Whittaker. The attacker looked to have created a clear chance on goal, but Josh Nichols arrived out of nowhere to block the shot in dramatic fashion.
Deep into stoppage time, a sequence of defensive work by our under-21s almost came unstuck when Sesay went clear and struck the outside of the upper post, to the relief of Ranson, and the score remained 1-1 for full-time.
What’s Next
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Our under-21s will compete in their final Vertu Trophy group game on Tuesday, November 11. It's all to play for in Group A, with each team currently tied on three points, and therefore a victory away to Cardiff City would see us qualify through to the Round of 32.
Kick-off at Cardiff City Stadium is at 7:45pm (UK time).
TEAM NEWS
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**Southampton XI:** Fisher, Dobson-Ventura, Okunola, Sesay, Dipepa, Akachukwu, Oyekunle (Awe 68), Boot (Dibaga 68), Gathercole, O'Brien-Whitmarsh (Kekay 45), Whittaker.
**Subs unused:** Moore, Daley.
**Arsenal XI:** Ranson, Nichols, Washington (King 77), Clarke, Sweet, Ibrahim, Stevens (Kamara 60), Copley, Thompson (Ferdiand 83), Dudziak (Agustien 83), Sagoe Jr.
**Subs unused:** Mitchell.
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