**UEFA Youth League**
**Club Brugge 2 (Musuayi 84, Van Britsom 90) Arsenal 1 (Agustien 7)**
Arsenal U19s ended their UEFA Youth League campaign in frustrating fashion as they conceded late on to lose 2-1 away to Club Brugge.
The young Gunners had taken an early lead through Demiane Agustien’s first goal for the club but were reduced to ten men when debutant Mishel Nduka received a straight red card.
Arsenal defended well for much of the game but the hosts, somewhat strangely, seemed to perform better after they had Wout Verlinden sent off late on.
Club Brugge proceeded to equalise through Yanis Musuayi before Jakke Van Bristrom struck a late winner, much to the frustration of Arsenal goalkeeper Jack Porter, who had performed heroically prior to that.
There were positives to take, with schoolboy Angelinou Pedro impressing in defence on his first U19 start, while Jaden Maghoma, Mikael Bonaventure Yetna and Abraham Owusu-Gyasi all made their debuts at this level.
However, it was a familiar tale overall in this competition for Arsenal who suffered a fifth defeat out of sixth games, with their elimination having already been confirmed before the match.
As was the case in the previous match against Bayern Munich, Arsenal named a very young team. Schoolboys Pedro and Nduka both started, with 13-year-old Luis Munoz again named on the bench. Brayden Clarke captained the team.
Forward Louis Zecevic John, who has struggled with injuries this season, made his first start at any level this campaign.
**Porter**
**Hamill-Pedro-Clarke-Ogunnaike**
**Dudziak**
**Agustien-Nduka**
**Thompson-Zecevic John-Bailey Joseph**
**Subs: Julienne (for Zecevic John, 61), Onyekachukwu (for Thompson, 61), Maghoma (for Bailey-Joseph, 78), Bonaventure Yetna (for Agustien, 90), Owusu-Gyasi (for Hamill, 90). Not used: Talbot, Marciniak, Murisa, Munoz.**
Porter made a good save early on and then Arsenal took the lead with Josh Ogunnaike playing a long ball into the path of Agustien, who confidently took the ball around a defender prior to scoring.
Tobias Jensen and Verlinden then had chances for Club Brugge before Nduka received a straight red card for a foul on Axl Wins.
It was a late challenge from the 15-year-old but certainly didn’t seem worthy of a red card, with Nduka visibly distraught as he left the pitch.
Clarke and Zecevic John as well as coach David Horseman showed support to Nduka, who will surely get many more chances to impress at this level.
Zecevic John was then booked for a studs up foul that was arguably more dangerous than Nduka’s challenge.
Club Brugge looked to make the most of their numerical advantage in the closing stages of the first half, with Naim Amengai and Laurens Goemaere both trying their luck before the latter hit the post with a header.
Porter continued his fine performance by making two excellent saves early in the second half before accidentally colliding with his team-mate Clarke, who was eventually able to continue.
Arsenal made a double change as Samuel Onyekachukwu and Theo Julienne replaced Kyran Thompson and Zecevic John.
The Arsenal defence had to stand firm amid much pressure, with Onyekachukwu and Pedro making some important interventions.
Club Brugge then went down to ten men themselves as Verlinden got a second yellow card for a foul on Harrison Dudziak.
14-year-old forward Maghoma then came on for Arsenal in place of Brando Bailey-Joseph.
It seemed as if Arsenal were going to hold on for a win but the hosts then levelled through Musuayi.
Substitute Jesse Bisiwu shot just wide for Club Brugge and there were then further debutants for Arsenal as Owusu-Gyasi and schoolboy Bonaventure Yetna came on.
There was to be late frustration, though, as Van Britsom managed to find space and score the winner for Club Brugge in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
Five defeats out of six games certainly doesn’t make good reading for Arsenal in the Youth League, although it is encouraging that a lot of players made their debuts over the past couple of matches.
Aside from Dudziak, all of the players from today’s squad will still be able to feature in the competition next season.
As long as the first-team continue to qualify for the Champions League, the U19s will compete in the Youth League in future seasons.
After all these years, though, Arsenal still can’t seem to find the winning formula in this competition.