Our Under-18s suffered a late setback at home to Leicester City in their first fixture of the new year.
### What happened
We made a bright start, but it was the visitors who fashioned the first clear opening. Jack Porter was called into action early on, producing an excellent save to deny Lorenz Hutchinson from close range inside the six-yard box.
However, Hutchinson would not be kept out for long. A defensive error allowed the in-form forward an opportunity he did not waste, finding the back of the net after 20 minutes to give the Foxes the lead.
After the interval, we emerged with renewed intent and created the first chance of the second half. Brando Bailey-Joseph was slipped in by Louis Zecevic-John, but his effort was pushed wide by the goalkeeper for a corner.
We went close to levelling soon after, with Bailey-Joseph again involved as his neat play released Kyran Thompson, whose driven strike was well saved. Thompson came close again moments later, only to see his header cleared off the line.
Our pressure was eventually rewarded when Thompson picked out Ceadach O’Neill in the box, and the midfielder finished emphatically into the top corner to restore parity.
We pushed for a winner, with Hashi finding space in the centre of the area after good work from Bailey-Joseph, but his volley was straight at the keeper. That missed opportunity proved costly, as Leicester snatched all three points in added time when Hugo Charles-March finished a swift counter-attack by firing into the roof of the net.
### What it means
The result leaves us 10th in the table with 15 points from 11 games.
### What’s next
Our Under-18s now turn their attention to the FA Youth Cup, with a fifth-round trip to Manchester City on Friday, January 16.
Kick-off at the Joie Stadium is scheduled for 7pm (UK time).
### TEAM NEWS
**Arsenal XI:** Porter, Hamill, Chapman, Onyekachukwu, Ogunnaike, Murisa, Julienne, Marciniak (O’Neill, 46) Bailey-Joseph, Zecevic-John (Hashi, 78), Thompson
Subs not used: Talbot, Owusu-Gyasi, Sampang
**Leicester City XI:** Marson, Lawrence (Aideed, 76), Adedeji, Manyumba, Simons, Charles March, Owusu (Anugo, 67), Corden (Colangelo-Allen, 64), Diallo, Boothe (Dignum, 76) Hutchinson
Subs not used: Stretton
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