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Premier League 2
Sunderland 3 (Abdullahi 2, Jones 27, Kindon 45) Arsenal 1 (Harriman-Annous 53)
Andre Harriman-Annous was on the scoresheet as a depleted Arsenal U21s side were beaten 3-1 away to Sunderland tonight.
The defeat sees Max Porter’s side fall to 14th place in the table with two games of the regular season remaining – only the top 16 qualify for the main playoffs.
Arsenal struggled to cause many problems for Sunderland but there were some positives to take from proceedings, with Harriman-Annous impressing while Teshaun Murisa made his U21s debut as a substitute and schoolboy Mishel Nduka also received another runout at this level.
Defender Sam Chapman started as he made his U21s debut, with first year scholar Abraham Owusu-Gyasi also called upon, while Remy Mitchell was in goal.
There was also a start in midfield for Maalik Hashi, with a host of players unavailable due to international duty. No substitute goalkeeper was named on the bench.
Mitchell
Ferdinand-Owusu Gyasi-Chapman-Ogunnaike
Ibrahim
Julienne-Hashi
Stevens-Mooney-Harriman Annous
Subs: Hamill (for Stevens, 62), Nduka (for Hashi, 71), Murisa (for Chapman, 88). Not used: Bailey-Joseph.
It was a disappointing start to proceedings for Arsenal, with Sunderland taking the lead after just two minutes as Ahmed Abdullahi guided the ball past Mitchell after Evan Mooney lost possession.
Sunderland came close again shortly afterwards before Mitchell was pressed into action to make a save to deny Charlie Dinsdale.
Arsenal managed to find the net through Hashi but the flag was raised for offside – the goal perhaps would have stood if the midfielder hadn’t intervened and instead allowed Archie Stevens to score.
Sunderland then doubled their lead as Jenson Jones applied the finishing touch to a neat move.
Just as the game appeared to be slipping away from Arsenal they were given a lifeline when a penalty was awarded following a foul on Harriman-Annous in the area.
The attacker stepped up to take the spot-kick himself but his effort was saved by Joe Cowan.
Sunderland subsequently threatened again and eventually made it 3-0 with defender Ben Kindon steering the ball into the back of the net following a corner.
Arsenal appeared to emerge for the second half with greater determination and they managed to reduce the deficit with Harriman-Annous finishing well after good work from Hashi and Mooney.
Ife Ibrahim then did well to find Ferdinand, who sent in a cross towards Mooney, who couldn’t quite connect with it.
Abdullahi then rattled the post for Sunderland before Arsenal made a change as Callan Hamill replaced Stevens.
That move saw captain Ferdinand move into the right wing position and he shot wide after being located by Mooney.
Schoolboy Nduka then came on for his second appearance at this level in place of Hashi.
Sunderland continued to threaten intermittently and then Murisa came on for his U21s debut by replacing Chapman in the closing stages.
It was another frustrating night for Arsenal at this level, with a disjointed performance meaning that there is still work to do in order to make the playoffs.