Our under-21s secured their first three points of the Premier League 2 campaign with a late 1-0 victory against Brighton and Hove Albion at the Mangata Developments Stadium.
We enjoyed control of possession throughout early spells in the feisty affair, with Ife Abraham crucial in conducting the play. The energetic start fashioned a chance for Josh Nichols to go clear and fire our first shot on target, but Steven Hall got down well to place his body firmly behind the ball.
Tommy Setford was called into action in dramatic style on 26 minutes. Joe Belmont did well to traverse through our defence and shoot a ferocious effort on goal, but our no. 1, who earned a call-up to the England under-20s this week, pounced high to tip the effort over his upright. Danger was not averted, however, when the resulting corner swung in to find Zane Albarus in space, whose curler took a deflection on its way to Setford's outside post and away.
Albarus was in action again ten minutes later to link up with Jacob Slater down the left flank. The pair created a cut-back to Joshua Robertson on the edge of our box, who opened up his body and placed an effort goalward, but Abraham had tracked back well to put his body on the goal line and see the effort ricochet clear.
Setford was unfortunately forced off through injury just before half-time, after a painful collision during Brighton's attack and made way for Remy Mitchell.
End-to-end action transpired soon after the interval. Seb Ferdiand spearheaded a bright start, using good skill to take on his opposite man and force a corner. The set piece was cleared all the way down towards Mitchell's area, to see Shane Nti appear through one-on-one, but was thwarted by Madlini Kacurri, who slid in with caution to regain possession.
Nti did place the ball in the net on 58 minutes, courtesy of a neatly placed pass from Charlie Tasker, however, our assured backline proved a tight unit once more to force the attacker offside and keep the tie goalless.
And it was Ferdinand to finally break the deadlock with two minutes of regular time to spare. Charles Sagnoe Jnr expertly chased a ball down the left wing to send a cross deep into the Brighton box to find his teammate arriving at the back post. The winger cooly slotted home and earned his team the first victory and clean sheet of the campaign.
### What’s Next
Our young Gunners continue their Premier League 2 campaign on Saturday, September 20, when they take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Mangata Developments Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 1pm (UK time).
### Team News
**Arsenal**: Setford (Mitchel 42), Washington, Clarke, Kacurri, Nichols, Ibrahim (Julienne 69), Copley, Agustien (Sweet 89), SagoeJnr, Harriman-Annous (O'Neill 45), Ferdinand.
**Subs not used:** Oyetunde.
**Brighton:** Hall, Mackley (Keogh 89), Slater, Simmonds, Penman, Albarus (Owusu 77), Tasker, Robertson (Knight 45), Belmont (Silsby 80), Nti, Oriola.
**Subs not used**: Atom.
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