Our young Gunners were held to a 0-0 draw in the Premier League 2 when Everton visited on Friday.
The game at Mangata Developments Stadium was tightly contested but remained goalless throughout.
What Happened
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As their positions in the league table suggest, little could separate the two sides during the opening 45.
Debutant Evan Mooney won a free-kick just outside the visitors' box, which Demiane Agustien swung in for Ife Ibrahim to meet in the air and direct our first attempt on target, though George Pickford gathered safely.
Tommy Setford was forced into making two saves in quick succession, first to punch clear Kingsford Boakye's strike, before Omari Benjamin pounced on a loose ball to force our no.1 into a second diving stop.
We came close to taking the lead when Ibrahim won the ball back in midfield and found Theo Julienne advancing. The playmaker picked out Agustien to his right, who drove through one-on-one with Pickford, but the Toffees goalkeeper did well to parry behind.
Setford was again called upon to squander another Boakye attempt on net, after the tricky forward had weaved his way into our box and pulled the trigger, but our stopper got down well to palm clear.
We emerged with intent after the interval, as Callan Hamill picked out fellow fullback Josh Ogunnaike arriving in the box, but the defender could not keep his shot low and looped it over Pickford's upright.
Brando Bailey-Joseph forced a save with 20 minutes left to play after Julienne had found the winger down the left flank, but Everton's goalkeeper got down at his near post to save from the tight angle.
Andre Harriman-Annous looked to have won it deep into stoppage time, with a ferocious shot that looked to have finally beaten Pickford, but the 'keeper got his fingertips to the ball to nudge it over the bar.
There was time for new signing Jaden Dixon to make his debut off the bench, who showed bright sparks as the clock ticked on, but ultimately our young Gunners couldn't break the deadlock.
What’s Next
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Our under-21s will be back in Premier League 2 action when they host Newcastle on Friday, February 13.
Kick-off at Managta Developments Stadium is at 7pm (UK time).
TEAM NEWS
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**Arsenal XI:** Setford, Hamill (Dixon 81), Ogunnaike (Washington 78), Salmon, Clarke, Ibrahim, Bailey-Joseph (Stevens 78), Julienne (Zecevic John 78), Mooney, Agustien, Harriman-Annous.
**Subs unused:** Porter.
**Everton XI:** Pickford, Samuels-Smith, Van Schoor, Welch, Thomas, Bates, Boakye (Robert 84), Gomez (Ebere 74), Benjamin, Olayiwola, Graham.
**Subs unused:** Patrick, Davis, Moonan.
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