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Porter seeks better performances despite good form

Our under-21s head coach Max Porter said Friday's Premier League 2 game against Newcastle United felt similar to last week's stalemate. 

It looked set to be goalless again, but Andre Harriman-Annous converted a penalty he won deep into stoppage time to make the difference this time round.

"I think it was quite a similar game to the Everton game, really, we can play far better. So that's something that we want to address, to be more dominant.

"We didn't get our rhythm early. A lot of cheap giveaways, technically and decision-making. The way we want to play is to have rhythm. We have to look after the ball well. We have to build attacks. It has to be exciting.

"I think we have to remind the players that football is an entertainment sport. People come to watch to be entertained and to see things. I think when you wear an Arsenal badge, there's a responsibility to do that. We definitely need to do better now.

"The positive is that they went to the end, and they found a way to win ugly. Four clean sheets in a row, that's really positive. Hopefully, we can build on this, but we want to play better."

In addition to the streak of defensive shutouts, our young Gunners made it four games unbeaten, taking three wins and a draw to sail up the PL2 table since the turn of the year.

Whilst results matter, Max wants to maintain consistency through performances that match. "I think the recent form has been good," he said. "We've been quite consistent in PL2 this year.

"Form is one thing, but development-wise, we want to play better. We want our individuals to perform better in these games, so they can keep pushing for their careers.

"That will be the objective, definitely, from now to the end. If results come, that's brilliant, because winning is a habit.

"We want that habit to carry on. I'm really happy with the results. Hopefully, we can make the performances more consistent and even better."

Max's side now has an extended ten-day period to prepare for the next fixture against Reading, but there are plenty of chances before then for the squad to get game time, and Max will look to involve his young Gunners across all levels of the Club. "I think we have really good staff. We analyse the opponent. In that time, we'll support the first team, where our players will get brilliant development.

"There are important under-18s games now as well. We've got a very young team, so there might be opportunities to play, maybe tomorrow against Birmingham or Tuesday against Spurs.

"I think what we normally do across the academies every day is provide a development opportunity, whether that's with the first team, in our under-18s or under-21s sessions, just trying to stretch the players.

"That's the way we prepare. We develop the players, and then also when we get closer to it, we'll look at Reading, and we'll work out what's the best way to hopefully play to our strengths and exploit any weaknesses they do have."

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