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U18 Premier League
Arsenal 1 (Zecevic John 72) Reading 2 (Zie 8 (pen.), Ojo 54)
Louis Zecevic John found the net again as Arsenal U18s fell to a 2-1 defeat at home to Reading today in their penultimate game of the season.
After several older players featured in recent games, this was more of a regular lineup with schoolboy Hakeem Abubakar starting at left-back while Bowen Phillips was deployed on the left wing.
Gabriel Arteta was given his first start at this level on the opposite flank, with Zecevic John again starting at right-back.
Emerson Nwaneri started in midfield.
Lupinski
Zecevic John-Owusu Gyasi-Stachow-Abubakar
Murisa
Sampang-Emerson Nwaneri
G. Arteta-Thompson-B. Phillips
Subs: Nduka (for Stachow, 46), Hashi (for Thompson, 46), Bailey-Joseph (for B. Phillips, 46), Marciniak (for G. Arteta, 58). Not used: Talbot.
Arsenal beat Reading 3-0 last month but the Royals took the lead on this occasion as Ryan Zie scored a penalty in the eighth minute.
There was a triple change from Arsenal ahead of the second half with Maalik Hashi, Brando Bailey-Joseph and schoolboy Mishel Nduka all coming on.
Arteta had an effort saved, with the winger later being replaced by Alex Marciniak.
Marciniak found Zecevic John, who reduced the deficit with his fourth goal in his last six league games at this level.
Despite their best efforts, Arsenal were unable to find an equaliser and remain in 11th place ahead of finishing the season away to Crystal Palace next weekend.