U21 Report: Arsenal 4-2 Saints
Southampton's Under-21s suffered defeat against third-placed Arsenal in Premier League 2, in a match that swung back and forth at Meadow Park.
The hosts got off to the perfect start when Nathan Butler-Oyedeji caught Saints out with an impressive shot from distance inside the first two minutes.
After riding out an early storm, Saints equalised through Luke Pearce’s instinctive finish and took the lead directly from Cameron Bragg’s corner.
Arsenal turned the game around again after the break with goals from Osman Kamara and Ismail Oulad M’Hand, before Jimi Gower extended sealed the win with a simple finish.
Saints fielded six changes from their last league outing as first team full back James Bree started to help rebuild his fitness, with recent signing Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh making his first start since joining.
James Bree played the first 45 minutes on his return. (Photos: Stuart Martin)
Arsenal took the lead with just 90 seconds on the clock with a well-taken finish from range that caught Adam Asghar’s side cold.
Butler-Oyedeji picked his spot with a curling effort that flew over a stranded Josh McNamara and nestled into the corner.
The hosts’ rapid start almost saw a second goal in just four minutes when they won the ball inside the Southampton penalty area, but the eventual shot from Osman Kamara was saved by McNamara’s legs.
Saints grew into the contest but it was Arsenal who were still creating the better chances; a low cross from the right was flicked goalwards by Butler-Oyedeji’s backheel but without sufficient power.
The first Saints chances came in a flurry after the 20th minute, starting with a jinking O’Brien-Whitmarsh run that resulted in a skewed shot with the Irishman surrounded by defenders.
Bragg was then slipped in with a sight of goal, but was denied a shooting chance by an excellent last-ditch slide tackle from Ayden Heaven.
Less than a minute later though, Saints’ pressure paid off as Luke Pearce produced a clever lofted finish over Ovie Ejeheri to level proceedings.
Pearce celebrates his goal.
After the equaliser, Adam Asghar’s side were playing with more confidence and continued to pressure the Arsenal backline.
Harrison Miles had a shot from the edge of the box tipped wide by Ejeheri just after the half hour mark, and Saints capitalised from the resulting corner.
Bragg whipped in an inswinging delivery that flew over everyone and into the corner to turn the game on its head with 34 minutes on the clock.
The lead was almost doubled before half time when Pearce combined with Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez, but the latter couldn’t stretch to poke the ball home inside the area.
Cam Bragg is congratulated after scoring.
Much like the first half, Arsenal came out of the blocks quickly and started brighter as they looked for a way back into the game, with Butler-Oyedeji testing McNamara with a sighter from distance.
On the hour mark, the Gunners restored parity through another well-taken finish when Gower switched the ball to Kamara, who shifted his feet and unleashed a curling effort into the top corner.
The lead was soon back in Arsenal’s hands when a corner wasn’t fully cleared by Saints and Oulad M’Hand benefitted with a low shot into the bottom corner.
A decisive two minutes of action followed soon after, when substitute Princewill Ehibhatiomhan beat his man on the edge of the area but shot over the crossbar.
After failing to take their chance to level the scores once more, Saints caused their own downfall when they were caught in possession and Gower created space for a simple finish to increase their advantage.
Saints continued to probe for openings in the closing stages, but were unable to force any further clear-cut openings as the hosts returned to winning ways and continued their push towards the top of the Premier League 2 table.
Arsenal: Ejeheri (Rojas Fedorushchenko 46), Rosiak, Heaven, Robinson, Kacurri, Henry-Francis (captain), Kabia (Benjamin 79), Oulad M’Hand (Dudziak 79), Butler-Oyedeji, Gower, Kamara (Brown 90+3).
Subs not used: N/A
Goals: Butler-Oyedeji 2, Kamara 60, Oulad M’Hand 67, Gower 73.
Yellow Cards: Rojas Fedorushchenko 72, Rosiak 76, Dudziak 90+3.
Saints: McNamara, Bree (Davis 46), Awe, Lawrence, Meghoma, Miles, Gomes Rodriguez, Bragg (captain), Pearce, O’Brein-Whitmarsh (Djaló 65), Merry (Ehibhatiomhan 68).
Subs not used: Moody, Armitage.
Goals: Pearce 25, Bragg 34.
Yellow Cards: Pearce 56, Awe 90+5.
