Our U21 lost 4-1 against Arsenal in the Premier League Cup today in bucketing rain at Landore.
The conditions didn’t help either side, although it’s fair to say we gifted all 4 goals through error strewn and indecisive defending – 3 goals came in the last 5 minutes of the 1st half and added time to leave us 4-0 adrift at the interval.
We lacked our usual crisp passing and definitely missed Cameron Congreve’s sparkle – but if that means he’s with the first team squad that can only be a good thing. Joel Cotterill schemed, Azeem Abdulai battled away and Ben Lloyd grafted, Kian Jenkins had some neat touches wide left, but overall very little went right for our youngsters this afternoon. Our U18 graduates in particular will hopefully have learned from the experience. On the positive side, we didn’t give up and managed a consolation 3 minutes from time when sub Corey Hurford snapped up a rebound from the Arsenal goalkeeper to make it 1-4.
Arsenal were business like, not as impressive as one might have expected – ruthless in front of goal, for sure, but largely because we gave them the opportunities. They cruised through the 2nd half. Joel Ideho, a Dutch winger from Ajax, was a handful.
Swans: Ben Hughes; Kai Ludvigsen (injured early, sub Richard Faakye 4m), Harry Jones, Waziri Williams; Joe Thomas, Azeem Abdulai, Joel Cotterill, Kian Jenkins; Tarrelle Whittaker, Ben Lloyd (Corey Hurford 85m); Geoff Bony (sub Sam Leverett 52m).
Arsenal: Graczyk, Walters, Sousa, Foran, Monlouis (sub Awe 59m), Ibrahim, Sagoe Jr (sub Vigar 70m), Henry-Francis, Butler-Odedeji (sub Taylor-Hart 70m), Cirjan, Ideho.
Goals: Cirjan 8m; Butler-Oyedeji 40m; Sagoe Jr 45m+; Cirjan 45m+; Hurford 87m.