Premier League 2
Leeds United U21 0
Arsenal U21 4 (Agustien 43’, 82’, Julienne 52’, Salmon 74’)
Leeds: Mahady (GK), Lane, Lienou, Whitehead (Bird 67’), Enahoro-Marcus (Firth 58’), Howard, Chadwick, Pickles (Mills 89’), Chambers, Cresswell (C), McDonald (Pirie 89’). Subs not used: Ombang (GK).
Arsenal: Setford (GK), Hamill, Ogunnaike (Washington 85’), Salmon (C), Clarke, Ibrahim, Bailey-Joseph (Stevens 72’), Julienne, Harriman-Annous (Zecevic-John 72’), Agustien (Marciniak 83’), Sagoe. Subs not used: Porter (GK).
Venue: LNER Community Stadium
Referee: William Davis
Booked: Pickles, Howard (Leeds) Bailey-Joseph (Arsenal)
Leeds United Under-21s were beaten by Arsenal Under-21s in Premier League 2 action at the LNER Community Stadium.
Ahead of the encounter in York, boss Scott Gardner had made four changes to the side that faced Liverpool last time out, notably welcoming goalkeeper Rory Mahady back in between the posts and skipper Alfie Cresswell into the midfield.
Despite the eventual scoreline, the Whites had started brightly and impressive tenacity and reading of the play allowed Ollie Pickles to wrestle back possession deep inside the opposition’s half and release Sam Chambers.
The forward fired a powerful effort towards the far corner from the edge of the area which was saved by the diving Tommy Setford before, from the resulting corner, the stopper got down well to deny Jayden Lienou.
It was the full-back’s dangerous delivery which called the Arsenal keeper into further action, acrobatically clawing Rhys Chadwick’s effort off the line and then preventing Freddie Lane and Josh McDonald from close range.
Having dominated the early stages, United then had to be wary of a counter from the Gunners. Luckily for Leeds, defender Jacob Howard was well placed to hack Andre Harriman-Annous’ low cross away from danger.
Charles Sagoe had the North London outfit’s first attempt on goal approaching the half-hour mark, dragging wide of the upright from 20 yards out.
The Whites had the ball in the back of the net when Chambers swept home though, unfortunately for Gardner’s side, the assistant’s flag was raised for an alleged offside against McDonald earlier in the move.
Very much against the run of play in the first half, the visitors opened the scoring through Demiane Agustien moments before the break, finishing after a latching onto a pass in the middle from Sagoe.
HALF TIME: Leeds United U21 0-1 Arsenal U21
Leeds emerged from the interval unchanged and were pressing intently from the off in search of an equaliser. Chambers found Ollie Pickles 25 yards from goal who saw a curling strike sail narrowly over the upright.
For all United’s hard work, the important second goal of the encounter was instead one for Arsenal through Theo Julienne, who found the bottom corner after a weaving run into the area.
Keen to respond, a first change from the dugout introduced Will Firth into the action, replacing Louis Enahoro-Marcus at the back.
The visitors were beginning to show their class, especially on the break, and Agustien would have added a third for his side if not for a superb diving save off the fingertips of Mahady, parrying away a long-range attempt.
Further activity from the bench then brought Coban Bird onto the pitch and the full-back almost made an immediate impact, dragging a half-volleyed strike wide.
Moments later, Chadwick forced another important intervention from Setford, this time with a fizzing drive from outside the area as Gardner’s side continued to threaten despite the scoreline.
Arsenal did extend their lead courtesy of captain Marli Salmon who flicked into the far corner, attacking an in-swinging set-piece from the right, before Agustien made it four inside the final 10 minutes.
The Whites return to action next weekend with a trip to face Manchester City away from home in the Premier League 2.
FULL TIME: Leeds United U21 0-4 Arsenal U21
