Arsenal U18s s were held to an entertaining 3-3 draw at London Colney on Saturday as their recent defensive woes continued.
Reiss Nelson, only 15-years-old yet already seen as a huge talent and close to being a regular with the U18s, was on the scoresheet following his excellent performance against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Youth League. Meanwhile, Eddie Nketiah scored his sixth goal of the season and Joshua DaSilva also found the net for Frans De Kat’s side.
Arsenal started with an attacking lineup, as Ismael Bennacer and Donyell Malen supported DaSilva up front, but it was the visitors who took the lead early on as Kelsey Mooney was left inexplicably unmarked between centre-backs Kostas Pileas and Kristopher Da Graca to head in the simplest of goals from six yards.
Aston Villa doubled their lead just moments later as Andre Green got the better of Jordi Osei-Tutu at the back post to head in a very similar goal. However, within a few minutes, Arsenal were handed a route back into the game. After good work from Bennacer, DaSilva won the ball from Jake Humphries and his shot was deflected past Aston Villa goalkeeper Emmanuel Idem.
At the start of the second half, Aaron Eyoma missed a glorious chance to equalise when he shot over after a miscue in the Villa defence. However, the winger quickly atoned for his error; after being released down the right-hand side, Eyoma found Nelson on the edge of the area and his shot found the net via the hand of Idem and the post.
Malen could have put Arsenal in front after more miscommunication in the Villa defence from a long ball, however, the Dutchman could only shoot a fraction wide. He was made to pay for his prolificacy when Tolaji Bola needlessly pulled back Moustafa Zeidan in the area and Humphries, at fault for Arsenal’s first goal, buried the ball past the helpless Ryan Huddart to restore Villa’s lead.
But it was to be the substitute Nketiah who added the final twist to the story. After neatly finding some space in the penalty area from Nelson’s pass, he clinically curled the ball into the bottom corner to give Arsenal a share of the points.
