Academy

Report & Highlights: U21s beaten by Arsenal in PL2 opener

11th August 2023

Arsenal U21s 3-0 West Ham United U21s
Premier League 2, Meadow Park, Friday 11 August 2023, 7pm BST

West Ham United U21s fell to a 3-0 defeat by Arsenal in their Premier League 2 opener on Friday evening.

An even first 45 minutes saw Mark Robson’s side compete with their counterparts, and arguably edge the chances too.

Callum Marshall and George Earthy both went close when their efforts were deflected away, before Kaelan Casey’s header was superbly kept out on the stroke of half-time.

In truth, Arsenal begun the quickest of the two sides in the second half though, and saw Casey’s block deny the hosts an opening goal just minutes after the restart.

Soon, the Gunners’ pressure told, however. And Jacob Knightbridge, who had previously stood tall with a hatful of stunning saves between the sticks was finally beaten.

Myles Lewis-Kelly and Nathan Butler-Oyedeji struck either side of the hour to put Arsenal two goals ahead.

And while Keenan Appiah-Forson almost pulled one back with a delicate chip wide of the post five minutes from time, Arsenal would clinch victory with a third in stoppage time.

Amario Cozier-Duberry struck from close range to confirm a London derby defeat in our Premier League 2 opener.

West Ham United U21s: Knightbridge, Laing, Casey, Luizão, Forbes (c), Kelly, Orford, Chesters, Earthy (Appiah-Forson 62), Scarles, Marshall
Subs not used: Terry (GK), Moore, Woods

Booked: Chesters

Forbes challenges teammates to push towards Sunderland test

There is no doubt it was a difficult opening match for the U21s. Arsenal kept the ball well at Meadow Park, and their three goals showed that the Hammers ultimately came up short in their Premier League 2 opener.

There were chances for those in Claret & Blue, though. And while the Hammers might have taken the lead when Kalen Casey saw his header saved in the first half, Michael Forbes admitted Arsenal were deserving of the result.

“It is a tough one to take in the first game of the season,” he stated, honestly. “We knew Arsenal would be a tough start but we were a bit blown away really. For the first 35 minutes, we struggled to get near them.

“We did alright to stay in the game in the first half, but they moved the ball so well it was difficult and a really tough evening for us. They outclassed us really.”

Focus turns quickly to the Hammers’ first home game of the season against Sunderland on Friday 18 August, and according to Forbes, that has to be the aim.

It is a chance to get the U21s' first points on the board back in east London.

“All of us want to make it right,” he added. “Our full focus is on next Friday against Sunderland.

"We will take a couple of days to look at what happened and what we can work on as we want to put it right. It’s our first home league game so we want to move on and focus on that, of course.”

Robson: Arsenal showed the level we’ve got to get to

Mark Robson was honest in his assessment of the defeat by Arsenal.

The Hammers, who had seen three wins against Colchester United, Elche B, and Canvey Island, on the bounce in pre-season, came up short in the London derby, with Arsenal impressing on their own patch.

For the U18s making the step up it was a reminder of the level the Hammers will have to reach this season. Lessons to be learnt ahead of their match against Sunderland in a week’s time.

Robson said: “It was difficult I thought Arsenal was really good and by far the better team. They moved the ball well and we struggled to cope.

“In the first half, we probably had the best two chances. Kaelan [Casey] had a header and George Earthy went close as well.

“Having said that in the second half, it was one-way traffic, and it was a bit of a lesson for us. We kept giving the ball away which is very unlike us.

"There is a different level for the players stepping up. They were quicker and stronger and some of our boys were getting pushed off the ball a bit too easily but that will come. It’s a bit of a reality check. We know we have some good players but we fell short."