Arsenal U21s were involved in an enthralling encounter against Ipswich Town in the Papa John’s Trophy last night, with the young Gunners battling back to prevail on penalties.
Trailing 2-0 at half time, it appeared that Arsenal were heading out of the competition.
However, Arsenal demonstrated excellent spirit to fight back. They reduced the deficit when a corner from Salah-Eddine deflected in off Ipswich’s Kane Vincent-Young.
Arsenal then managed to equalise, with Folarin Balogun scoring a fine goal that encompassed him exchanging passes with Omari Hutchinson before finishing well.
The game finished 2-2 and then went to penalties, with Hutchinson proving to be the hero for Arsenal in the shootout.
In many ways the 18-year-old epitomised Arsenal’s attitude as they simply refused to give up.
Not everything that Hutchinson attempted came to fruition but he kept pushing forwards and was eventually rewarded.
Usually deployed as a right winger, Hutchinson is often given licence to drift inside and he did so to excellent effect against Ipswich.
This season Hutchinson has been one of Arsenal’s standout performers at youth level of late, and the team as a whole have shown that they are always determined even in adversity as they have been involved in several impressive comebacks this season.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
I’d love to seem him progress to the first team, supremely talented kid. I always remember his YouTube skill videos when he was really young.
Just saw the highlights in ipswich town’s youtube channel. Balogun’s goal was stunning. Took the ball in the halfway line, dribbled through with a quick burst of speed and power, followed with a no look pass ala Neymar to Hutchinson, who backheeled it back to Balogun with a narrow angle and a lot to do, but he slotted a powerful left footed shot past the goalie. Phenomenal.
I watched the game in the stadium and that moment was great by balogun but for the rest of this match he was woeful. His touch movement distribution and shooting just doesn’t match the hype, certainly not down the middle. Looked better off the wing when facing an opponent but in my opinion there are better players in that team. Salah-eddine being the standout player on the night and he only played a half