Sunderland U23s 1-3 Arsenal U23s
Jonny Williams played 80 minutes on his comeback but he was unable to inspire Sunderland under-23s to victory, as Arsenal clinched three points at Eppleton CW.
Emile Smith-Rowe’s curling opener set the agenda as the Gunners made a strong start to the game, and they doubled their lead before the interval as Tyreece John-Jules finished with aplomb.
After the restart, Elliot Embleton reduced to the deficit but within minutes Arsenal’s two-goal lead was restored, as John-Jules grabbed his second and ensured the points returned to north London.
Recap all the action below…
HERE’S JONNY
Saturday’s game provided a first-team fitness boost as Williams lined up against the Gunners. The Welshman made his first appearance since November when he suffered a shoulder injury in a 2-2 draw against Millwall, as Elliott Dickman named an otherwise youthful side. After scoring his first goal at under-23 level in the midweek win over Leicester City, Lee Connelly once again led the line as Max Stryjek and Elliot Embleton also featured.
ADVANTAGE ARSENAL
The visitors made a strong start to the game as the impressive Reiss Nelson led the charge. The tricky forward fashioned the first chance with a mazy run ending in a decent cross to Xavier Amaechi, but his effort deflected kindly into the path of Stryjek. Moments later Nelson let fly, but again Sunderland’s Polish stopper came out on top and produced a good save. Connelly’s dinked finish was the Black Cats’ first sight at goal but chances at the other end continued flow, and with 24 minutes played the Gunners opened the scoring as Smith-Rowe’s stunning finish bent into the top corner.
NEXT PHASE
Arsenal continued to ooze class as Dickman’s side struggled to contain their free-flowing front three, and ten minutes after opening the scoring, the visitors doubled up. Hesitant defending opened the door for John-Jules and he supplied a devastating finish, with Stryjek once again given no chance as the forward lifted a cute finish over the stopper and into the net. And, in truth, it could have been more at the interval, as Nelson’s free-kick whistled wide before Stryjek turned Amaechi’s dipping finish behind.
TRADING BLOWS
Sunderland made a steady start to the second period and their persistence was rewarded after the hour mark, as Embleton reduced the arrears. The midfielder once again impressed throughout and he did well to squeeze a shot through Deyan Iliev at the near post, but it proved to be moment of false hope for the boys in red and white. Just three minutes later, John-Jules struck again to restore Arsenal’s two-goal advantage and send the Black Cats tumbling back down to earth. Connelly might have replied had it not been for an excellent last-ditch intervention from Tolagi Bola, but it ended 3-1.
Sunderland: Stryjek, J Robson, Hume, Embleton, Taylor, Storey, Williams (Allan 80), Hackett, Connelly, Diamond, Kimpioka.
Subs: Brotherton, Woud, Young, Kokolo.
Arsenal: Iliev, Osei-Tutu, Bola, Da Silva, Mavropanos, Medley, Dragomir, Smith-Rowe, John-Jules (Balogun 80), Nelson, Amaechi.
Subs: Omole, Keto, Burton, Benson.