U18 Premier League
Arsenal 1 (Olayinka 60) Leicester 3 (Tee 36, Shade 57, Leshabela (pen) 71)
James Olayinka was on the scoresheet but a depleted Arsenal U18s side were beaten 3-1 at home by Leicester City today.
The young Gunners were without several players who featured for the U23s in their draw against Liverpool yesterday.
Coach Kwame Ampadu gave starts to schoolboys Armstrong Okoflex and Miguel Azeez, while Josh Martin, Matthew Dennis and Alfie Matthews were all on the bench.
Barden
Clarke-Spencer Adams-McGuinness-Thompson
Olayinka-Swanson
Beckford-Azeez-Saka
Okoflex
Subs: M. Smith (for Swanson, 40), Martin (for Olayinka, 74), Dennis (for Saka, 83). Not used: Okonkwo, Matthews.
Leicester were the better side in the first half and took the lead in the 36th minute courtesy of Jacob Tee.
Arsenal sought to respond, throwing on Matthew Smith, who trained with the first-team earlier in the day, but Leicester continued to impress and doubled their advantage in the second period, with Tyrese Shade’s effort getting the better of Daniel Barden.
Ampadu’s team eventually mustered a response, with Bukayo Saka finding Olayinka, who finished well, but Leicester went on to make it 3-1 when Thakgalo Leshabela scored a penalty.
Arsenal’s slim title hopes are effectively over, given that they are twelve points behind leaders Chelsea even though they do have a game in hand.
