Premier League 2 – Play-offs quarter-final
Arsenal 2 (Lewis-Skelly 13, Butler-Oyedeji 55) Chelsea 3 (Moreira 45, 80, 90)
By Jeorge Bird @ Meadow Park, Borehamwood
Arsenal U21s saw their hopes of play-off glory come to an end in agonising fashion as they lost 3-2 at home to Chelsea in the quarter-finals.
The young Gunners had given a good account of themselves early in the game and took the lead through a superb strike from Myles Lewis-Skelly. However, Chelsea equalised through Diego Moreira before Nathan Butler-Oyedeji restored Arsenal’s lead.
The hugely talented Moreira was unrelenting in his quest for goals, however, and he managed to equalise before scoring the decisive effort in stoppage time.
It was a hugely frustrating way for Arsenal to end the campaign at this level but eventually there will be time to reflect on the progress made this season by the likes of Ethan Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly and Ayden Heaven.
Arsenal were without Reuell Walters due to a minor injury, so Josh Nichols came into the side at left-back, with James Sweet deployed at right-back. On the bench, Khari Ranson, Josh Robinson and Ismail Oulad M’Hand were all named in the squad.
Ejeheri
J. Sweet-Monlouis-Heaven-Nichols
Lewis Skelly
Henry Francis-Nwaneri
Cozier Duberry-Butler Oyedeji-Kabia
Subs: Gower (for Lewis-Skelly, 79), Robinson (for Monlouis, 90), I. Oulad M’Hand (for J. Sweet, 90). Not used: Ranson, Kamara.
Butler-Oyedeji required treatment after being hit in the face with the ball in the opening seconds of the game, but he was thankfully able to continue.
Arsenal had the first opportunity as Ethan Nwaneri hit the post, with Chelsea then responding with a header that went over.
Nwaneri continued to threaten and had an effort pushed away, and then Lewis-Skelly opened the scoring in spectacular fashion with a well-struck shot after the ball fell to him following a corner.
Amario Cozier-Duberry, who was named the Premier League 2 player of the month for April, shot wide, but Arsenal still had to be alert at the other end, with Nichols and Sweet making important defensive interventions.
Deivid Washington had a shot saved by Ovie Ejeheri and it seemed as if Arsenal were going to be able to go into the break in front.
However, Chelsea managed to equalise courtesy of a very good finish from Moreira.
Arsenal had chances to restore their lead through Nwaneri and Heaven, but the two sides went into the break level.
Chelsea started the second half strongly, with Ejeheri having to make a couple of saves before Washington shot wide.
It was Arsenal who would get the next goal, though, with Butler-Oyedeji continuing his good form in the play-offs by scoring after he was found by Ismeal Kabia.
There were chances for both sides as Ejeheri was called into action again before Jack Henry-Francis shot over.
Arsenal made a change as Jimi Gower came on in place of Lewis-Skelly.
Chelsea equalised through Moreira’s second goal of the game and then Ejeheri had to make an excellent double save.
Nwaneri had a good chance to restore Arsenal’s lead but he was unable to find the net and then substitute Tyrique George struck the crossbar for Chelsea.
Arsenal made a double change as Josh Robinson came on for Zane Monlouis and Ismail Oulad M’Hand replaced Sweet.
The young Gunners fielded a back three with Kabia and Cozier-Duberry as wing-backs and Nichols as a right-sided centre-back, but the system didn’t seem to have the desired effect.
Ejeheri made another excellent stop but there was little that he could do to keep out the late strike from Moreira, which brought Arsenal’s season to an abrupt end.
There will be frustration at the result today, and for some of these players this may well be their last game at this level.
Some encouraging progress has been made throughout the season, but this certainly wasn’t how Arsenal would have wanted to conclude the campaign.
Jeorge Bird's Arsenal Youth 
not sure how you can sound so positive about what has been imo a very disappointing season given some of the quality available.
change os manager is required at this and u18 level
I’d seen Moreira play for the first time in the Youth League 2022 final, which Benfica won against Salzburg by a tennis score: 6-0.
His skills, creativity, speed, hunger, relentlessness, passion … had blown my mind away. It’s a shame, really – but it does say something about professional football nowadays – that such a player still has to play U21 football. I think it was a clever move for him to run away from the Chelsea nuthouse to try his luck in Lyon, but unfortunately for him, the French team was an absolute mess at the time.
Anyway … what a disappointing season that was for the academy. The whole Arsenal fandom is already going berserk for transfers (buy! buy! buy! spend! spend! spend!), and since that’s the kind of fans Edu is willing to please, this might have been the last game in an Arsenal outfit for many of the lads who played today.
There’s a glimmer of hope in our 18 post-Youth Cup, post-Premier League Cup end of season but I’m afraid I can see it only because I’ve always been such a dreamin’ man regarding our youngsters making it to the first team.
But thanks again for all your reports, comments, Jeorge; what a tremendous job you’ve been doing again this season.