U18 Preview: Arsenal vs Saints
Southampton’s youngsters look to continue their impressive form as they travel to Arsenal in the Under-18s Premier League on Saturday.
Arsenal vs Saints
Under-18s Premier League
Arsenal Training Centre
Saturday 2nd April, 11:30am BST
Arsenal sit seventh in the current league standings, claiming a 3-1 victory over Brighton in their last league fixture.
Billy Vigar, Kaleel Green and Charles Sagoe Junior were all on the scoresheet at the AMEX Elite Performance Centre as they fought off a late Brighton comeback.
Saints claimed an important point when league leaders West Ham United visited Staplewood Campus last time out in the league, holding them to a 0-0 stalemate.
Victory for the hosts could see them rise as high fifth in the Under-18 Premier League table, while victory for Carl Martin’s side could see them reclaim the top spot.
Saints and Arsenal last met in the reverse fixture back in September, where neither side could come out on top in a six goal thriller.
Jimmy Jay Morgan opened the scoring for Saints in the 28th minute before Amario Cozier-Duberry retaliated just five minutes later to make the scores level.
Khayon Edwards gave Arsenal the advantage before the break, notching his second of the match two minutes into the second half to make it 3-1 to the visitors.
A resilient performance ensued, with Luke Pearce finding the net in the 58th minute and Tommy-Lee Higgs netting a dramatic injury-time equaliser to ensure the points were shared.
“We’re really looking forward to the game,” confirmed Under-18s individual coach Mikey Harris. “It’s going to be a very tough game.
“Arsenal are a very good team and it’s the next challenge for the boys. Obviously we had the international window where some of the boys went away with their countries so they’ve been back in and we played a friendly as well.
“The squad are in good spirits as they have been all season and it’s a good opportunity for them to test themselves against the next challenge.”
