Smith takes positives from cup fightback

Under-18s interim head coach Josh Smith found plenty of encouragement from our 3-3 draw with Blackburn Rovers in the opening group game of our U18 Premier League Cup campaign.

A second-half fightback saw us snatch a late point in Lancashire in an all-action six-goal affair, with Josh taking positives from the performance.

"I think it's very similar to Saturday's game [against Ipswich Town]. Between both boxes, we played some really positive stuff.

"We were really fluid in terms of our build-up. We found the free player a lot. The bit that was lacking again was the conviction in the final action.

"But credit to the boys, I thought all of the subs that came on really contributed. Even having Mickie [Bonaventure Yetna] come across from the under-16s pitch and then come on was really pleasing.

"That's something that we've been speaking about since we arrived back from China. Out there, we played four games in five days, so in terms of the use of the squad, I'd say that's really pleasing to me."

Our young Gunners got off to the dream start when Jayden Oba found the net inside the first minute, but trailed 3-1 by the break.

Josh's second-half substitutions sparked a response, with Saurap Sampang finding the target before Bonaventure Yetna snatched an equaliser in stoppage time.

"It was a big moment within the first 15 seconds or so," he said. "But the biggest learning from the players today is to understand your role in executing.

"I think they showed a lot of courage, showed a lot of personality, to keep going. There's a variety of ways to try and break that down.

"We're trying to work on that, we're trying to execute, we're working on set pieces and the last 25 minutes or so is the best practice for us, to suffocate teams as a general group.

"If we can use Saturday's game and today, we can combine that learning and take it to Brighton [at the weekend]."