U21s report: Brighton 2-2 Arsenal

Our under-21s struck late to draw 2-2 with defending Premier League 2 champions Brighton on Monday night.

James Scanlon gave us the lead midway through the first half with a debut goal, collecting Ife Ibrahim's pass and picking out the corner of the net.

But Younes Ibrahim and Bailey Palmer set each other up for quickfire goals in the second half to turn the game around for the Seagulls.

We left it late to strike back, but Louis Zecevic-John set up Evan Mooney to equalise from close range, securing a point in our first away game of the season.

FIRST HALF

A frantic start to the game saw chances for both sides in the opening ten minutes.

Brighton had two early chances, with Shane Nti and George Munday getting shots away in the opening three minutes, but Khari Ranson produced two fine saves to deny the Seagulls.

We went down the other end and won a corner, from which Elijah Upson had our first opportunity of the game, but placed a powerful header just wide of the post.

The breakthrough came midway through the half, with Ife Ibrahim picking out Scanlon in a pocket of space on the edge of the penalty area, and our debutant midfielder firing home the opening goal.

Brighton enjoyed a sustained spell of possession after falling behind, but struggled to create any clearcut opportunities before the break.

We almost doubled our lead right on half-time when Ceadach O'Neill found a pocket of space in the penalty area, but his effort was saved well by Steven Hall.

SECOND HALF

The Seagulls made a quick start to the second half and equalised within three minutes of the restart, Younes Ibrahim picking out the bottom corner with a well-placed strike from the edge of the penalty area.

We responded well to the Albion equaliser, with Andre Harriman-Annous narrowly missing the top corner from distance before Josh Ogunnaike's powerful strike was tipped over the crossbar by Hall.

But it was Brighton who got themselves in front when Younes Ibrahim returned the favour to Palmer, who had set up the first goal, but arrived in the right place at the right time to score the hosts' second for himself.

We kept the pressure on in search of an equaliser and almost had it when Jaden Dixon's header from a free-kick bounced the wrong side of the post.

With two minutes to go, we found the leveller when substitute Zecevic-John set up Mooney, who had also been brought on by David Horseman, to tuck the equaliser into the bottom corner from close range.

WHAT IT MEANS

A point on the south coast maintains our unbeaten start, leaving us with two points from two games.

WHAT'S NEXT

Our under-21s will be back at Mangata Developments Stadium to host Chelsea in a London derby on Saturday, September 12.

Kick-off in north London is set for 1pm (UK). As with all Premier League 2 home fixtures, entry is free, so get down to Meadow Park to get behind our young Gunners.

LINE-UPS

Brighton XI: Hall, Mackley, Barclay, Keogh (Crutchett, 84'), Ferdinand, Oriola, (Palmer, 46') Nti, Silsby (Alakiu, 80'), Ibrahim, Outen, Munday (Joseph, 62')

Subs: Dike, Ademola, Brett

Arsenal XI: Ranson, Ogunneye (Clarke, 75'), Upson (Dixon, 63'), Salmon, Ogunnaike, Stevens (Mooney, 75'), Scanlon (Zecevic-John, 63'), Ibrahim (Agustien, 75'), Julienne, O'Neill, Harriman-Annous

Subs: Porter, Washington