Arsenal Team With Five Nigeria-Eligible Players In Starting XI Lose To Chelsea U18s

Published: November 23, 2019

An Arsenal team containing five Nigeria-eligible players in the starting line-up were beaten 2-1 by Chelsea in an U18 Premier League Cup match staged at Cobham Training Centre on Saturday afternoon.

Manager Ken Gillard handed starts to defenders Mazeed Ogungbo and Daniel Oyegoke, midfielder Miguel Azeez, wingers Ryan Alebiousu and Nathan Butler-Oyedeji.

Fresh from agreeing a 1+2 year deal with Chelsea with effect from July 2020, Nigeria U17 invitee Prince Adegoke was named on the bench for the second successive game.

The young Blues were two goals up at the interval courtesy of strikes from Armando Broja and Sam Iling Jr, the Albania U21 international breaking the deadlock in the 16th minute before the England U17 winger doubled the advantage in the 37th minute.

Oyegoke gave the Gunners a glimmer of hope of a comeback when he halved the deficit 12 minutes from time, scoring from a tight angle after he was set up by Matthew Dennis, but Chelsea held on for a win, a result that sees them qualify for the last eight of the Premier League Cup.

Arsenal U18s are without a win in their last four matches across all competitions while Chelsea have won seven straight games.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : arsenal.com