Post-Match Report

Diaby returns but young Gunners beaten

13/14 Academy: Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea - Hector Bellerin

Chelsea Under 23 -

Emirates Stadium
Barclays Under-21 Premier League
Barclays Under-21 Premier League
  Arsenal U23
      
                  Hector Bellerin (32)
            
   crest
Arsenal U23
Hector Bellerin (32)
1 2
  Chelsea Under 23
      
              Lewis Baker (68)
               John Swift (86)
          
   crest
Chelsea Under 23
Lewis Baker (68) John Swift (86)
At Emirates Stadium

By Isaac Moore at Emirates Stadium

SUMMARY

Abou Diaby completed 45 minutes of action as Arsenal Under-21s were beaten by Chelsea at Emirates Stadium in their penultimate game of the season.

The Frenchman looked tidy in the early stages of the game before fading towards the end of the first half.

Hector Bellerin, playing as a right winger this evening, fired Arsenal in front on 32 minutes before Lewis Baker pulled Chelsea level just after the hour.

John Swift headed a late winner for Chelsea which, on the balance of play, was harsh on Arsenal.

SETTING THE SCENE

It was Diaby's first game for 402 days after suffering a cruciate ligament injury against Swansea City in March 2013. The Frenchman was joined by Carl Jenkinson, who made his second appearance of the season for the second string.

Chuba Akpom, Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill and Julio Pleguezuelo were the only survivors from the Youth Cup side that lost to Chelsea five days previously. Steve Gatting named arguably his strongest side of the season with under-21 regulars such as Jon Toral, Kris Olsson, Isaac Hayden and Matt Macey all returning.

Chelsea also made changes from the side that began Thursday's semi-final and knew a win tonight would ensure they entered the play-off stages as league winners.

FIRST HALF

Arsenal made a bright start to the game and their first opening fell to Diaby in the 12th minute when Ormonde-Ottewill's deep cross was only cleared as far as the Frenchman and his first-time effort went into Mitchell Beeney's arms.

Baker sent a free-kick high and wide for Chelsea midway through the first half before Macey was forced to tip behind a rasping drive from Reece Mitchell.

The Gunners took the lead on 32 minutes when Hayden's perfectly-weighted pass sent Bellerin through on goal and the Spaniard finished calmly beyond Beeney.

Arsenal came sweeping forward again in the 42nd minute and Bellerin was involved again. This time he was found by a slide-rule pass from Olsson before squaring to Akpom, who was bought down by Ola Aina on the edge of the box. Jenkinson sent the resulting free-kick straight at Beeney.

SECOND HALF

Diaby and Pleguezuelo were replaced at half-time by Zachari Ansah and Ainsely Maitland-Niles and Chelsea began the second half the stronger.

Isak Ssewankambo dragged a shot wide before flashing a drive into the side-netting.

The visitors continued to pile on the pressure and went close to equalising in the 63rd minute when Alex Kiwomya's shot was deflected behind with Macey left stranded.

The Blues deservedly got back on terms five minutes later when Baker's exquisite back-heel from Sswankamnbo's cross flashed past Macey at the near post.

Toral lifted a free-kick over as Arsenal tried to reassert themselves in the final 15 minutes. Hayden came so close to winning the game for Arsenal when he drove into the Chelsea box before his deflected effort looped over Beeney and hit the crossbar. Ansah shot wide seconds later.

Chelsea's winner came with four minutes remaining. The Gunners were caught cold as Baker's quick free-kick was glanced home by Swift.

Attendance: 1389

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