Bishop's Stortford 1-3 Arsenal U21: Attendance 1,047 at the RDA Stadium 

With the first Premier League 2 fixture only three days away, Under 21s boss Mehmet Ali named a squad containing quite a few players still eligible for Arsenal's Under 18 games.

Bishop's Stortford, champions of the Isthmian league and reluctant members of the National Conference North Division (!) rested ten of their starting XI that had seen them beat Chester in their opening league fixture last saturday.

The host club still managed to provide a good test for the young Gunners in what was a competitive game enjoyed by over 1000 spectators.

Jimi Gower, who signed his first professional contract with the club this summer having shone in last season's FA Youth Cup run, was the pick of Ali's team with two goals in the 4th and 28th minutes.

He drifted into the left half-spaces, much in the way that Leo Trossard does for the first team and was a thorn in the side of the non-league club.

Tyreece John-Jules linked well with Gower creating the first goal with a deft pass before his planned replacement at half-time. Gower's second came at the end of a great build up involving Lewis-Skelly and John-Jules before the Gunners' man of the match finished smartly from an acute angle.

In midfield, Myles Lewis-Skelly caught the eye with his strength on the ball and calm assured passing, Osman Kamara looked dangerous on the wing, while at the back Taylor Foran and Henry Jeffcott always looked in control.In the second half, Stortford made a raft of substitutions and grew into the game as more recognised first team players took the field.

They pulled a goal back with a clever flicked goal from striker George Sykes in the 70th minute, before Arsenal sealed the victory through substitute Daniel Oyetune who ghosted into the near post in the 73rd minute to poke home from close range, which was later given by the home club as an own goal. 

It was a good run out for the young Gunners and a nice return for academy coach Max Porter who had starred in midfield for Bishop's Stortford when they reached the Conference South playoffs in 2007.

Arsenal team and ratings:

Alexei Rojas (GK) 7

Michal Rosiak 7

Elian Quesada-Thorn 6

Taylor Foran 7 

Henry Jeffcott 7

Myles Lewis-Skelly 8

Osman Kamara 8 

Ismail Oulad M'Hand 7

Tyreece John Jules (captain) 7

Jimi Gower 9

Khayon Edwards 6

Subs:

Bless Akolbire

Brian Okonkwo

Timi Henry-Davis (replaced John-Jules 46mins)

Seb Ferdinand (replaced Rosiak 68mins)

Ayden Heaven

Cam'ron Ismail (replaced Kamara 68 mins)

Daniel Oyetunde (replaced Edwards 68 mins)