Player Ratings: Hitchin Town 1-0 Arsenal U18s

Jack Wilshere's Arsenal U18s lost 1-0 to Hitchin Town at Top Field on Saturday afternoon. 

In front of a crowd of 826 an early goal by Canaries attacker George Morrell was enough to beat the Gunners youngsters.

Find out who impressed in our Player Ratings from Top Field 

No1 Khari Ranson: 6/10 - Touched Lewis Franklin’s speculative effort onto the crossbar and beyond as the Canaries put pressure on the young guns early on. Robbed by Hitchin forward George Morrall when attempting to play the ball out from the back, who put the home side ahead after eight minutes. A torrid opening but showed character to keep going. A footnote for shirt collectors was the fact that the club’s official away goalkeepers top - in bright pink no less - was being worn for the first time across all ages by Ransom at Top Field

No 2 Marli Salmon: 6/10 - Take your pick as an inverted right-wing back stepping into midfield, or simply a right sided midfielder

No 3 Josh Ogunnaike: 6/10 - Left-wing-back struggled to contain the threat of Hitchin’s attacking right-back Lewis Franklin in the opening stages

No 4 Samuel Onyekachukwu: 6/10 - Not afraid to pile in with robust challenges along the backline against seasoned non-league players, but equally, has to be wary of diving in

No 5 Max Kuczynski: 6/10 - Left-sided centre-back who played in a three at times, was another who struggled to nullify the influential Franklin’s threat in the opening stages 

No 6 Teshaun Murisa: 6/10 - A busy afternoon featuring in the middle of the backline

No 7 Daniel Oyetunde: 6/10 - The right-sided attacker ploughed a lone furrow when coming inside to play up top in a bid for space at times

No 8 Alek Marcaniak: 6/10 - Skilly, tricky left-sided wideman not afraid to track back. Will certainly have learned from the experience of being hauled down when in possession after being identified as a dangerman 

No 9: Andre Annous: 5.5/10 - A quiet opening 45 minutes for the Arsenal striker who was outmuscled at times by an obdurate Hitchin backline

No 10: Max Dowman: 6.5/10 - A class act who displayed silky touches as he swapped flanks and dropped deep in a bid to pick up the ball

No11: Cedach O’Neill: 5/10 - Not as influential as he would have liked to have been on the left-flank

Substitutes: 

No19: Dan Casey: 6/10

No20: Louie Copley: 6/10

No21: Saurup Sampang: 6.5/10

More to follow....

As per @ArsenalShirt the Arsenal keepers away top for 2024-25 has been worn for the first time by Young Guns U18 shotstopper Khari Ranson here at Top Field during Jack Wilshere’s Arsenal U18s pre-season friendly vs @HitchinTownFC pic.twitter.com/QoCn2Ln0NT

— Layth (@laythy29) August 3, 2024