Milton Keynes 2–2 Arsenal U21

Arsenal U21s lost 3-1 in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw in 90 minutes on a rain-lashed evening at Milton Keynes.

MK No9 Ellis Harrison put the home side ahead on 26 minutes, prior to Andre-Harrison Annous levelling to make it 1-1 four minutes later. 

The lively Harrison then put Milton Keynes 2-1 ahead 120 later, prior to Nathan Butler-Oyedeji smashing home to make it 2-2 four minutes later. 

Mehmet Ali’s talented young guns came into Tuesday evening’s match on the back of two successive defeats, even if they had won their opening match in this tournament, when beating Leyton Orient 2-1 at Brisbane Road in early September.

Six weeks on, the appalling weather was decidedly different from a balmy evening in East London at the end of the summer, with torrential rain offering challenging conditions for the gilded teenagers.

For their part, the home side made 11 changes from their 1-1 draw against Tranmere Rovers in League Two at the weekend, even if Ali’s side still faced a difficult task against the club from the fourth tier.  

On 15 minutes as MK dominated the opening stages, right-back Joe Pritchard failed to convert when well-placed.

As the torrential rain continued to lash down, MK No9 Ellis Harrison headed home in a crowded box to put the home side 1-0 ahead on 26 minutes.

In a lively opening, the young Arsenal side equalised on the half hour mark, when Andre-Harrison Annous fired home to make the score 1-1, after Nathan Butler-Oyedeji’s shot was parried by MK keeper Craig MacGillivray.

A mere 120 seconds later, the dangerous Harrison grabbed his second goal on a rainy evening, with an excellent curling effort that flew past visitor’s keeper Lucas Martin, to make it 2-1.

Only four minutes had elapsed before Ali’s young charges were level once again, when Butler Oyedeji smashed the ball into the net to make it 2-2 - much to the delight of the 596 travelling Arsenal supporters at the other end, in a total attendance of 2,427.

As the clock ticked down there was still time for Butler-Oyedeji to be denied by MacGillivray, while Rian Silver thudded the crossbar.

Find out who impressed with our Arsenal U21 Player Ratings

Player Ratings: 

54 - Lucas Martin: 6/10 - Fortunate MK right-back Joe Pritchard failed to convert when well-placed. Showed good handling on a wet evening but could the young keeper have done more to keep out MK’s opening goal as Ellis Harrison headed home. With further questions arising over his positioning for Harrison’s excellent curler six minutes later. However, will have learned so much from the occasion and deserved some luck when substitute Rian Silver hit the bar late on 

61 - Josh Robinson: 7/10 - Scored against League One Orient at Brisbane Road in the Young Guns opening match in Group E. Has an excellent engine which powered the talented teenager up and down the flank in support of more advanced colleagues, while also being aware of his defensive duties

47 - Maldini Kacurri: 7/10 - The big defender who made his first team debut when he came on during the 5-1 League Cup victory against Bolton relished the occasion against the League Two sides in wet conditions 

50 - Zane Monlouis (c): 7/10 - Brave when blocking MK attacks

49 - Myles Lewis-Skelly: 7.5/10 - The newly-turned 18-year-old has had a start to the 2024-25 he’ll never forget, making his Premier League debut during that titanic clash at the Etihad last month, before appearing at the Emirates to help the first team to that 5-1 victory over a sorry Bolton side. Has such an excellent temperament and work ethic   

46 - Ismeal Kabia: 7/10 - Another who made his League Cup bow against the Trotters, after scoring in the victory over the O’s in East London at the start of September. Posed a threat down the right flank in challenging conditions. First half shot gathered by MK keeper Craig MacGillivray as the rain lashed down

63 - Michal Rosiak: 7/10 - Calm and composed and did the dirty things well

44 - Jimi Gower: 7.5/10 - Neat and tidy. Battled hard, never stopped worked

56 - Salah M’Hand: 7/10 - Ploughed a lone furrow up top despite showing neat touches and displaying an excellent technique

37 - Nathan Butler-Oyedeji: 8/10 - Worked hard out of possession in sodden conditions. Not afraid to drop deep to receive the ball. Showed clinical finishing when smashing the ball high into the net to make the score 2-2 during a hectic first half. Denied from close range by MK keeper MacGillivray midway through the second half

82 - Andre-Harriman-Annous: 7.5/10 - Grabbed Arsenal’s opener when four goals were scored during 10 first half minutes

Substitutes:

Josh Nichols: 7.5/10 - The impressive young defender who made his first team debut in the starting XI during the rout of Bolton replaced Josh Robinson at half time

Official attendance given as 2,427 including 596 travelling Gooners here at Milton Keynes vs Arsenal U21s in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy on a rain lashed evening pic.twitter.com/4iCUelEDpE

— Layth (@laythy29) October 8, 2024

Well done to the young Arsenal U21 team taking time to head over and acknowledge the 596 travelling Gooners here at Milton Keynes pic.twitter.com/UmY85op3NW

— Layth (@laythy29) October 8, 2024