MATCH REPORT: Swindon Town (2) Arsenal Under-21s (2)

Swindon Town were defeated by Arsenal Under-21s after a penalty shoot-out to miss out on a bonus point in their EFL Trophy opener. Total Sport’s Joe Acklam reports from the County Ground.

Swindon led after an action packed first half, with an own goal from Reuell Walters and Tariq Uwakwe notched either side of Lino Sousa’s header.

Arsenal continued to push in the second half and controlled proceedings, and eventually found the equaliser through Jimi Gower eight minutes from time.

The Gunners then converted all five of their penalties, whilst Benn Ward saw his saved as the visitors picked up a bonus point.

This is the first time Swindon have avoided defeat in this competition since November 2021, but end the evening in second place in Group O after missing out on the bonus point.

Michael Flynn opted to make ten changes to the side that had played in the manic draw at Wrexham AFC three days ago, with Brooklyn Genesini the only one to start both matches as five teenagers came into the starting 11.

The Gunners had made the quicker start to proceedings, but Town struck after six minutes when Jacob Wakeling won the ball in his own half and the drove rapidly into the area before seeing his low cross turned into the net by Reuell Walters.

Arsenal struck back quickly as following a pair of corners, Lino Sousa found himself unmarked in the centre of the box and calmy diverted the ball into the bottom corner.

The chances continued to flow early on as Uwakwe was allowed time to pick out a cross on the left and his lofted ball found Wakeling, whose header brought a spectacular stop out of Karl Hein.

Arsenal had their own chance to claim the lead as Bradley Ibrahim surged beyond Benn Ward through the middle and rounded Lewis Ward, but Harrison Minturn got back and cleared the ball off the line.

The young Arsenal side then had a goalkeeping calamity of their own as Hein received the ball in his six-yard box and attempted to dribble away from Uwakwe, who simply won the ball off him and tapped into the unguarded net.

The defensive disasters continued after 37 minutes when Sonny Hart let Sagoe Jr. run beyond him, only to be denied by Ward. The ball came back to Arsenal and Nathan Butler-Oyedeji looked to have an open goal to equalise, only for Liam Kinsella to rush back and clear off the line.

Great work ethic from Abu Kanu saw him win the ball back on the halfway and drive forwards on his own and with three defenders around him, he found space for a shot in the area that was deflected wide.

A minute later, Kinsella lost the ball to Amario Cozier-Duberry and he played Butler-Oyedeji clean through on goal, but his effort was sent straight at Ward.

After 68 minutes Minturn again had to block off the line as Sagoe Jr. received the pass from Butler-Oyedeji to give him an open goal, but the Swindon centre-back was once again in the right place at the right time to make the block.

With eight minutes remaining, the visitor’s pressure told as James Sweet got round the back of the Town defence and cut back to Gower, who swept the ball into the far corner.

In stoppage time Arsenal could have won it as Ward spilled Ethan Nwaneri’s free kick straight to Khayon Edwards, but he blazed it over the bar from six yards out.

In the subsequent shoot-out, Arsenal converted all five of their spot kicks, whilst Benn Ward was denied by Karl Hein as Town had to settle for a single point on the evening.