Arsenal U21s ended their Premier League 2 regular season with a dramatic 4-3 defeat to West Bromwich Albion at Damson Park on Monday evening. However, they still secured a place in the play-offs.
The Gunners started the game brightly, with striker Khayon Edwards going close with a header from a corner.
West Brom took the lead in the 10th minute when Cole Deeming curled in a free-kick, and Eseosa Sule doubled their advantage before the half-hour mark.
Arsenal responded quickly after Sule’s goal, with Edwards setting up Charles Sagoe Jr. to pull one back and inject some confidence into the team.
Nine minutes later, centre-back Will Sweet scored his second goal in three games, heading in from Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand’s corner to level the score.
Just two minutes after the restart, Deeming restored West Brom’s lead with a long-range strike — his second of the evening.
Sule also completed his brace a minute later, finishing from close range to put the Baggies 4-2 up.
Arsenal pushed to get back into the game and were awarded a penalty with 12 minutes remaining when Salah was brought down. However, goalkeeper Ben Cisse saved his spot-kick.
In stoppage time, Arsenal won another penalty. This time, Edwards stepped up and converted, but it was too late for the Gunners to complete the comeback.
The loss ends Arsenal’s six-match unbeaten run but confirms an eighth-place finish for Mehmet Ali’s side, earning them a spot in the PL2 play-offs.
They will host Newcastle United at Meadow Park in the first round, aiming to win the league for the first time since the 2017/18 season.
