U18s: Aston Villa 1-3 Arsenal

Aston Villa suffered a 3-1 defeat against Arsenal in the Under-18 Premier League South on Saturday.

The Gunners established a three-goal lead inside the opening 16 minutes, Teshaun Murisa, Axel Donczew and Mylo Bernard on target at Bodymoor Heath.

Jake Doughty reduced the arrears shortly afterwards but the Young Lions could not turn the encounter around as the visitors claimed the spoils.

Richard Beale’s side are back in action at Ipswich Town next Saturday, with just one place and one point separating the two sides in the table.

The visitors opened the scoring after just seven minutes as Villa looked to play out from the back, Murisa winning possession in a central position 25 yards and converting into an empty net.

And it was 2-0 in the 11^th minute as the home side again got caught out in our defensive third, Luis Munoz winning the ball and breaking into the penalty area before squaring for Donczew to finish from eight yards.

Villa’s task was soon made even harder as Bernard latched on to Daniel McCarron’s throughball and coolly slotted past Rhys Oakley to put Arsenal in a commanding position.

Doughty capped a goal-laden opening 21 minutes when he received the ball on the right and surged into the penalty area before sending a left-footed strike under Gunners ‘keeper Charlie Phillips.

Arsenal threatened to extend their advantage in the first half while Doughty headed off target for Villa, who duly trailed at the interval.

Murisa fired over a clear-cut opportunity for the Gunners in the 67^th minute as the visitors continued to pose a threat.

Villa stopper Oakley then made smart stops to deny Munoz, Donczew and Bernard, keeping the visitors at bay as the second half wore on, although the Young Lions came off second best as they fell to defeat.