AFC Bournemouth Under-18s fell to a 6-1 defeat away to Arsenal Under-18s in a friendly match on Thursday.

Luke Pardoe’s equalising goal wasn’t enough to keep the Cherries in the game, as Arsenal made their plethora of chances count.

Bournemouth did have the first real chance of the game, however, when Jake Scrimshaw received a first-time pass from Jake Cope but dragged his shot wide.

In a style of play not typically associated with the Gunners, Arsenal scored the game’s opener with a long ball over the top of the Bournemouth defence. Arsenal’s number four took the ball down and found the bottom right corner.

But the Cherries didn’t take long to respond, as a scuffed pass from Cope fell fortunately to the right foot of Pardoe on the edge of the box. Pardoe swung at it first time and nestled his shot into the bottom left corner to equalise.

While it had taken Bournemouth just five minutes to level the scoring, it took Arsenal only three to take the lead again, this time number 7 going through on goal and placing the ball between Cameron Plain’s legs for 2-1.

The Gunners continued to create chances in an end-to-end first half, and earned themselves a penalty when number ten was fouled in the box by Brooklyn Genesini. The former made it 3-1 with a delicate dink straight down the middle.

Plain kept Bournemouth in it with a fine save on the brink of half-time, getting down to his right quickly to save a shot from Arsenal’s number nine, who had sold the Cherries defence with a smart fake-shot dummy.

Despite their set-backs, Alan Connell’s side continued to play the Bournemouth way, passing out from the back even when under intense pressure, and it almost paid off early in the second-half as the patient build-up play resulted in Nathan Moriah-Welsh curling a shot just wide from inside the box.

Bournemouth continued to make chances, Connor Kurran-Browne going close on the 59th minute. After a neat one-two interchange with Moriah-Welsh just outside the box, Kurran-Browne unleashed a venomous volley that rocketed just over the bar.

However, the clinical edge was missing for the Cherries, and it proved costly. Arsenal all but put the game to bed with their fourth goal, when a James Oliver clearance fell nicely to Arsenal’s number nine to pick out the bottom right corner.

Scrimshaw went close again with 17 minutes to go. A well-timed run was complemented with an astute pass from Kurran-Browne, but Scrimshaw’s shot was directed straight at the Arsenal ‘keeper.

It was going to be a long way back for Bournemouth, and the mountain to climb only got bigger when they conceded a fifth. A dangerous cross into the box was met first time by Arsenal’s number 10, and Plain did brilliantly to make a reaction save, but the rebound landed at the feet of the Gunners’ forward who made no mistake second time around.

Rubbing salt in the wounds, Arsenal scored their final goal of the game when number three drove a shot back across goal from the left wing and into the far corner for 6-1.

Reflecting on the game with afcb.co.uk, under-18s manager Alan Connell discussed the following topics…

PLAYING AGAINST THE BEST

“I’ve been pleased with how many top teams and category one opposition we have played this season in the Youth Cup and friendlies. These are the games we need to play more regularly, and we’re doing all we can to get midweek friendlies where possible.

“The score-line obviously doesn’t look good, but we probably had almost as many chances as Arsenal did. They took a lot more of theirs than we did. I’m pleased with a lot of our forward play and we passed the ball well out from the back.

“We’ve been working a lot on forward runs recently so it was pleasing to see that in action, but it’s fine lines, as we always say, and this game was another example of that.

“We had a couple of players out of position in defensive areas just because of injuries, but the philosophy stays the same. You’ve got to be able to take the ball under pressure and find a way out from the back.

“Credit to the boys because they do that and it takes a lot of bravery, but that’s the standard and expectation that we have. The next step is the decision making and technical execution. We had more unforced errors than Arsenal and that was the difference.

“As staff, it’s our job to make sure we keep pushing the players to improve and we’ll continue to do that.”

MIXING UP THE OPPOSITION STYLES

“Playing at Arsenal on Thursday and Stevenage on Saturday gives us different tests and styles. We expect to play a good Stevenage side and hopefully we’re giving our players that well-rounded experiences so that, whatever happens in their careers, they’ve played on good pitches and not-so-good pitches, against direct teams and teams that pass the ball.

“Hopefully, that all-round education stands them in good stead for the rest of their careers.”

The AFC Bournemouth Under-18s squad are sponsored by Strategic Solutions.