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Arsenal 0 Shakhtar Donetsk 1 (Halonskyi 14)
By Jeorge Bird @ Meadow Park, Borehamwood
Arsenal U19s suffered a frustrating defeat in the UEFA Youth League today as they lost 1-0 at home to a stubborn Shakhtar Donetsk side.
The young Gunners struggled to break Shakhtar down, with the Ukrainian side prevailing courtesy of a goal from Valentin Halonskyi in the 14th minute.
Schoolboys Brando Bailey-Joseph and Marli Salmon came on in the second half, with Louis Zecevic John also making his debut at this level.
The introduction of Dan Casey added some ingenuity to the team but Arsenal were still unable to find the net.
Tommy Setford made his debut for the club in goal, with Louie Copley also featuring.
Jack Wilshere was part of the coaching staff for the final time before joining Norwich this week.
Setford
Clarke-Kacurri-Heaven-Nichols
Rosiak
Dudziak-Copley
Kabia-Harriman Annous-Ferdinand
Subs: Bailey-Joseph (for Ferdinand, 59), Casey (for Copley, 59), Salmon (for Clarke, 66), Zecevic John (for Nichols, 80). Not used: Nygaard, Forde, Ibrahim, C. Ismail, Sweet.
Arsenal, whose players wore squad numbers in this competition for the first time, created the opening chance of the game as Maldini Kacurri had a header saved following a corner from Michal Rosiak.
However, it was Shakhtar who took the lead in the 14th minute as Halonskyi applied the finishing touch to a well-worked move.
Rosiak saw a free-kick saved but Arsenal found themselves a goal behind at the break.
In the second half Copley saw an effort deflected over before Arsenal introduced Casey and Bailey-Joseph in place of Copley and Seb Ferdinand.
Salmon then entered the fray at right-back as he replaced Clarke.
Shakhtar saw an effort go wide before Zecevic John came on for Nichols.
Zecevic John was unfortunate not to connect with a free-kick from Rosiak.
There were seven added minutes and Maldini Kacurri was deployed as a makeshift striker late on.
However, Arsenal were unable to find the equaliser as Shakhtar defended resolutely.
This was a frustrating result for Arsenal after the victory against PSG last time out, but they will be eager to respond in their next game away to Inter Milan.
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