- Albion’s under-18s are beaten 3-2 by Arsenal
- Catalin Cirjan (2) and Zane Monlouis score for the Gunners
- Stefan Vukoje and Sam Packham on target for Albion
- Mark Beard’s side are next in action against Fulham on Saturday
Catalin Cirjan’s brace and a goal from Zane Monlouis saw the Gunners race into a 3-0 lead, before Albion fought back with strikes from Stefan Vukoje and Sam Packham as Mark Beard’s side came close to claiming a point.
Cirjan broke the lead in the 12th minute when his free kick beat the Albion wall, and went in on the right side of the post and beat Roco Rees.
Ten minutes later, the Gunners struck again. After some intricate build-up play Cirjan received the ball outside of the area before skillfully moving away from his marker and dispatching the ball into the roof of the net.
Monlouis added a third for the visitors in the 25th minute when a clearance fell into his path, and he fired his shot into the top corner to make it 3-0.
Vukoje got Albion off the mark seven minutes into the second half when he broke through on goal and calmly slotted his shot into the bottom corner.
Packham gave the Seagulls hope of a comeback when his free kick sailed past every Albion and Arsenal player in the box and flew past Hubert Graczik with 73 minutes played.
Matt Everitt nearly got Beard’s side a third and equalising goal in the closing stages, but his shot hit the post.
The under-18s are next in action away to Fulham on Saturday.
ALBION: Rees; Tanimowo, Clark-Eden, Cocoracchio, Furlong (Spong 46); Miller (Tsoungui 46), Packham, Leonard; Wilson, Vukoje, Everitt (Leahy 71).
SUBS NOT USED: Talley (GK), Turns.