Under-21s launch stunning comeback to win at Arsenal

Our Under-21s picked up their second win of the Premier League 2 season in remarkable fashion away at Arsenal on Saturday afternoon.

Wayne Burnett's side found themselves 2-0 down at the break, before two goals in two minutes from Tyrese Hall and Max Robson levelled the game shortly after the restart.

Callum Olusesi then fired us ahead for the first time on the hour mark, and Jaden Williams grabbed his third goal in two games to give us a two-goal cushion.

Williams then won the ball back in the Gunners' half and set his team-mates away, it was squared to substitute Max McKnight who sat his man down and buried it into the bottom left corner to complete a stunning 5-2 comeback victory on a memorable day at Meadow Park.

The first chance of the game went to the hosts when Romari Forde found Ismail Oulad M'Hand on the edge of the box, who forced a strong save from Aaron Maguire. Alfie Dorrington then had to hook one off the line before Maguire then made another strong save from a follow-up chance just four minutes in.

Yusuf Akhamrich earned our first opportunity of the game as his in-swinging cross called Lucas Nygaard into action to parry it away, just before Robson charged down the right wing and into box, before a perfectly-timed sliding challenge cut out the threat. Another Akhamrich cross caused Arsenal more problems, but unfortunately the drilled effort was just ahead of three arriving Spurs shirts.

The hosts took the lead 18 minutes in, with Forde heading home from close range after a recycled corner, which kicked off a tough 20-minute period for us. Another recycled corner was deflected wide, before Joshua Nichols fired straight at Maguire, but eventually the lead was doubled when Rosiak fired home a stunning free-kick from 20 yards out.

Rio Kyerematen managed to win the ball deep into the Gunners' half and work it to Tyrese Hall, but his effort was blazed over the bar, but he later called the keeper into action with a dangerous curling cross that was heading goalwards. One further save from Maguire saw him impressively push a fierce close-range effort onto the post in first-half stoppage time.

Much like we saw in the National League Cup tie at Dagenham on Tuesday night, the turnaround at the break was stark. In the first minute of the second half, Dorrington went long towards Akhamrich who darted down the left and crossed towards Williams, but he headed over from inside the area. Three minutes later, though, we had a route back into the game as Akhamrich dipped a ball in to the edge of the penalty area, Hall getting on the end of it before an onrushing Nygaard to poke it home.

Robson then levelled the game less than a minute later, and it came down the left again. This time it was fired in deep to the far post and Robson threw everything to get on the end of it, bundling it home to make it 2-2. Hall was then lively again, beating a bundle of Arsenal players down the left and squaring it to Damola Ajayi, who forced a strong save. It was immediately won back down the right flank and drilled across the box for Olusesi to tuck in from close range at the back post, three goals in 12 second-half minutes completing a stunning turnaround.

From there, we found another gear - Kyerematen had a shot deflected wide, before Robson and Ajayi linked up down the right, the latter crossing it first time but neither Hall nor Williams could poke home from close range. Hall was then played through centrally for a one-on-one, but Nygaard came out quickly and was equal to the effort, and two minutes later we stole possession again, but Ajayi's effort flew over. A free-kick was then taken quickly down the left and worked in to Williams in a central position, but he dragged his shot wide of the near post.

Two minutes later, the latter player grabbed his goal. Winning it high up on the left as Arsenal were caught in possession again, he charged into the box and fired it low across the keeper into the bottom right corner to give us a two-goal cushion. Hall was next to catch the Gunners' defence out when his pressing also paid off - he squared it to Ajayi who again saw an effort curl just over the top left corner from outside the area, and it wasn't his day as into stoppage time he was played through for a one-on-one, only to again be denied by Nygaard.

There was one final goal left in the game though, and it was Williams' final contribution before being substituted, turning on the ball and beating his man before playing it forward, it was selflessly squared to substitute McKnight, who cut back, sat his man down and coolly slotted it into the bottom left corner.

Highlights | Arsenal U21s 2-5 Spurs U21s

Match data

Goals: Arsenal - Forde 18, Rosiak 35; Spurs - Hall 49, Robson 50, Olusesi 61, Williams 82, McKnight 90+5.

Yellow cards: Arsenal - Rosiak 7; Spurs - Hall 13, Kyerematen 76, Williams 81, King 90.

Referee: Lauren Impey.

Venue: Meadow Park, Borehamwood.

Weather: Sunny intervals, gentle breeze, 16 degrees.