Chelsea started the game strongly, creating several promising chances and looking threatening in attack. However, the match shifted after 15 minutes when Harry McGlinchey was sent off for bringing down Andre Annous to deny Arsenal a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

Despite being reduced to 10 men, the Blues showed resilient character by uniting as a team and continuing to challenge the home side. However, Arsenal took the lead with a top-corner strike from Dan Casey before half-time.

After the interval, Chelsea remained dangerous and created multiple opportunities, but Arsenal’s solid defence kept us from levelling the score.

Promising start

The match began evenly with both teams fighting fiercely for possession. Chelsea made an early threat when Leo Cardoso showcased his tricky footwork inside the box, cutting the ball back to find Chizaram Ezenwata in the centre. The schoolboy drilled a low strike but it narrowly missed the target.

Arsenal started to grow into the game as Brando Bailey-Joseph made a smart run down the wing, delivering a cross for Annous, whose header was well saved by Jack Austin.

Bailey-Joseph almost gave Arsenal the lead when he dribbled past the Chelsea defenders down the wing and unleashed a low strike at goal, but McGlinchey reacted quickly showcasing his strength to intercept the attempt.

Chelsea’s Under-18s captain, Ollie Harrison, tried his luck at goal with a well-struck free-kick, awarded after a foul by an Arsenal defender on Shumaira Mheuka just outside the box. However, his effort sailed just over the crossbar.

Spanner in the works

The match took a dramatic turn at the 15-minute mark. McGlinchey was shown a straight red card after bringing down Annous during a goal-scoring opportunity outside the area, leaving Chelsea with just 10 men.

This unexpected setback forced head coach Hassan Sulaiman to turn to his bench, bringing off Sol Gordon for defender Joseph Wheeler-Henry. Despite this early obstacle, Chelsea adapted quickly to the new circumstances.

Arsenal did come close to capitalising on their numerical advantage, though. Max Dowman intercepted a pass and weaved his way upfield, unleashing a low strike that forced Austin to dive and make a crucial save.

Putting up a fight

Despite being a man down, Chelsea continued to assert themselves causing problems for the home side. Genesis Antwi's creative runs out wide saw him squeeze a pass between two Arsenal players to Cardoso, who fired a shot at goal but it went just wide of the target.

We had another chance around the half-hour mark when Cardoso curled in a high corner. Mheuka connected with a powerful header, but the effort rebounded off the crossbar, denying Chelsea the lead.

Just as the young Blues seemed to be gaining momentum, Arsenal struck. Brayden Clarke delivered an accurate looping ball to Casey inside the box. Casey took his chance, rifling the ball into the top corner, leaving the score 1-0 to Arsenal at the break.

Showing perseverance

The hosts came out of the break with intensity, Dowman testing Austin early on with a powerful strike from range. Chelsea remained unfazed, though. Ezenwata linked-up well with Cardoso, who spotted Mheuka in open space inside the area. The 16-year-old smashed a shot towards the bottom corner, but Khari Ranson pushed the effort out.

Following an encouraging spell of possession for Chelsea, Arsenal fought back. Austin was called into action again, making a show-stopping save as Theo Julienne fired a shot from a tight angle. The Chelsea keeper managed to tip the ball over the bar, protecting his net from the impressive effort.

Chelsea's defence showed strength, although Ceadach O’Neill threatening with a close-range shot. Under pressure from Olutayo Subuloye, O’Neill lofted the ball towards goal but the Blues keeper was once again composed and up to the task, denying the effort.

Despite our relentless efforts to find a breakthrough, it wasn't our afternoon. Arsenal managed to hold on and secure the three points in this league fixture.

What's next

Chelsea will return to action on Tuesday afternoon, starting our Under-18 Premier League Cup campaign against Stoke City. The game will take place at Cobham, with kick-off scheduled for 2pm.

The teams

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Jack Austin; Genesis Antwi, Lewi Richards, Olutayo Subuloye, Harry McGlinchey; Landon Emenalo (Reggie Walsh 80), Ollie Harrison (c); Leo Cardoso, Chizaram Ezenwata (Yahya Idrissi 80), Sol Gordon (Joseph Wheeler-Henry 18) (Saheed Olagunju 45+2); Shumaira Mheuka
Unused sub: Hudson Sands
Sent off: McGlinchey 15
Booked: Walsh 90+3

Arsenal (4-3-3): Khari Ranson, Theo Julienne, Camron Ismail, Brayden Clarke, Will Sweet (c), Ife Ibrahim, Ceadach O'Neil, Dan Casey (Bless Akolbire 78), Andrew Annous, Max Dowman (Alex Marciniak 62), Brando Bailey-Joseph
Unused subs: Josh Ogunnaike, Danny Dixon, Zac Shuaib
Scorer: Casey 40
Booked: Dowman 11, Julienne 60, Casey 67, Sweet 81, O'Neil 90+1, Clarke 90+3