Premier League 2

Swansea City 3 (Byers 5, 85, Gorre 90) Arsenal 1 (Gilmour pen 64)

Charlie Gilmour was on the scoresheet from the penalty spot as a much-changed Arsenal U23 side was beaten 3-1 away by Swansea City tonight.

Arsenal, perhaps as was to be expected with a line-up that had never previously been fielded, lacked cohesion in the first half and Swansea were utterly dominant as they took the lead through George Byers and rattled the woodwork on no fewer than three occasions.

However, the young Gunners improved significantly after the interval and equalised through Gilmour’s effort, while they had several chances to take the lead.

In the end, though, Swansea’s relative experience told, with Byers doubling his tally before Kenji Gorre applied further gloss to the scoreline.

Arsenal made nine alterations to the team that prevailed past Porto in the Premier League International Cup on Friday, with Hugo Keto, Tafari Moore, Tolaji Bola, Zech Medley, Tobi Omole, Gilmour, Aaron Eyoma, Emile Smith Rowe and Tyreece John-Jules all coming into the side.

A host of players – Eddie Nketiah, Calum Chambers, Reiss Nelson Mathieu Debuchy, Matt Macey, Chuba Akpom, Jordi Osei-Tutu, Joe Willock and Josh Dasilva – were rested with Thursday’s Europa League encounter against Cologne in mind.

Meanwhile, scholars Robbie Burton and Xavier Amaechi received their first U23 call-ups and were amongst the substitutes.

Keto

Pleguezuelo-Medley-Omole

Moore-Gilmour-Smith Rowe-T. Bola

Eyoma-John Jules

Dragomir

Subs: Iliev, Amaechi (for Eyoma, 87), Balogun (for Omole, 89), Benson, Burton.

It was Swansea who started the brightest and the hosts took the lead with just five minutes gone when Byers capitalised upon some disappointing defending and slotted the ball past Keto.

Arsenal had to withstand a considerable amount of pressure in the direct aftermath of the goal as Swansea sought to immediately add to their lead.

Medley was alert to clear the ball away, then Oliver McBurnie hit the post with a header before Keto had to make a good save.

Swansea hit the post again, this time through Byers, who had capitalised upon a mistake from Medley.

Byers, who could have had a hat-trick in the first-half, then saw another of his efforts, a header, hit the crossbar before a cross from Gorre almost caught out Keto.

Arsenal, with several players being deployed in unfamiliar positions – Dragomir was playing up front, with Smith Rowe deep in midfield – found it difficult to muster any sort of attacking momentum in the opening period, although towards the end of the half Eyoma, making a rare appearance, had a shot blocked.

One positive for Arsenal to take from the first half was the performance of John-Jules, with the first-year scholar holding the ball up well and demonstrating his tactical awareness.

Arsenal emerged for the second half with renewed vigour and finally started to pose a regular threat to the Swansea goal.

Firstly John-Jules shot over before later hitting an effort just wide after being teed up by Dragomir.

Dragomir clearly doesn’t possess the physical attributes required to play up front but the Romanian was making the most of the situation and saw an effort saved after he was found by Tolaji Bola, who was bursting forwards from left wing-back.

Arsenal’s pressure eventually yielded a tangible reward as Bola pushed forwards yet again and his cross found Dragomir, who was hauled down in the area.

Gilmour, so reliable from the spot, stepped up and scored as Arsenal pulled level.

That goal provided Gilmour with an injection of confidence and shortly afterwards the midfielder played in Smith Rowe, who shot wide.

Bola continued to provide a threat down the left flank and this time crossed for Dragomir, who couldn’t find the net.

Tafari Moore then located John-Jules, who perhaps should have scored when well placed.

Arsenal were left to regret the aforementioned missed chances as Swansea increased the pressure in the closing stages with significant consequences.

Firstly Byers finished clinically after impressive work from Gorre and then the latter made it 3-1 himself from close range.

Arsenal brought on Amaechi, for his debut, and Balogun, while they also switched to four at the back but the game was already effectively over.

Swansea were completely dominant in the first half but Arsenal improved greatly after the break and were perhaps unfortunate to lose by such a margin.

With many of these players not regulars at this level this game will represent a very useful experience indeed.