U21S MATCH REPORT: ARSENAL 1-0 BURNLEY

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Young Clarets beaten on road

2026-01-23T22:19:12.232Z

U21S MATCH REPORT: ARSENAL 1-0 BURNLEY

Young Clarets beaten on road

2026-01-23T22:19:12.232Z

Young Clarets beaten on road

Brando Bailey-Joseph’s second-half strike was the difference between the two teams as Burnley U21s were beaten at their Arsenal counterparts on Friday night.

There were four changes to the team that drew with Tottenham Hotspur last week, with Oisin Cooney returning in goal and a trialist starting at the heart of the defence.

Vernon Masara and Enock Agyei started on the left and right of the three in behind Kian McMahon-Brown respectively, with first-year scholars Michael Stanley and Destiny Okonkwo on the bench.

The Gunners had the better of the possession in the early stages and were inches away from an opener with 12 on the clock.

After Charles Sagoe beat his man and got to the byline he crossed for Andre Harriman-Annous, whose header hit a post and landed in Cooney’s arms.

U21S MATCH REPORT: ARSENAL 1-0 BURNLEY - Image 1

Andy Farrell’s side grew into it as the half progressed, enjoying more territory higher up the pitch thanks to some excellent tenacity to win the ball back.

Agyei threatened twice in the final few minutes before the break. After having a long-range strike charged down, he flashed a ball across the face of goal but none of his team-mates could make contact.

The Belgian was replaced by last week’s scorer Zach Johnson at half-time and whatever the Arsenal manager said to his players had the desired effect.

Cooney was forced into two saves within 100 seconds of the restart, the first of which saw him rush out to the feet of Harriman-Annous.

U21S MATCH REPORT: ARSENAL 1-0 BURNLEY - Image 2

Farrell’s next two changes saw the trialist and Ellis Clark make way for Stanley and Charlie Veevers on the hour, and Marley Leuluai later replaced McMahon-Brown in a change of formation.

Arsenal broke the deadlock in the 71st minute. Bailey-Joseph surged inside from the right touchline and powered the ball into the bottom left corner through the legs of Cooney.

The Gunners built a head of steam from there, with Cooney producing two smart saves in quick succession.

Our final switch saw Okonkwo replace Brandon Pouani and the young Clarets battled right through until the final seconds.

The best chance arguably fell to Veevers in the fourth minute of stoppage-time, but he could only head Johnson’s whipped free-kick straight into Jack Porter’s arms.

Burnley: Cooney, Blackie, Pimlott, Trialist (Stanley 60), Campbell, Brierley, Agyei (Johnson 46), Clark (Veevers 60), McMahon-Brown (Leuluai 67), Pouani (Okonkwo 79), Masara

Arsenal: Porter, Nichols, Ogunnaike, Kacurri, Salmon (Clarke 67), Ibrahim, Bailey-Joseph (Washington 83), Julienne (Stevens 67), Zecevic-John, Harriman-Annous (Agustien 62), Sagoe

Unused substitutes: Talbot

Goals: Bailey-Joseph 71’