Arsenal trialist features in u21 game

Trialist Lennon Patterson featured and Nathan Butler-Oyedeji added another goal to his record but the Arsenal u21s slipped to defeat against Sunderland on Monday.

Following reports last week that Arsenal had taken Wolves talent Lennon Patterson on a trial, the news was confirmed as the 17-year-old made the starting lineup for the u21s against Sunderland on Monday.

Patterson played the first 45 minutes of the match, in his first Premier League 2 appearance. The wing-back has previously played for Wolves’ u18s and on a trial with the Brighton u18s, but this was his first opportunity in u21 football.

Playing at left-back on this occasion, things didn’t start well for Patterson, narrowly escaping a potential penalty against him before Timur Tuterov gave Sunderland the lead in the fifth minute.

But things improved as the half went on, and the youngster had the chance to display his crossing ability.

Patterson came off at half time, in what was probably a pre-planned change. The teenager hadn’t played an official match in almost two months.

Arsenal managed to get back into the game through Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, converting a pass from Jimi Gower. Butler-Oyedeji now has eight goals and six assists in 12 u21 matches this season.

But Marcus Neill helped his team retake the lead after converting a rebound, and Sunderland held out for a 2-1 win.

Arsenal u21 lineup vs Sunderland

Nygaard, Robinson, Monlouis, Heaven, Patterson, Dudziak, Gower, Salah, Kabia, Butler-Oyedeji, Edwards

Substitutes

Nichols (for Patterson, 46), Harriman-Annous (for Kabia, 86), Oulad M’Hand (for Dudziak, 89), Okonkwo, Kacurri

What’s next?

The Arsenal academy are now on their winter break, so any players without first-team duties will spend some time on holiday. There may be one or two players from Monday’s squad involved with the senior side on Wednesday, particularly Maldini Kacurri, who was an unused substitute on this occasion.

The rest of the squad should be back in action when Arsenal take on the Norwich City u21s on Monday, January 13th.